The age-herald., 1901-12-28
SAYS HE KILLED REACH
 FOR MISTREATING SISTER
Shooting Occurred In a Restaurant, Reach Being Killed as He En. tered the Door-Stewart Ex-
 presses No Rregret.

Blocton, December -(SpeciaD-West Reach, a prominent citizen of Blocton, was shot and instantly killed this morn- ing by Tom Stewart, his brother-in-law. The deed was premeditated on the part of Stewart and when he surrendered to an officer he said he loaded his gun and left home with the intention of killing Reach, whom he claims had mistreated his wife. She is a sister of Stewart.
 At the time of the shooting Reach was unarmed. and 1t Is said was not expecting an attack from Stewart. He was standing in Frederick's restaurant which is sepa- rated from a pool room by a screen. Stew who had been standing behind this screen walked out and called to Reach to look that way. Reach turned around and as he did so Stewart fired, the entire load entering the neck and severing the jug ular vein.
 Stewart was accompanied by his brother and both of them are now in jail at Cen terville
 MT. Reach has been working out of the city for several weeks and had just come in town this morning He went up into the police court which was in session, listened to the proceedings and upon coming down stairs stepped across the street to the restaurant of Lewis Frede- rick.
 Stewart Waited for Him.
 Here Stewart waited for him and as Reach stepped into the front door he did not notice Stewart who hal cema from behind the screen. Stewart says he called to him to attract his attention as hes wanted Reach to be looking at him when he fired the shot that would take his life. West Reach, standing in the door with both hands in his pockets saw Stew art and at two guns length the shot was fired and the stalwart form fell heavily out of the door. Neither hand falling from its pocket He never uttered sound.
 After firing the fatal shot Stewart quiet ly turned back toward the pool room in which Policeman Billy" Thrasher had but a few minutes before entered, he changed ends with his gun and presented the butt end to the officer
 Stewart Makes Statement.
 Tom Stewart, while in the city jail a few minutes after the tragedy, said:
 West Reach is my brother-in-law. He married my sister and he has mistreated and abused her for years, and I had put up with 1t long enough. My brothei and l had often gotten after him about 1t but 1t did no good. He continued his abuse to my sister, sometimes choking her terribly, until a few days ago. when they separated. Then I heard yesterday that he threatened to kill me and my brother here. so this morning just load ed my gun and started out to kill him. Is he dead?"
 Upon being told that Reach was dead he turned and sat down, looking as calm as if nothing unusual had transpired
 Tom Stewart Is a young man of perhaps 23 or "A years, of fair complexion, medium stature, and is a quiet, self-possessed young man of intelligent and rather pleasing appearance. He has never been known to engage in a difficulty of any kind. His brothers are also quiet law abiding young men. The brothers are all well known and respected in the com munity. The Stewart family is an old. highly-respected family. None have ever been known to be involved in any kind of trouble before.
 West Reach was born and reared at Crawl Reach Spring, near Blocton, as were his father and grandfather before him.
 The tragedy created a sensation here, as both men were well connected and have many friends. Reach and Stewart were both sober at the time of the killing