New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-17
INSANE, KILLS DEPUTY.
MIKES FORT OF HOUSE.
Sheriff and Over Serenity Wen Sur
round Farmers Home-Fred 1T.

county 5aE. WAS shot and killed this morning by
-,,-bin Reeve, oemented farmer Of Aqueoogue.
.r-.e miles from Riverhead. Reeve is tonight
,.ssieged in his home by Sheriff Preston and a
-,sse. which does not approach within gunshot.
pasve can be seen al intervals. He always has
..s run Even while cooking his supper he
-s--ied the gun across his left arm. he would
:. an easy mark for 4 rife wnen he peers from
4, window. with the light behind him. but the
sse-ir wants 20 take him alive Raford had
-o-s n the house TO serve an execution.
7,,thfH Reeve lived alone in a small house on
ea-rn in Aquebogue. For years he had been
,-sf5e-e5 queer but harmless. He intend
= n become a lawyer. being wei educated. and
/. uss while studying for the bar that symp-
.o-,s OF insanity developed. He also drank
heavily
recent he had considerable trouble over
--o-sv. The executors Of his fathers estate
.,-ourh Nathan 4 Downs, his uncle and an
executor. requested physicians 10 examine him
ss 70 his sanity
Meanwhile Ernest ". Tooker sued Reeve and
o5rsinea a Judgment for $10+ The execution
uas PLACED I'm The hands OF Shezn Preston
rbo this morning started with Captain Raf-
eo-d ~ serve il They drove in a buggy. and
s--fving ~ Reeves house. Captain Raford
.Ugb-e5 from the buggy II was cold and the
sbe-r decided TO drive up the road. instead OF
waiting When he got hack he saw Raford's
bodv short distance from the front door
SEEING q man hurrz-inE down the road. the
Sheriff deciding 81 was Reeve got into his
buggy and started I'm pursuit He found the
-nsn was Gilbert Eleazer a half-breed SHINE
cock Indian. who had seen the shooting.
SHOT WITHOUT WARNING
The Sheriff. after hearing the mans story. de-
c,5sd II would he fooIhardy 10 try TO arrest
Fgeszar here. EIeazsr said RaTord had to 20
- the rear door. and entered after knock
f,e Fleazar declared he himself went into
Reeves house little before Rafford. He knew
10Th men well Ranord because he had been in
jail himself RaTord had explained the paper
IN rentIeuanIy way Reeve went into the
other room and they heard him moving about
Like fash The shot was fired right by Eleazar's
bes6 and Raford stra ightened up and fell back
ward. Then Reeve fred again. said Eleazar.
and as ne did so he said: Il give him execu-
uons"
Eleazar declared he was afraid Reeve would
XIII him. TOO. so he ran out before the gun could
be loaded again The whole Of the Two charges.
10 said. entered RsTord's body-
Eieazsr declared later that some days ago
Reeve told hlm that any person who came on
MS properly 70 bother him about money would
not leave it alive he says Reeve usually had
considerable powder and shot tn the house as
he went hunting frequently.
IS supposed that Immediately after the
Indian left the house Reeve dragged the body
OUTSIDE
There was long delay over taking any steps
70 remove the body or arrest Reeve Finally
an undertaken removed the body 10 his place
Reeve did not interfere with the undertaken
An examination showed that the chest had been
tori hv The charges. one Of which also ripped
ths hear 70 piece The Shertr declared that
had he known - Reeves mental condition he
would rot have allowed Rarord TO enter the
house. and declared il was grossly criminal for
ne man 10 he Al large II all the tales told were
true
SEVENTY MEN N POSSE
TIE shertrfs posse numbered severity men,
but IT was later added 70. They were posted so
that in The darkness II would be impossible for
Reeve To get away. Owing TO the cold weather
there had 10 be frequent reHefs. A hotel some
distance from the farm was made headquarters
Reeve spent most Of the time in his kitchen.
his gun with him The Sheriff said he would
rot Try 10 rush the house. as 10 do that would
cost Hfe al least Eleazar offered 10 try 10
capture the farmer. his plan being TO go to the
door and knock. He felt sure Reeve would ad-
MI hin The Sheriff refused 10 allow this dur
ing the night though he may consent in the
morning. for he believed Reeve would shoot
Eleazar in the darkness IN mistake for one Of
The deputies
Finally plan was formed 70 freeze Reeve
out Reeve was attracted 10 one side Of the
house and when II was certain ne was not
range shot was fired through a window shat
tertng the panes Of glass and permitting the
wind 70 enter Reeve fred into the darkness
straight ahead. where there was no one the
destructive shot having been fired from a sharp
angle Tollevs OF stones were hurled at the
house 50 as 10 break all the windows. ard IL is
believed that every pane ot glass has bean shat
tsree. Reeve meanwhile fired several times
again.
AGAIN TAKE Up WATCH
his having been accomplished the besegers
retired out Of range az in and took up the
watch Some Of the men entered the far side
q the barn on Reeves place this evening and
gave The livestock much needed attention It is
believed that Reeve may try 20 attend 10 their
wants IT. The morning. and Il he does an attemp:
nay Be made then 70 get him. The sherin's
men fessted tonight on the milk from Reeves
ooTE Nathan a Downs. Reeves uncle, has been
assured that nothing violent viii he done Reeve
MI have 10 give IN sooner or later District At
io'nsy Livingston Smith arrived here this even
Ag. Some one hinted al burning the house. but
f" aot thought this viii be done
DeEpife the frequent reliefs. the men were
t11sr1lg greatly from the cold Late tonight
ne Sheriff came here and conferred with the
District Attorney. An hour later ne returned 10
ne farm
Later stIIi. Reeve fred several more shots. mt
ting no one however. After hring one Of these
10 leaned out of window au6 yelled something
nat sounded like diving game" The Sheriff ce-