The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-22
KILLED HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW.
A Murder Concerning Which There Is Divis-
ion of Opinion Among New Jersey Citizens.

MOUNT HOLLY, N. j., Jan. 21.-Shortly
after midnight, yesterday, John McNeill shot
his brother-in-law, James Dellett, jr., on his
front doorstep. Death was instantaneous.
McNeill lives on a lonely road leading from
Shamong Station to Indian Mills. about
twenty miles from here. The house is stu
ated in cluster of pine trees, and is more
than a mile from any other dwelling. Nc
Neill says he was awakened by loud rap
ping on the door. A number of White Cap
notices had been posted in the neighbor-
hood recently, and, although they were
generally supposed to be the work
of mischievOus young men, it had
been strongly limited in the past few
days that serious work was soon
to be done by the regulators.
McNein had received no warning of i'm
pending punishment, and had no reason to
believe that he merited one of the whip
pings for which these lawless bands are
noted, but tho unreasonable hour of the
night and the isolation of his home made
him proceed cautiously. The knocking
was soon renewed vigorously, and on look
ing out another window McNeill saw in the
shadow of the trees of his front yard soli-
tary figure. Suspicious of the mysterious
stranger, McNeill took his shotgun and
went cautiously down stairs to the front
door, which was still being battered by the
fists Of the unknown visitor. He opened it
short distance and, poking the gun out,
said:
'What do you wantf"
81 want you" responded the stranger, and
he started to enter the house. AS he did so
he encountered the end of the shotgun.
I'M OIL laA tha %rso A Ion NY
q smothered groan and dead body lay on
the ground weltering in blood that flowed
from large wound near the heart. Up to
this time McNeill had not the slightest idea
who the man was, nor had he seen him as
he started to enter the door. He felt some
one seize the gun and he fired. The family
was soon reused and an investigation
showed that the dead man was James Del
lett, jr., who had married McNeilPs sister
some time ago, but who is now dead. Nc
Neill gave himself up to the authorities to-
day and is in jail awaiting a hearing. This
is McNeilPs version Of the affair and is
corroborated by members of his FAM
lily: 1t is known that Dellett
Tavern near ShamoDg Station: He had
drunk considerable liquor and is believed
to have been intoxicated. If McNeilPs
story is true, he probably knocked on the
Neill denies that he had any motive for
committing the crime. and says he was on
the best possible terms with his brother-in-
law. There are many persons who do not
believe McNeilPs story, and say that the
circumstances Indicate that it was a cold
blooded murder. The two men have had
frequent quarrels. 1t is thought by some
persons that Dellett was killed in the
woods by McNeill and dragged to the front
doorstep in order that a plausible story of
his death might be told. Dellett was about
thirty years old and leaves three small
children. His wife died about year ago.
Dellett's father is wealthy farmer and
McNeill is also prosperous.
The inquest over the body of Dellett was
held to-day in ShamOng, and the jury rem
dered a verdict that James Dellett was will
fully shot aud killed by John McNeill. The
wife and daughter of the latter were sum
moned to appear at the inquest, but instead
at the iai1