The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-02
KNIFE IN Ills HEART
John Reid Butchered in His
Home by His Sisters
Husband.
DELIBERATELY ARMED HIMSELF
Wife Had Left Her Husband After
a Quarrel Mother Saw
the Blow Struck.
DELIBERATELY ARMED HIMSELF

John Reid, Is years old, of No. 81 Gers
mania avenue, was stabbed to death at
11:45 last night by James Fleming, his
brother-in-law. The murderer was cap
tured about an hour after the murder had
been done on the corner of ST. Paul's and
Gernaania avenues. only block away
from where the crime had been committed
The prisoner was arraigned before JUS
tice Douglass in the Oakland avenue po-
lice court this morning. and in reply to the
usual questions gave his pedigree and
said:-
nothing to say
From the testimony brought out by wit-
nesses it seems that Fleming, who is a
brakeman on the Erie Railroad. has for
some time past been on bad terms with
his wife. The two had quarrel iasu
night and Mrs. Fleming said that she was
sick and tired of the quarreling, and left
her husbands home. AS soon as she had
gone he ran out, and presuming that his
wife had gone to her mothers house he
went there also. There he was told thai
his wife had not put in an appearances
He then returned to his home, armed hirn-
self with a large sheep knife and came
back to his mother-in-law's house.
He entered the house by the rear
door, and once more demanded to see his
wife. Reid attempted to stop him, and
Mrs. Fleming came down stairs at the
sound of loud talking. Fleming wished
his wife to return home with him, but
she declined to do so.
Fleming and Reid became involved ina
row, and without any warning Flemiug
whipped out the knife and stabbed Reid
through the heart. Reid gasped and felt
and in five minutes was dead. The mur-
derer then rushed out of the door, threw
the knife into the street and hid himself
In the neighborhood.
The police were at once notified and sev-
eral were soon On the scene. The neigh-
borhoed was thoroughly searched and
Fleming was found only half a block
away. He admitted the killing. but be-
yond that would say nothing. He was at
once taken to the station house and locked
up over night.
In court this morning Mrs. Ellen heids
the mother of the dead man, said
"I live at No. 81 Germania avenue
had a son, who is now dead. he was
killed by my son-in-law James Fdenppng, pns.,
The killing was done in my house. i saw
my poor boy dying and q knife in tine
hands of John Fleming was aH full OF
Pleming F1sqa < Came aen along 5i and the two ot
into a row My daughter was there. t4o,
aid saw, the stabbing. All the rest OF ae
family were in bed.'
tfon Fleming admitted the stabbinf TO
him, .and further said st was all thS re-
suit OF a quarrel. The prisoner Is t7irty-
seven years old, and the dead woul4 haFs
been twenty-four years old had le hyea
urtil Monday The murdered mah was
laborer in Dodge & Biiss's lumber yard
at West End, and bore very good repG, 3o.;,
tatson Fleming Is a somewhat shiftieSS
fellow, and his wife said that the only
reason that she lived with him was De
cause she would have to support hsr-
examination, the prisoner was taken to
the County Jail and the case will be
given to the Grand Jury this afternoon.
The prisoners wife and ms moener-in- lns,t z,
front of the Court House when Fleming
was brought out. Both gazed very hard
at the handcuffed unfortunate, and as ne
was led into the prison van Mrs. Reid
There goes good riddance Of bad rub.
bish. He never was any good, and
knew this would be his end.H The wife
said not word, but her lips quivered
and she half choked a sch.
Fleming married Miss Reid about SIX
years ago, and the couple now have three
children Soon after he was married he
showed the stuff of which he was made
by beating her while in. his cups. Hd
has pretty tough record; and five years
govy pe6sy sser aaE Ths areper Wis IS
heavily &built man, standing nearly six
feet high and when arraigned in court
this morning was dressed very poorly and
was uYkernpt and unShayen.
Dr. Converse, the County Physician.
viewed Reds body about eleven o'clock
this morning. He found that, the knife
Yelled veil that the man could have lived even
q minute after being stabbed.