The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-03
CHAPMAN SHOOTS DAVIS.


A Biadgctown boarding House the Scene
Of What win Probably End in a
Tragedy.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Wilkes-Barre, Sept. "A very se-
rious shooting affair occurred today at
Bladgetown, little settlement back
on the mountains. behind Edwards
Vile, when Fred Chapman, aged 30
years, emptied the contents of a
double-barrelled shot gun into William
Davis right side, wOunding him SO
badly that his recovery IL very doubt
full. Davis Is a single man, Sc years
old, and for nearly three years has
been boarding with Chapman. who Is
a married man with two children.
The trouble began on Sunday night
when Chapman came in an intoxicated
condition, and began to be very abu-
sive to all In the house. Davis was In
bed at the time, but Chapman went up
to his room and began to abuse him.
He demanded his board at once and
ordered Davis to leave the house that
night. Davis, however, stayed In bed
and Chapman went down stairs and
made no more trouble.
This morning, when Davis arose, he
asked Chapman what made him 80
ugly the night before. Chapman s
head was still sore, and he ordered
Davis to pay his board and leave the
house at once. Davis agreed to so as
soon as he could pack his trunk, and
turned to leave the room to get his
clothes. This infuriated Chapman.
who picked up heavy cuspidore and
threw it at Davis. 1t struck him in
the back and nearly knocked him over.
He turned on Chapman and picked up
a stove-lifter with which to defend
himself. Chapman at once seized a
heavy double-barrelled shotgun that
stood In one corner Of the room, and
aiming at Davis right side, fired.
The charge entered Davis right side,
and sixty-one pellets of No. shot were
lodged in him. Chapman's wife was
in the kitchen ana saw the whole af-
fair, but so quickly was 1t done that
she was powerless to do anything to
prevent 1t.
Davis staggered to the house Of Ed
ward X. Jones, across the road and
told him what had happened. He was
at once taken into Jones house and
placed on n lounge and DR.. EDWARDS
Of Edwardsville, was summoned: he
found Davis in very weak condition
much OF the shot having entered the
lungs and others having LOGGED
AGAINST the ribs. Besides the lungs
no other vital organ was penetrated
The doctor succeeded In extracting
sixteen of the shot. The others pene.
trated go deeply that they could NOT
he reached. He bandaged the patient
wounds and nrvde him as comfortable
as possible. 1t was suggested that the
wounded man be removed to the nos.
n,tal hut the doctor left orders that
n would be fatal to remove him IN MS
present weak condition.
In the meantime Mr.. Jones mac
sworn out a warrant before Alderman
Coslett. in Edwardsville, and 1t had
been served on Chapman, VINO made
no resistance, nor had he MADE any
effort to escape. He went quletiy De
fore the squire and was committed &c
ia.il without bail. He did not show
any desire to talk about his crime. anc
was not urged to. HeSis'a miner In No
colliery of the Kingston Coal com
pany. and IL generally looked upon as
a very respectable man, when not or
one of his drinking Ats. When drunk
he IA known to be a dangerous man
Davis is a bachelor and worked as. q
miner up to two years ago. when he be
came fish commissioner. He Is Quie'
and peaceable man. who bears an ex
cellent reputation among all who know
him.
After Chapman had been lodged II
the county Jail. County Detective
Eckert went to BladgetOwn and go
'the gun. One charge still remains ir
the weapon. which is now In the care
Of the district attorney and will b'
held for use as evidence at the trial.
Chapman, when seen at the jail
talked freely of the affair. He Is {
large man with reddish hair and has ar
honest face. not at all the kind on,
would expect to see on a murderer
Chapman said Davis had been board
ing with him for three years, and ha,
not paid n cent. so far, for ms BOARD
So. yesterday morning at 6 o'clock
Chapman was preparing for work, ant
he told his wife that II Davis did no
the house, and IL he had not gone wher
ne (Chapmam returned from work, h,
Davis would be put out by force
Davis heard these remarks while NJ
stairs in bed. and he arose. go
dressed and said that he would no.
leave the house until he was ready t.
20. Then came more words and Chap
man hit Davis with the cuspidore
Davis picked up the stove-lifter ant
came at Chapman. saying he woult
do" him, and Chapman fired will
the result described.
News came to Chapman that Davi.
was dead. and ne broke down com
pletely. but said his grief was more or
account Of his wife and two children
than for himself. He said that ne I.
3s years Of age. and born In England
He asked for permission to see som,
friends who were to secure an attOr
ney. and II was granted. Later Chap
man was removed to the murderer.
row in the right wing Of the jail. Dur
ing the afternoon ne received word tina,
Davis was not yet dead. and seemed
greatly relieved by It. although he 1,
greatly depressed over his position.