The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-17
AFTER RAYMOND MEEK HAD FIRED POINT BLANK At
FRANK OTTO RAILsBAck, JOEL BRINGS HIM DOWN
WITH A CHARGE OF BUcKsHoT WHICH ENTERED
THE NECK, CAUSING ALMOST INSTANT DEATH.

ing morgue. Dr. w. W. Zimmerman,
who had been notified by Jeel Rails
back of the affair, before he surrend-
cred was one of the first from the city
to reach the place. He returned with
Frank Otto and took him to the hos
pital at once.
Adjoining Farms.
The Railsback and Meek families
occupy adjoining farms on the south
side of the National pike. There had
been bad blood between them for the
past four years, or ever since Meek
put up a new woven wire fence. The
Railsbacks claimed this fence had en-
croached upon their land and demand
ed its removal Meek would not take
1t down. Various conflicts had occur.
red between members OF the families
over the question Of the fence and the
elimination came this morning.
1t was early sunrise when Joel
Railsback aged 90 and his brothers
Larkin. aged 26 and Frank Jr., aged
"a, took their axes and, crossing the
blackberry patch, proceeded to the
fence. They intended to cut down the
posts and throw over the fence. One
post had been severad and the axes
had passed half way through another
when Alexander Meek. aged so, and
his son Raymond, aged %, rushed up
on the scene.
Lives Are Threatened.
The son was in the lead and in his
hands he clutched q double barreled
shot gun. The father brandished a
revolver. The Railsbacks were WELD.
ing their. axes when arrested by the
shouts of the Meeks. They were told
to stop under penalty of forfeiture OF
their lives. They began to parley
The Meeks appeared desperate and
Joel left his brothers and ran to the
house to procure shotgun. AS he
entered he told his father. mother and
other members of the family the
Meeks had come down and were goins
to shoot. Il must do something tc
protect the boys" answered Joel when
his parents demonstrated with him
taking the gun.
Mr.. and Mrs Railsback hurried to
the place of the dispute. about 1Oc
yards from the house. They jumped
into the thick of the fray and Joe
followed a few feet behind. Just as
Mrs. RAilsback grabbed her son Frank
and tried to shield him with her body
Raymond Meek discharged the shot
gun. The shots struck young Frank
in the left knee and he fell to the
ground exclaiming Hes got me-"
Flights With His Ak.
Raymond Meek turned and directed
his gun at the head Of Larkin Rails
back. who struck at him with an az
As he did so Joel Railsback fired his
gun. The load struck young Meek un
der the chin blowing 1t away and plow
ing through the upper part of the
throat into the head. Raymond fel
still holding to his gun.
All the time Alexander Meek had
been brandishing his revolver and
jumping about, as il to gain an advan
ageous place from which to shoot
When his sons body rolled backward
down the hillside. the father drew .
bead on the senior Railsback The
bullet passed through Railsback'.
trouser pocket just grazing the righ,
side. Old man Railsback fell bacl
and Joel therenpon leveled his CUR
upon the elder Meek and shot. MeeI
was struck square in the left side ol
the head and as he fell the revolver
dropped by his side. With the two
fatalities the shooting ended. Durinf
the melee the Railsback dog had rush
ed upon the scene and the senio,
Railsback told the members of his
family to take the wounded son and
go to the house. while he would stay
and keep the dog away from the bod
les until someone else came.
Bodies Are Covered.
Harmon Woke. 4 neighbor. was the
first upon the scene. He had heard
the shots fired and being acquainted
with the enmity between the Rens