The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1930-01-30
SEES her HUSBAND 7
KILL HER BROTHER
Woman Witnesses Fatal
Climax to Old Dispute.

CeCarnurSt, l.. L-When Joseph
Flood married Catherine Lantry, sew
eral years ago, her brother, Francis,
made tremendous TODD about 1t. 1t
didn't help matters when the couple
went to live with the brides father,
John Lantry. For Francis reasoned
that the couple were planning to work
John Lantry's house away from him.
And that, of course-he made bold to
announce to the couple-meant that
he might lose his share Of the inheri-
lance.
That dispute developed rancorously
through the years. 1t reached tragic
climax one morning recently. And late
In the afternoon Magistrate John
Flood of New York city stood along
side his brother, Joseph, before JUS
tice Of the Peace Edward 7. Neu In
Lynbrook and entered for him plea
of not guilty to a charge of murder In
the first degree in the shooting of
Lantry.
Held Without Bail.
The defendant was held without bail
for the action of the grand jury which
began to take testimony to determine
whether the case was one Of murder
or, as the defendant and his wife in
sisted an accidental death resulting
from tussle Of the two men for
revolver with which Joseph Flood men,
aced his brother-in-iaw.
John Lantry, owner Of the disputed
house in this village, Is sixty years
old and retired. His son, Francis.
was thirty-fve, a plasterer married
and the father Of one child.
Joseph Flood is forty and manager
OF steamship ticket agency in New
York. He has two children, the old
est girl of Ave. He occupied room
on the second floor Of the three-story
home of John Lantry with one of his
children. His wife and the other
child slept in a room directly across
the hall.
For the last few years Francis Lar
try had held silence In the presence
OF his sister and brother-in-law.
speaking only when 1t was necessary
and then usually engaging in
wrangle over his suspicion that the
Floods were trying &c acquire the
house into which they had moved Cd
their marriage.
He rarely visited the home Of his
father. But he told his wife the
night before the shooting that he
would go over and shave 1t out with
the Floods" The quarrel endured for
hours. Francis Lantry informed his
father, In the presence of the Floods,
that the latter were plotting to get
the house away from him. He de-
manded the Floods move out.
Breaks Out Again.
The dispute finally quieted down
and Mrs. Flood went to her room.
Soon after, her huband went to his
own room. Francis Lantry helped his
father, who was i'll, toward the ia
theirs room. To reach it they passed
through the room occupied by Mrs.
Flood and her small daughter.
The elder Lantry stumbled and fell
to the floor at the threshold of his
room. His son, Francis, engaged with
his sister In a new dispute Their
words came In furious tones. Across
the hall, Flood, according to his
story later. believed Francis Lantry
was about to beat his sister. She
corroborated her husband on this
score.
Flood took .3S calibre revolver
from chiffonier. He stepped into
the hall just as his brother-in-law, too.
came into, the hall. The latter saw
the pistol in Floods hand, leaped
across and wrestled for 1t. The weapon
was discharged. Lantry fell to the
floor, a bullet through his right temple.
His sister lay screaming in bed. His
father lay on the floor in a stupor
The children were asleep. There was,
then, only one witness besides Flood,
and his wife. She telephoned Police
Lieutenant Edward Blunt immediately.
Neither husband nor wife made any
concealment Of the fact that Lantry
died OF wound inflicted by weapon
held by Flood Both. however, main
tanned unsweaviAgly that the killing
was an accident Flood said he had
NO intention OF firing, planning only
to menace his brother-In-law with the
revolver so that he would leave the
house.