The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-06-27
FOURTH edition
PROBABLE MURDER

Dunsoith and Probably Fatally
Wounded-A Feud OF Long Standing
Between the Men-Dunseith and his
Wife locked up to Await the Result
OF the shooting-McEihenny Not
Expected to Recover.
The REPUBLICAN yesterday had o
brief and as nearly correct account
as could be gathered at the time Of the
probable murder of James McElhenny
by William j. Dunseith. The report
OF McElhenny's death was from gen.
tleman who saw him and believed he
was drawing his last breath. Tho fol-
lowing seems to be the particulars OF
the case as CLEANED from eye wit
neSses:
William j. Dunselth has o dwelling
and grocery store combined at the
southwest corner of VanBuren and
Linden streets, and James McElhenny
the probable murdered man lived at No
l024 Linden street, adjoining the Dun
seith residence. Dunseith was OF
Scotch-Irish extraction, coming to this
country u number OF years ago. Being
a pronounced Orangeman, and Of an
excitable temperament and not being
backward In the expression OF his opin-
ions he was continually in hot water
with his neighbors, especially with the
McElhenny family, who were of Irish
nationality, and devout Catholics,
The McElhenny's are reported to be
peaceable, people, averse to quarrels
unless forced upon them. On the other
hand, Dunseith and his wife both have
the reputation OF being hot-headed,
quarrelsome and very hard to get
along with on account Of their Yindio-
tive and revengeful spirits.
A feud has existed for q long time
between these two families, which on
i one or two occasions, brought them
before the Municipal Court, Dunseith
being the defendant. In one instance
the case was dismissed and in another
Dunselth was fined.
| These trials seemed only to irrltate
the Dunseiths and inspire them with
more hatred of the McElhenny family.
The MoIlhenny family consisted of
James McElhenny, the assaulted, his
wife and child William McElhenny,
his brother and two small children.
The Dunseith family consisted of
William j. Dunseith and Mrs. A. A.
Dunseitb, his wife. The families were
next door neighbors.
Having been frequently annoyed by
the Dunseiths pntting coal oil barrels
on the pay adjoining their steps and
by throwing water over them, james
McElhenny the owner OF the property,
putting up q small partition alongside
his steps. Joseph Hicks, a carpenter
residing ut No. 1877 West Second street
was engaged to put up the partition
and commenced the work yesterday
morning. ....
He had not been long at work be-
fore Mr.. and Mrs. Dunseith appeared
and violently protested against the
partition golnR up, and the work
was delayed until noon. Officers Ma
son and Nealy hearing of the dis
turbance came and informed the Dun
seiths that they could not prevent
their neighbors from putting up a
partition upon their own property,
and II It was Objectionable they could
get redress at the courts, The officers
then lett, thinking the difficulty was
settled. Instead, however, of listen.
Ing to the good advice of the officers,
the rage Of the Dunseiths became al.
most uncomfortable.
After the noon hour carpenter Hicks
and the two McEllhennys commenced
work on the partition. Dunseith then
came out of his store, saying that he
would stand this no longer and going
up pushed one of the DlcElhennys on
the steps. and then running out in the
street picked up brick and hurled il
at them, thdA missile striking William
McElhenny on the forehead, lnficting
a scalp wound.
After throwing the brick Dunseith
retreated into his store, followed by
tho McElhennys Mrs. Dunseith also
disappeared into the house.
Her husband was not overtaken by
the McElhennys He Is supposed Ia
have goGeinto an adjoining room and
securing pistol came out the doorway
or the store.
The neighbors who had gathered in
the store and on the pavement seeing
that trouble was Imminent, retreated.
james McElhanny who was nearest the
street, and the first to come within the
range Of Dunseith's pistol, made an at
tempt to run into his doorway, but as
soon rs Dmnseith saw him no opened
fire, and fired throe times in rapid sue
ceSsiOn,
The first ball struck the pavement
md glanced out into the street The
second went wide OF its mark, while the
third shot took effect in James Nc
Ellenny's right breast. lie staggered
i'll the doorway, and was afterwards
assisted inside by his wife and brother
the latter being ba,iiy injured by the
blow in the head. Carpenter Hicks had
escaped when the firing began, and
succeeded in getting beyond the reacl
OF the hullets by flight.
The Dunseiths then retreated int c
their store again. MeElhenny was
helped Into his bed room where q mes
senEar was despatched for medical as
sistdnCe, Drs. Corcoran, Fahey anC
Springer were summoned and exam
incd the mans wound. They pro
nounccd il mortal
Immediately after this came office
James +, Scott In broathless haste, hav
heard the shooting, and rushing int
the store told Jiunseith he was under
arrest and asked him to come alonl
without trouble. Bdnseith resisted
! and refused to go, when the Gearlrs,
} officer grappled with the infuriate,
man, holding him as If in tho CLUTCHES
: of wise, and hustled him outside oi
the pavement.
The patrol force, having been notia
cd Sus soon on hand, and into th
patrol wagon Dunseith was hastli,
tumbled by officer Scott assisted b.
sergeant StetZer and officer Russell
and wHs hurried away to the polie
station. A search was then made fu
the missing revolver, and Mrs. Dun
selth pretended to bs aiding the officer
in finding it. At length sergeant Stet
ger found IL hid In an old stove, wher
IL was evidently placed by Mira. Dun