Evening journal., 1895-02-02
HUNTING FOR A RASCAL
Miss Flenning's Father Shot
Twice at Valentine.
he sWEARg HE WILL KILL HIN,

His Business and Fled From Lynnbrook
In Hurry Father watching For Him.
LYNSBRooK, n. Y. Feb. 2-when old
Thomas Fleming forced a confession from
his daughter Belle under pain Of death,
ho seized q shotgun and despite the en-
treaties oI his family went out determined
to slay q man who, Ike himself, stood
high in the esteem Of this village.
lie was unsuccessful IN his quest and
returned to his home, but not to sleep
The blow that fell upon him through Ed-
ward NJ Valentine had we'll nigh crazed
him, and when daylight at last appeared
he was ont again upon his grim mission
lie saw the man he sought and fired
twice at him. but missed
Many persons who love Thomas Flem.
ing for his uprightness, integrity and fair
dealing are glad that he hasn't added to
his atlliction by taking life Others,
who are shocked by the revelations, say 1t
is a pity chat his Workmanship was SO
poor These latter are persons who have
families and daughters, the safeguards
about whom cannot be drawn too strongly
Belle Fleming is young and comoly and
was until recently teacher ia one Of the
Brooklyn public schools. Her father is
we'll known among the politicians Of that
city, having for many years held a re-
sponsible position in the water depart
ment there. His daughters were highly
esteemed and were prominent in church
work and social affairs in Brooklyn. The
Flemings moved to this place several
years ago.
Known as an Exhorter.
Valentine has been leader in St
James Methodist church in this village
and gained quite reputation as an ex
horter in Long Island and Connecticut
He has been for several years secretary OF
the board Of trustees Of st. James church
and superintendent Of tho Sunday school
He has also occupied the pulpit in the alb
sence of the regular dominic. 1t has been
often said that he led an ideal Christian
life He has also been very popular in so
oiety, and by his sorupulous attentions to
his dress and his polished manners became
a great fayorite among the young women.
He has a wife, but no children.
Belle Fleming attended st. James, and
recently it was noticed that she was re-
ceiving much attention from Valentine.
| A young woman whispered something to
| Valentine wife, but she only rebuked
the informer. It all came to a climax
| however Thursday night, when Thomas
/ Fleming realized that a calamity had
come to his home and his daughter cow
cred before him in tears
Tell me his name, = thundered the ia
thor as ne hesitated. or I will kill you,
and / will kill him '
And when she at last sobbed out a sin
gle name the old man started back dazed
and speechless. Then with one reproach.
ful look at her he sank into a chair sob
bing:
"Oh, my God. what have I done that
such blow should come upon me and
mine in my old agen'
He reached for his shotgun, but bis wife
and children pleaded with him not to com
init murder
"Murderr' be cried 1T is no murder
/ will kill that black hypocrite as sure o
God is above me
Hunting For Human Game.
He went out but failed to flnd tho rnaI
he had sworn to kill. Valentine conducts
a meat merkst, and Belle Fleming's "a
ther was there Friday morning before thu
place was opened He carried his gun II
the hollow Of his arm. and when one Of hi
old friends gave him o CHEEKY "Goo'
morning Tom, it was seen that boil
triggers were at full cock.
Thomas Fleming answered curtly Hi
face was haggard The lines at the cor
ners of his mouth were drawn to painful
tensity, and his eyes were wild and blood
shot
Going shootings queried his friend.
" Yes, " he is said to have answered
land mean to bag what I IN after.
At this moment Valentine entered tn
block. Mr. Fleming's back was turne
toward him, and when he saw that grin
figure with the shotgun he turned an
ran. Mr. Fleming, at the sound OF the rC
treating footsteps, wheeled quick as
fash, just in time to see the Sunday schoc
superintendent dash into Forbell' S grocer
store few yards away
The old man was after him with sur
prising swiftness As ho bounded j
| through the front door Of the place Valer
tine was just going through the rear dooi
Thomas Fleming gun came up to lew
even as he ran, and both barrels were dh
charged.
Simultaneous with the reports there wa
crash Of falling glass and as the enrage
father darted through the smoke of til
discharge be saw that al the glass in Il
rear door was shattered, and through II
wreck the form Of Valentine darting ava
across the fields. Fleming followed hii
until his strength failed him. Then ]
! broke down and cried like a child.
| Probably Fled TO Pennsylvania.
Valentine fled toward the railroad track
and il is probable that he has left this Sc
! tion He may have gone to Scranton, Pa
0 for it has been developed that ho quiet
! sold out his business a few days ago an
r declared his intention to depart for Pom
j sylyania today.
He exhibited letter from ScrantC
rendering him the secretaryship Of q
o Young Mems Christian association Of Il
q Delaware, Lackawanna and Western RAJ
road.
Q Mr.. Fleming has been through the "
iage all day. armed with revolver. al
has visited Valentines house and sho
swearing to kill Valentine If he has
n search to the end OF the earth to find hir
No one can induce him to go home. Va
entine's wife is distracted.
n No attempt has been made to ARE
a Fleming OF to disarm him. Valentine
|. brother trustees in Sc James are shock
at the occurrence. but some Of them q
clare that they never believed him 81
cero as Valentine was very wild before
Joined the church AT n late hour ia