New-York tribune., 1891-12-25
NEWS FROM NEW-JERSEY.
KILLED BY AN UNKNOWN ASSASSIN.
THE BULLET CAME THROUGH WINDOW WHILE


THE BULLET CAME THROUGH WINDOW WHILE
QUARREL WAS GOING on.
The criminal authorities of Newark investigated
yesterday the circumstances attending the fatal SHOOT
ing Of William II. Dunham proprietor OF well-knowb
roadhouse at Washington-ave and Wiiamst.. Belle
ville about four miles from Newark, shortly before
midnight on Wednesday. A number OF arrests were
made, but nothing disclosed to show the identity
of the assassin. Dunham kept two roadhouses, the
other being on the road between Nutley and Passaic
Dunhams wife for several years had charge OF TINS
roadhouse, and hoStler named Patrick Phelan
worked there. The house had not been successful.
On Wednesday night Durham sat In the barroom
OF the Belleville roadhouss with Phelan, "Whaley"
Brown, William Kennedy and Frederick Taylor. Inc
party played cards, and Mrs. Durham was behind
the bar. Durham was OF Quarrelsome disposition
and fond Of firearms. He was drinking whlie
playing cards and began to quarrel Win MS WIG
about the management OF the other house. she con-
tradcted some angry assertions made by him. ana
ne appealed to Phean. Phelan took the part OF the
wife in the alteration, and this enraged Durham.
Rising he advanced to Phean and applied an offensive
epithet to him. Blows exchanged and then as
Dunham was reaching for his revolver the other men
seized him and Phean. The latter was held while
Dunham was forced into the kitchen and sat down I'm
chair.
He promised to remain quiet, and the men turned
away from him Wnen suddenly uert Wae Unc rtPoit
and fash OF pistol at the window facing the
roadway and Dunham's head sunk upon 0is breast.
The bullet struck him In the back OF the head near
the ear, and death was almost instantaneous. When
Dunham's companions that lie was shot
they ran into the barrOOm and looked out the
door but saw nobody. Phelan was still held by a
friend and Mrs. Dunham was behind the bar. She
heard the shot, but did not know that anything serious
had occurred.
messenger was dispatched for DR.. c. H. Winans,
of Rellevllc who sent word without delay to County
Ply sican WrghtsOn at Newark and that official ar
rived with Prosecutors detective about midnight.
All the persons present in the house wee held under
surveillance, and yesterday they were taken to the
Prosecutors Office in Newark for eAamica on There
were eight In all, including Mrs. Durham. Phean
was discharged from custody. No weapon was found
ON him. and il was proved that he still struggling
i'm the barrOom when the fatal shot fired from the
outside through The kitchen window. The blllct
shattered the pane cf glass and the pistol was held 20
close to the window that the window casing was back
eGed with powder.
Durham had kept the raadhousc about four years
he Nas eparatcd from his wife and clId nine years
AGO and he met a woman named Nettie Aarons, who
kept u liquor shop in NcwJerscy Railfoad-ave,, In
Newark. The couple began to live together, and 1t
was given out that they were married. The woman
died In 1887. Three years ago he was arrested on
charge of biCamy made by his first wife, and a suit
for divorce from this wife was pending when he was
killed. The woman who now processes TO Dc MIS-.
Durham is twenysX years old ard OF attractive ap'
pcarance. Dunham was thrty-sevcn.