Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-17
TRAGEDYIN AUGUSTA
EDWIN A. MERRITT SHOT AND
KILLED by n. n. FRExGER.
DETAILS OF THE SAD AFFAIR
Merritt Accused OF breaking Into
House-Fired at Close Quarters--A
verdict of Unlawful Shooting, Not
Felony.
Felony.

LEXINGTON, VA, December lo.-tSpe-
cial)-Edwin A. Merritt, OF near Green
Vile. Augusta county, aged q years, son
of Captain c. G. Merritt, an old Mexican
veteran, was shot and almost Instantly
killed this morning at ! o'clock by no
bert n. Frenger, who resides about TWO
and one-haIf miles north OF Greenyilie.
The shooting occurred on the farm OF
Mr.. Frengers father, Mr.. j. A. trenSer'
who is a brother of Edward Frenger' OIL
Clifton Forge. 1t appears that MI
Frenger was awakened by cries OF dis
tress at an early hour this morning, and
Immediately proceeded to ascertain the
cause He found negro woman, named
Harriet Smith, whose husband died a re"
days ago, with her three children, the
oldest a girl of 16 years. screaming ana
CRYING outside of the house. They stated
that some one had broken into their
house, which was about five hundred
yards from the old Frenger homestead
and had a short time before been useo
as the Frenger residence. Mr.. Frenger
Immediately repaired TO the house, ac-
companled by his mother. He was armed
with a -barrelled breech-load'hg
shotgun. Upon his approach at the rear
he saw man coming out OF the rear
kitchen door, and heard, as he thought,
a pistol snapped several times. He hreo
twice and saw the man fall He went up
and found the man to be Merritt, VINO
was not dead He then returned nome,
accompanied by his mother. and on the
way fired his gun twice, and twice again
after he had arrived home
MERRITT DEAD.
Mr.. Frenger sought aid, and some time
afterwards returned to the place Oh the
shooting. They found Merritt dead soiiie
ten feet from the place from where nc
was shot. lying on the edge Oh d 'uo
filled with water and his hat in the tub
THE bodv was left as it was until the
Coroner's Jury was summoned this morn
inc at 10 o'clock. 1t was found that Mer-
rift was shot In the right arm and In
the right side. The statement maze py
Harriet Smith was that Merritt mad en-
tered through a window in room known
as the sItting-room, which was unused
and unoccupied that she was awakeheu
by some one rapping on her door' which
was across the hall from the sitting
room. and upon asking who was tnere MI.
N,erritt renlied and gave his name, and
wanted the door opened. Upon Delng re-
fused this request he said that he would
break the door down.
GAVE THE ALARM.
IJpon this threat the woman ned WIN
her children by another exit and gave
the alarm, as stated above. Upon an eA-
animation of the premises pool Vi
blood was found at the kitchen door;
also. q broken lamp, which the woman
stated had been left In the Kitchen. MI
Merritt's horse was found hitched IN the
lane near by. 1t is stated that the shoot-
ing was done so close that the gun-waus
were found in Merritt's clothing. MT
Frenger was of the opinion that there
was another party with young Merritt,
hut the evidence before the coroner D
Jury did not bring forth the fact' BUN
parties concerned are young men hlsniy
connected and well-known people OF the
community. and the unfortunate snoouhg
&c much deplored. The verdict brought
I'm by the Coroners jury was "unlawiul
shooting, but not felony
This is the third person Killed III that
community within the past rev years
Cooper Cllnebell was killed by Cnarles
Carson on the outskirts OF the village
Young Carson was playing croquet Win
some young ladies', and ClneDell rode up
on horseback. They had had some trou-
bile before, and upon Clinebells Gazing
for Carson to come out carson pulied
pistol and killed him. James Apple
shortly afterwards killed young man
nayneJ NcGuffin on the streets of the
village.