Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-02
ALMOST A MURDER.
Two Neighbors Quarrel Over Division
Wall and One is Fatally Shot.

on Friday by William ]. Dunseith, his
neighbor, living at Linden and Van
Buren, streets.
| The bloody affair was the result of a
feud which has existed between the two
| households concerning division line
and a window, which has been the sub
| lect for frequent disputes and much
squabbling in police court.
THE MURDERER.
William j. Dunseith, who now rests
under the charge Of murder, is about 30
years of age, and has been engaged in
the grocery business for several years.
lie is spoken of as q man Of quarrel
some disposition and sharp practices
in his business affairs. The latter
transaction brought him be-
fore justices Of the peace
on various occasions, and about year
ago he figured in the superior court in q
somewhat celebrated replevin case,
Martin & Dure, wholesale grocers, levied
upon his store, stock and team, which
were replevined by his wife, on the
| ground that the goods belonged to her
and not to him. The jury decided
against the Dunsciths and in favor of
Martin Il Dure.
Some weeks since Dunseith was ar
raigned before Judge Ball, in municipal
court, on charge Of disorderly conduct
by firing a pistol from his bedroom
window at night. The charge was pre-
ferred by James McElhenny's wife. At
the hearing evidence was given showing
the existence of much bad feeling and
bad blood between the two families
The McElhennys produced about a
dozen witnesses to testify 10 Dunseith's
annoying and quarrelsome disposition
Deeming both sides to be in the wrong
Judge Ball dismissed the case.
Something quite new, however, has
| just come to light, affording most cir
| Observation-Disclosures fronlthe Dunseith
side. In the details which are quite new,
and which have not as yet been published,
William j. Dunseith and his wife are in a
much less unfayorahle position than when
resting under the alleged facts as gathered
from the friends of the unfortunate victim.
A fair statement of the facts as they are
gathered from both sides makes it necos-
sary that the story learned by a reporter
of The GAZETTE, as told by an eye
withess who is not unwilling to do justice
| by DnSseith, be related.
It is Undoubtedly true that Dunseith
made threav on Friday morning that he
property. He said tins as soon as he saw
the McElhennys' and ana the carpenter s
preparations to put up the wooden narti-
ton at the dividing line. The men desisted
for time under the pressure of Dnrseith's
violent threats and subsequently came
down to the police station and acquainted
the officer in charge as to how matters
stood. They also consulted their lawyer
on the question. Both the police and the
lawyer were informed of Dunseith's threat
ening to shoot.
Two officers were sent to Linden and
Van Buren, streets to 7uell the disturb
ance. This was accomplished as the Off
GERS thought satisfactorily and then they
left. The disturbance began again later
when the carpente-, Joseph Hicks, at
tempted with the aid of William
McElhenny, brother of the victim, to nail
up the wooden partition. This was being
put up by the McElhennys simply to pro-
tect them from the annoyance caused by
the rolling kerosene barrels that the Dun
seiths had stored along their wall.
One or two of the barrels touched the
McElhennys' steps. There seems to Be
little doubt but that the Dunseiths placed
the barrels there for the purpose of annoy
ing their next door neighbors.
At first the squabble was but one of
words, although OF a peculiarly spicy
nature. AT noon-time, when James Nc
Glnenuey WAS nome Ior MS uinuer, the
fight recommended with vigor. The car
penter could not attempt TO work. The
two McElhennys and Mr.. and Mrs. Dun
seth were all In thesquabble, the woman's
voice being the loudest and her threats Of
vengeance being by far the most VIC
lent. lncited by his wifes words, and
certain jibes used by the McElhennys,
He seized brick and hurled 1t at William
McElhenny. The missile struck him
in the forehead and blood flowed
freely. Both the AfcElhennys ran
for Dunseith, who flew for safety
into his store. He had hardly
got in there when he was caught and
thrown down. He was jumped upon and
kicked and beaten. One Of the Nc
Elhennys, it is nor known which seized O
cleaver while the other got hold Of one OF
the heavy brass scale weights from the
counter. Dunseith was beaten and
pounded. He was struck in the left eye
by the brass weight and the eye immedi-
ately swelled uP, protruding like mass of
raw flesh. While the two men were on
vigorous, powerful effort with hands
and feet simultaneously and threw
them off, Jumping up he flew
like lightning around the counter AT the
same moment his assailants, with cleaver
and other weapons, stretched across the
counter to reach him. Dunseith half
turned quickly and reaching for his pistol
which was hidden away in the store-rack
snatched it up and pointing it at James
McElhenny, who stood hardly an arms
length away, right in front Of Dunseith
and with cleaver in bis right hand pre-
pared TO strike. Dunseith fired straight al
him. The bullet entered the mans
left breast. 1t is not stated whether Neil
benny made any exclamation. However
| f,tp 1iato ont
on the pavement turning directly
to their own front steps. Dunseith fol
lowed them without hesitation and stand
ing on his store door steps raised his pistol
again, pointing it at the flying James
McElhenny. The latter had Just reached,
or was within foot or two of his own
doorstep. Turning half around McElhenny
scowled at Dunseith exclaining "You
Id Irish - - 1t was then that
the second and third pistol shot was fired
Both shots missed. One struck the brick
pavement in front of NIcElhenny's steps
and the other flew Wild There is no mark
or indication discoverable anywhere
around as to where it struck
The bullet mark on the brick pavement
shows the lead dust and markings indicat
ing an easterly slant,
The features Of the fight within the
store were seen by man who is ready to
give sworn testimony as to the facts, es-
pecially in regard to the tlissle on the floor
and the shooting across the counter
The carpenter, Joseph Hicks, cannot say
very much of definite kind about the
shooting, as he most wisely made himself
scarce when it began. Both he and William
McElhenny are Under bail as witnesses.
1t was officer James T. Scott who arrested
Dunseith. The latter was very unwilling
to go with the policeman and some force
had TO be used to get him into the patrol
wagon.
Chief Swiggett has closed up Dun
seiths store.
LAST RITES OF THE CHURCH. ~.
At T.30 o'clock Friday night Father Der
IL