The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-31
MOTHER DIES BY
HER SONS HAND
Fearful Tragedy on Joseph J. Jermyu's
Scott Township Farm.
FATHER AND son WERE QUARRELiNG
Mrs. George Thomas, Wife Of Mr..
Jcrmyn's Farmkrepcr, Was Trying
To Prevent Her Son from Getting at
His Father. Details Of the Occur.
rcncc..Vrrdict Of COrOncr's Jury.

A fearful tragedy occurred on Joseph
j. Jermyn's farm in Scott township
four miles from Jermyn borough. at
| noon yesterday. Mrs. George Thomas
Il woman about 60 years old. was in
stantly killed by Il bullet from re-
volver in the hands of her son, Rich
ard. during u family quarrel between
the father and two of the SONS.
Tie bullet was not fired with murder
Gus intent. but was discharged acci-
uentaliy while the son was ilouris hing
the weapon and attempting to get into
. room at his father. Mrs. Thomas got
between her son AID the door and the
bullet struck her in the right temple,
fiacturng the skull. bat not ocnetrat
ing II
She was nrcdiHposed to heart trouble.
having been treated for ii by br.
Shields. of Jermyn. and while the builct
wound was not the direct cause OF
death. the shock was SO great that she
expired instantly. The action of the
heart stopped and she fell lii"esS to the
floor.
The Thomas family has lived on the
farm fuG the nast ten or twelve years.
The father is Il big, strong toler. and
his sons three in number, are patterned
after him The old man has Il hot tenn
per when in rage.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
Early in the morning Richard. tn
son in whose hands the revolver was
that did the shooting, hitchtd up and
drove TO Carbondale. Along toward
noon Herbert, the youngest son, who Is
two years Richards Junior and about 25
years old. told his father he was going
to Jermyn. but his father refused to
let him have u horse and carriage to
drive there.
This angered Herbert and hot words
passed. He informed his father that h-
could walk to Jermyn, and when he got
there he would stay and not come back
any more Then he denan anued his
wages and more pickering followed.
The father told him to walk to Jernyn
and stay there for all he cared, and
when Herbert started to get ready to
go. the father said: "Youll go, will
you? Well. I'll see if yOu'll 60"
He went upstairs and got Il revolver,
but before he got back to use ii in the
argument. Richard. the other son, re-
turned from Carbondale. When he
learned what was going on he went to
his room and got Il revolver, too. The
father locked the door in the room
where he was. and Richard began to
kick in the panels to force peace at the
point of his shooting iron.
HE WOULD NOT LISTEN.
Here is where Mrs. Thomas stepped
in To argue with her son to let his
father alone and not go near him.
Richard would not listen to her and in
his half craZed attempt to break in the
door. the revolver exploded in his hand
as he was tlourishing it, and the bullet
did its deadly work.
Coroner $. u. Longstreet was notified
and he drove to the house in the after
nOoon. a jury consisting of A. j. Wine
brake of this city and Edward Stubbs,
II. \. Williams. &. l.. Bell. j. w. Grant
and II. f.. Nankleeck of Jermyn was
cmpaneled The coroner found the evil
denceS of Il fierce quarrel in the room
where the shooting took place. The door
leading to the room where the father
was when Richard tried to force his
way into it was all battered.
There was no evidence to prove a de-
liberate discharge of the pistol and the
facts brought out i'm evidence We're con-
elusive that the shooting was an acci
dent. The jury returned the following
verdict: I'VE find that the said Mrs.
George Thomas came to her death
while trying to quell disturbance be-
tween her son. Herbert. and her hus-
band. and was accidentally killed by
a pistol shot wound of the head. inflicted
by her son. Richard. while carelessly
tiOurishing IL revolver"
SELF-ACTING SIN SHOOTER.
Coroner Longstreet took the weapon
with him. Ii is Il siXshoOter. Self-act
ing, thirty-twO calibre, common bull
dog weapon. The son who did the
shooting swore to the coroner that he
had it loaded for several months and
used il only seldom. The appearance
of the bullets would go to contradict
that statement. for they We're bright
and creased.
Up to II late hour last night no steps
had been taken TO arrest the son for his
deed.
Immense Coat Run.
During the twenty-nine hours end