The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-17
KILLED AT GREENVILLE
4 YOUNG MAN FORCIBLY BRE1KS
INTOA COLORED WOMANS MOUSE
She Seeks Protection of "A White Neighbor
Who Returning Kills the Intruder as
lie Comes from he House.

LEXINGTON, VA. December l6.-Spe-
cial.-Mr Edwin \. Merritt. son OF Cap
tain {. q. Merritt, was shot and killed at
the house of Harriet Smith (colored),
about two miles north OF Grccnyiile, Va,
this morning about CLOCK ~ Mf. hO-
bert " Frcnger.
Merritt went TO the wOmans house
about o'clock. entered the sitting room
by a window, ana crossed the nail over
TO her sleeping room. lie knocked al the
door for entrance, put Was refused. ho
threatened TO break uCwn me door me
woman left her house by side door with
her three children and fled 10 Mr fren-
gers house about five hundred yards
distant She aroused Mr. Frenger. who
went to her house with shotgun ac-
companicd by his mother.
THE FATAL SHOT.
Just before he reached the house he saw
a man coming out. and thinking that he
heard a pistol snapped several times ne
fired at the man. Seeing him idll ne
went up to him and recognized him as
Merritt.
lie took his mother back to the house.
and when he returned TO where Merritt
was he found him dead. lie left MN
where he lay until this morning for the
coroner's inquest.
The verdict Of the corOner's jury was:
"Unlawful shooting, but not felony.
ANOTHER PARTY.
1t Is thought that some one was with
Merritt but the evidence before the
coroner's jury did not disclose that fact.
Harriet Smith was widow whose
husband died last summer.
Mr. Frenger lives with his father' MI
l. A. Frenger. prosperous farmer
This is the third killing that has oc-
CURED at Greenville during the past Few
years-Charles Carson killed Cooper
Clinebell on the outskirts or GrfehNiile'
and a short while afterwards James APP
pie killed a young farmer by the name oi
McGuhin on the street.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT
STATNTON. VA, Dec. l6-Special.-
ia Merritt son of Chris Merritt. was
shot this morning about O'Clock ana
instantly killed. Mr.. Chris. VI erritt, one
OF the best-known men i'm Augusta coun-
~. lives near Greenville on the line OF me
baltimore and Ohio railroad. Near MN
lives John FrenCer, close neighbor ana
warm friend. Mr.. Frcnger. sr., mas a
son. Robert Frenger about twenly-hVe
wears old and Chris. Merritts son Robert
is about TWENTY-FIVE years old. The sons
are also good friends, never any trouble
DRANK HEAVILY.
Yesterday young Frenger was IN Staun-
ton selling Christmas turkeys ana paving
a GOOD time He drank heavily. Merritt
Vvos i'm Greenvillc and he was under the
influence OF liquor during the day on
tho Frenger place IS a tenant house IN
which last night there lived negro Wo-
,,so she was alone having lost her hus-
hand n few days ago. About 2 o'clock
Ed. Merritt went to this house and the
woman alarmed ran 10 the trenser
dwelling and reported that some one was
breaking into her house. Young freh-
ger Jumped up TO his gun and as ne ap-
preached the house. he saw man go.ns
away from It. He took ains and shot
and The man fell. Upon lifting up the talI-
en- form Frenger exclaimed Good Lord
I've killed Ed. Merritt
NEVER SPOKE.
Merritt never spoke he died immediate
w. DIR. Murray was sent for but could
do nothing Frenger Is greatly dis
tressed at killing his friend. Why Mer-
rift was at this house. will possibly never
be known. and why Frenger shot WITH
out hailing Is wonderful.
The shot, penetrated the right side
causing instant death. Frenger was
bailed.