Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-07
"S|GN, OR TIL KILL YOU
Thus Spoke Jared Shaw To
 Charles Graham.

IO-MOrrOW.
 The crisis to four years of trouble between Charles Graham and Jared | Shaw, neighbors, in Oakville, was | reached this morning in an alleged at | tempt on the part of Shaw to kill | Graham. Later Shaw was arrested on Exchange place, charged with assault | ing Graham for the purpose of intimi- | dating him. The matter will be fully 1 told in the city court tomorrow morn- | ing. The story told by Graham is as follows:
 Four years ago Graham bought his farm, and almost immediately he had trouble with Shaw over a broken fence. He asked, and requested and advised Shaw to repair his portion of the fence because Shaw's cows entered through it upon Graham's land, causing Gra- ham great annoyance. Graham finally repaired the fence at his own expense. sum of about $1O0. Even this did not mend matters between the neigh bors. Shaw's cows broke another ave- nue through the fence, so that state which might be termed as continual hot water existed between the neigh bors
 Graham was tired of taking care of Shaw'S cows until Shaw called for them. At length, about two months ago. Graham determined to put a stop to the annoyance. He refused to re- turn one of Shaw's trespassing cows unless he were paid for his trouble of keeping it. and also for the expense of maintaining it while ill his care. Word to that effect was sent Shaw, but he paid no attention to it. Two weeks passed and still Shaw did not call or send for his COW. Thereupon Graham, upon the advice of his counsel, Judge Lowe, published his intention of selling the COW at auction to recover the ex- pense it had entailed upon him. Word of the proposed sale was sent Shaw and two days before the sale was to take place Shaw replevined his cow. This was the beginning of a series of minor law suits. Graham entered a plea of abatement through Judge Lowe, Attorney Phelan appearing for Shaw. Judge Peasley, who heard the matter, decided the contention against Shaw, but ordered that Shaw should pay the cost; he could keep his COW. The decision of the court irritated Shaw; he did not like the idea of being compelled to pay for the maintenance of his own COW upon another mans premises, nor did he propose to settle without inquiring further into the per picking and Irritating situation. Two or three times he was asked to settle and each time he asked for a postpone ment. The law may be lax in some matters, but i'll financial affairs it is i'm nNy fsoI IN1 idea of compulsion hanging continually over his head goaded him into unlaw- ful action this morning at o'clock. Graham arose first in his house this morning. He was repairing the fire in his Kitchen, half dressed, when he heard loud summons at his door. as though some one had pounded it with 1 a heavy stone or stick. Thinking if was some neighbor who wanted milk he made no haste in responding. and in a second or two the knocking on the door was repeated. There was de- mand for haste in the knock this time | and Graham hurried to the door, Upon unlocking it the door was pushed against him from the outside and fha next second the shining barrel of ra- volver was staring into his face ha- 1 tween his eyes.
 TWO glaring eyes glanced aIon0 .ba barrel of the weapon and into his and SnaW, who 1t was that held the weap- OH, pulled paper from his pocket and pushing toward Graham tanla
 banged the paper down on it and then 1 demanded Of Graham to receipt if
 holding the weapon up against Ora nam lace the while. The paner
 was Graham's bill of costs that had been allowed by the court.
 l Graham was shocked with surprise.
 He was unable to move or speak for a while, but kept his eyes on the nuz- gle of the weapon Twice Shaw de-
 manded of him to sign the pape, or he would kill him. At length Graham said he had nothing to do with the bill and then he suddenly tiew at Shaw. He grasped his right hand that held the weapon with his own left and
 with his right pressing on his throat directly under the chin held his head upward against the wall of tha house.
 Tn this position the men stood for a
 moment Then there followed a
 struggle for supremacy. Graham,
 surmising that it would be all up with
 him ii he proved the weaker man,
 was given strength by the danger of | hi'o POoAIAOds AlC llitllldSeu lO- ScI III
 q heavy blow on Shaw's stomach l which doubled up Shaw, and a1iotner
 under the left ear. Before Shaw had
 recovered from the effects of the
 blows. Graham had fled up to his
 room and aroused lis wife and a
 boarder named Hart. From Hart he
 tried to borrow a revolver, bur Hart
 refused to give it. Mrs Graham, hay
 ing dressed, went out on the landing
 outside her room and found Shaw
 there with his revolver ready for her
 husband. There was considerable
 commotion i'll the house now, for ap-
 parently Shaw had the upper hand of
 things. Hart finally found Shaw on
 the landing and took the revolver from him, thus removing all danger.
 Graham then came to town and had d
 warrant issued for the arrest of Shaw.
 Two days ago. Graham says, Shaw
 asked his brother-in-law, George Han-
 ma, to lend him his revolver. Hanna said it was no good; it was rusty and
 would not kill a fly. Shaw replied
 that such q weapon would be of no
 value to him; he wanted one that
 would shoot straight Where he got the revolver with which he is charged n with attempting to kill Graham has