The Newtown bee., 1890-09-12
MURDER AT GAINESVILLE
John j. Waters Shot Down at Night
by George Knowles.

Once more have Fairfield and LitehfielG
counties been shocked by murder. the
crime, this time, occurring in GAINESVILLE
just on the borders of the counties.
John j. Waters, a middle aged farmer
of GAINESVILLE, was shot and killed, We'd
nesday night.
The murderer, who is scarcely more
than 81, is George Knowles, also OF
Lanesville.
He was arrested, Thursday morning
and was held to await the action of Cor
oner Hardenburg, who began the in
quest, Thursday.
Waters was n respected farmer, who
leaves wife and family, while Knowles
is son of Charles Knowles, dentist
farmer of Lanesville.
The quarrel which led to the murder
is standing disagreement which has
existed for a half-score of years or so.
The doctor has two brothers, Jay and
George and all three received little
property from their father when he died
about 10 years ago.
The farm and homestead, however
were willed to Jay, greatly to the cha.
grin of his brothers.
Finding, however, that the viii could
not be broken, nor Jay legally disposed
the brothers began to annoy him.
So persistently did they hector hin
that at last, not long after his fathers
death, he abandoned the farm.
He preferred to do this rather than tC
suffer continual annoyances and insults
from his brothers, for he appears to have
been quiet and inoifensive.
Charles and George promptly rented
the house and put the proceeds in theil
own pockets, year after year.
JAY, who was living quietly in another
part of the village, made no protest.
Last June, however, he met with still
further losses. his new house being
burned to the ground.
Suspicion, which could not be verified
pointed TO the unnatural brothers as the
incendiaries.
AS his fathers house had no tenant at
the time, Jay concluded to move into it,
temporarily at least.
Before he could get the goods unpack-
ed, the doctor got wind of the affair and
tried to block his brother by moving in
himself.
His own goods were placed in the
best rooms and the doors locked, con-
filming Jay and his wife and goods to the
kitchen.
Thus they remained, frequently quar-
relling, until, week or two ago, the
doctor attacked Jay with club.
The doctors temper and muscles are
alike powerful and Jay sought safety in
precipitate flight.
The matter had by this time become
noised abut the village and public opin.
ion was generally in favor of Jay.
Especially so, as his wife was sick and
needed care and conveniences which
could not be obtained in that one room
Still the doctor refused to allow the
sick woman, his own sister-in-law, "a bed
room, and posted his son George. with
barricades and firearms, in front of the
doors leading to the bed rooms.
Learning that Jay had been offered as
sistance by IA number of the villagers
the doctor and his worthy son fortified
themselves even more securely in the
house, Wednesday.
About II O'Clock at night, Jay was ap
preached by John J. Waters, Fred Hal
bert, Willis Warner and Fred Aldrich
VIII" offered to help Jay 'get justice"
At their suggestion, he knocked on thu
door and asked admission, but his neph
ew George put out a pistol and said,
''If you bother us any more tonight
there will be some shooting"
A log was then obtained by the foul
vigilants, as they called themselves ant
the door battered down.
An oath and a pistol shot followed ant
the lantern of the attacking party wen1
out.
They entered the hallway, however
but found no one.
On lighting the lantern, Johh j. Wa
tiers was found leaning against the kitch.
EN- wall, with just strength enough to say
'Boys, I'm shot and George Knowles
did it,
In another instant he was dead
and the house was quickly deserted and
New Milford authorities were notified by
Warner and the doctor was arrested whe1
he made his appearance little later.
He denied all knowledge of the crime
but the vigilants say that they heard hi.
voice in the house just before the sho
was fired.
The doctors wife was also arrested.
George Knowles, the murderer, refuses
to make statement, beyond saying tina
any other man would have done the sam,
under the same circumstances.
1t is generally believed, however, tina
he intended to shoot his uncle Jay, whom
he had heard talking.
The bullet, DR. King says, passed en-
tirely through Waters's body, just below
the right lung.
Mary r. plaft NowhaU