Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-22
A DARK CRIME.
An Unsatisfactory Explanation Given of
Fearful Deed.
A Killing That Took Place in Secluded Spot
in New Jersey-The Perpetrator Gives
His Version of the Affair.

MOUNT Holly, N. J., Jan. 21.-
Shortly after midnight yesterday MORN
ing John Mcneil shot his brother-in-law
James Dallett, Jr., on his front door
step. Death was instantaneous. Me-
NELL lives on a lonely road leading from
Shamong S station to Indian Mills, about
twenty miles from here. The house is
situated in a cluster of pine trees, and is
more than mile from any other dwell
ing. Mcneil says he was awakened by
loud rapping on the door. A number OF
White Cap notices had been posted in the
neighborhood recently, and, although
they were generally supposed to
be the work of mischievious
Dung men, it had been strong
ly limited i'll the past few days
serious work was soon to be done
by regulators. Mcneil had received
no warning of impending punishment, ,
and had no reason to believe he merlted
one of the whippings for which these
lawless bands are noted, but the unsea-
sonable hour of night and the isolation of
his home made him proceed cautiously.
The knocking was soon renewed vigOr-
ously, and looking ont of another win
dow Mcneil saw in the shadow of trees
in his front yard
A SOLITARY FIGURE.
Suspicious of the mysterious stranger,
McNeill took his shotgun and went eau
tiously down stairs to the
front door, which was still being
battered by the fists of the unknown
visitor. He opened it a short distance
and pokipg the gun out said: ''What
do yon want?'
81 want you'll responded the stranger
and started to enter the house. As he
did so he encountered the end of the
shotgun. Mcneil pulled the trigger. A
loud report, smothered groan, and a
dead body lay on the ground weltering in
blood that flowed fIom a large wound
near the heart. Up TO this time
Mcneil 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 aroused and an in
vestigation showed the dead man was
James Dallett, Jr., who had married
Mcneil 5 sister some years ago, who is
now dead. Mcneil gave himself up to
the authorities to-day and is in jail
awaiting a hearing.
rms IS McNelI s version OF the affair,
and it is corroborated by members of his
family. 1t is known that Dallett had
spent Saturday evening at Small IS tavern
near Shamong station,
DRANK CONSIDERABLE LIQUOR
and is believed TO have been intoxicated
If Mcneil IS story is true he probably.
knocked on the door in drunken fancy
as he passed the door Mcneil denied
he had any motive for committing the
crime, and saws he was on the
best possible terms with his brother
in-law. There are many persons
who do not believe Mcneil IS
story and it is said the circumstances in
dictate it was cold blooded murder.
The two men have had frequent quarrels
It is thought by some persons that Daliett
was killed in tie woods by Mcneil and
dragged to the front door steps in order
that plausible story of his death might
be told. Dallett was about thirty years
old and leaves three small children His
wife died about year ago Dallett's
father is wealthy farmer, and McNeill
is also prosperous.