Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-26
SHOT FOR A WHITE car.
Fatal Result OF widstght visit In
new Jersey.

A Mt. Holly IN. j. letter says: Shortly
after midnight yesterday morning John Me-
Neil shot hrs brother.in-law. James Delett.
Jr.. on bis front doorstep. Death was iu-
stantaneous. Mcneil lives on q lonely road
leading from Shamoug station TO Indian
Mills, about twenty miles from here. The
house Il more than a mile from any other
dwelling. Mcneil says be was awakened
by loud rapping on the door. A
number OF White Cap notices had
been posted In the nelghborhood re"
Gently, ana although they were gem
eraly supposed to be the work OF MIS-
chieY0us young men, II bad been strongly
hiuied in the last few days that serious work
was soon TO be done by the " Regulators
Mcneil had received no warning OF Impend-
ing punishment, and had no reason To be-
leYe that be mcrted one of the whippinCs
for " mich these lawlcss bands are noted. but
the seisonabe hour OF the night aud the
isolation OF his home made him proceed eau
tiously.
The knocking was soon renewed vigor-
ously, aud. on looking out another window,
Mcneil saw in the shadow Of the trees in bis
iront.yard a solitary figure. Suspicious OF
the mysterious stranger, Mcneil took his
shotgun and went cautiously down stairs to
the front door, which was still being battered
by the fists OF the unknown visitor. lie
opened il short distance, and. poking the
gun out. said "Wh3t do you want!
II want YOU" responded the stranger,
and started 70 enter the house. As he did
so he encountered the end Of the shotgun.
Mcneil pulled the trigger. There was a
loud report followed by a smothertd gfoan,
and dead body lay on the ground weller
iny in blood that flowed from large wound
near the heart.
Up to this time Mcneil had not the slight
est idea who the man was, nor bad he seen
him a. he started 10 enter the door. lie felt
some one seize the gun and he tired. The
family was soon reused. and an investigation
showed thSt the dead man was James Dellet:,
.jr., who had married McSeiPs sister some
years ago, who is now dead. Mcneil gave
himself up to the authorities to-day, and Is
in ililawaiting hearing.
This Is McNeips version OF the affair aud Is
corrobOrated by members Of his family. IL
l. known that Dellett had spent saturday
evening at Smalis Tavern, near sham0Dg
station. He had drunk considerable liquor
and l. believed 10 have been intoxicated. IL
McNeiPs story Il true he probably Knocked
on the door IN drunken fancy a. be passed
A.. Mcneil denies that he had any motive
IOT tOuiulLiluk lBC tfiultt anu -hl' nt Wh1
on the best possible terms with his br0ther-
in-aw.
Plere are persons who do not believe
McNelrs story, and say that circumstances
indicate that IL was cold-blooded murder.
The two men have had frequent quarrels.
II IS thought by some persons that Dellett
was killed IN the woods by Mcneil and
dragged 10 the front doorstep in order that
a plausible story OF bis death might be told.
Dellett was about thirty years old, aud leaves
three small children. His wife died about
year ago. Dellett's father IL wealthy
farmer, and Mcneil Is also prosperous.
Coroner Coppuck held an inquest to-day,
when evidence was adduced tending to show
that the shooting was not accidental, and
that Mcneil had deliberately shot his bro
ther.in.law, and that the shooting was the
outcome Of long-standiUg feud between
the Two men. The jury rendered verdict
that Dellett came to his death by = gunshOt.
wound wllfully caused by Mcneil. The
prisoner was committed to the Burlington
county Jail 10 await the action OF the grand
Jury on 4 charge OF murder.