Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-30
Farmer Yerkel Fired Two Shots
 at His Neighbor.
OFFICERS DID NOT ARREST HIM

He Promised to Be on Hand at the Town Court To-day-He Failed to
 Show Up and Delegation Went
 After Him-He Refused to Come
 Out of His House and is Still Barri-
 caded There With Provisions for
 Three Days.
 New Milford, Sept So.- Sylvester " Yerkel, the farmer who was reported to have fired two shots yesterday at neighbor, Arthur Benton, as the latter was driving past Yerkels house, was located by officers late last night. They found Yerkel at home, but as he prom ised to come into town to-day and give himself lip, and as he was known to have a rifle in the house, they did not attempt stoaforce an entrance. Speak ing from a window of his house, Yer- kel is said to have told the officers that he shot at Benson. and that he had good reason for doing so.
 When Benson reported the shooting yesterday he informed the authorities that he had always been on friendly terms with Yerkel and that he knew ;of, no reason why hisgneighbor should attemnt his life. He said he thought the unan had suddenly become mental lv unbalanced The promised appear ance of Yerkel for hearing to-day was exuected to clear up the mystery
 Early to-day the town constables and a throng of other interested c1tl- zens gathered In and about the court room. where Judge J. Butler MerWln was sitting in readiness for the arrlVal of Yerkel. But the. anxious giances cast up the road leading to "Polnt oL Mountain,'' where Yerkel lives. falleo Ia. show any sign of the much wanted eorn5 ay and it was decided that he ynllsf he again sought for. Judge Mer. win. three constables and a. posse Q citizens made up the deputatlon: The constables carried revolyers and some If inc citizens also took along weapons to provide against possible trouble.
 On arriving at the aerKel holIse mile and quarter out side the village. the cQnstables anu citizens disposed themselves about U so as to cover all the strategic polnts, and nrevent the occupants escape, xrbile Judge Merwin advanced from cover and shouted for Yerkel. When the latter appeared at a chamber Win dow the Judge who has been well ac- ouaffltad with him for years, invited him to come down and explain the shooting, yerkel replied instantly that he would never De taken alive. and that he would kill -himseir 1T they tried to capture him.
 Tudpe Merwin tried persuasion, but without effect, the man steadily refus- ing t0 leave the house Yerkel admit ted to the judge that he shot at Ben ton. and said lie did wrong and didn't know why he did it. He also declared that he had been wronged and that woman was mixed up in the matter, thouqh he would not go into details aho11t it. He appeared excited and his talk was somewhat incoherent. giving his hearers the impression that his mind was clouded.
 A conference of the besiegers was held and it was decided not to attempt at once to force the house, but to re- tire to convenient cover. and give Yerkel a chance to come out and walk into a trap The constables and some of the citizens therefore remained on the watch in the vicinity while Judge Merwin returned to town Some of the townspe0ple who were not in the uarty this morning declared afterward that more vigorous action should have been taken, but those who saw Yer kel,s determined appearance consider the prudent plan of the besiegers best. Asit is supposed that Yerkel has pro- visions enough to last him three or four days, there is a possibility that the wait for him may be long.
 Yerkel is we'll spoken of throughout the village. He is 70 years old and single, living alone on his farm of 40 acres, which he has cultivated with success for fifteen years. It is said that he has shown signs of moodiness for some time Tn a local paper re gently he inserted advertisements to the effect that there were certain ar ticles at his house which the owners must call for or he would not be re. sponsible for them In view of his present actions, this is now considered as evidence of bis peculiarly.
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