The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1956-06-21
Husband Stays
Wife, Landlord
Event Occurs Saturday Night
At Turner-DougIus, Near
Garrett County Line

A Preston county miner Benton
w Alexander, AZ, of Turner Doug
las, just across the line from Car
rett county admitted Sunday that
he shot TO death his wife Nora, and
their landlord, Stephen A. Mclish,
on Saturday night
Prosecutor James T. Daley, Jr.,
said Alexander signed a statement
admitting he shot them after find
ing them in the Alexander bed
room. The AlcXandcrs. with two of
their five children. had lived in
the Melish home for the past
month.
Daley quoted Alexander that he,
his 34-year-old wife and the 49,
year-old Melish went on drinking
spree Friday night after he and
Melish received their pay Mclish
also was miner.
AleXander's story continued:
They visited various beer halls
across the Maryland line at Oak
land and shopped at Crcllin before
returning to their four-room house
Saturday evening
The AleXanders and their two
children slept in a double bed in
one room Of the house and Melish
slept on a cot in another room
After more drinking Alexander
went to sleep ON Mclish's cot When
he awokc, the lights were out. In
his room he found Mclish and his
wife asleep.
Alexander searched for his auto
matte % calibcr rifle and finally
found it under the bed He loaded
it in the pantry returned TO the
bedroom, and turned on the lights
Melish woke up and he shot him.
He fired his other round at his
wife when she woke up shortly
afterward. Alexander then fired
two more shots at Melish before go
ing to relatives nearby, who called
the police.
Sheriff r. w. Schooley of Pres
ton county said both bodies were
on the bed apparently untouched.
Both were shot in the head. Mrs.
Alexander was fully clothed eX-
cept for her shoes. Melish had on
only his underwear. There were no
signs of a struggle, Schooley said.
Held for Grand Jury
At a hearing in KingWood on
Tuesday Alexander was ordered
held without bond fer action of the
October Grand Jury in Preston
county on two counts of murder.
He is charged with Staying his
wife Mrs. Nora Alexander 81, and
Stephen A. Mclish, 40. The hearing
was held before Magistrate F. w.
Pritt
Funeral services for Mrs. Alex
ander were conducted from the
Bolden Funeral home in Oakland
with Rev. Ralph Jacks officiating.
Burial was in Deer Park cemetery
Mrs. Alexander was born at Free
port. w. Va, a daughter of Mrs.
Tina Sisler Friend and the late AL
len Butler.
Besides her husband she is sur
vived by two daughters, Mrs. Pa
tricia Ann ellsworth and Miss Ar
lene Alexander, both at home;
three sons, James Robert Alex
ander, Benton Edward Alexander
and Farris A. Alexander, also at
home; two sisters, Mrs. Opal Wat
ring, Terra Alta; and Mrs. Mary
Sisler, McCoolc; two brothers, Or
val and Merrill Butler both of
South Bend Ind.
Melish was born at Johnstown,
son of Andrew and Dorothy
Yagersky Melish. He is survived
by a brother, Johil Mclish, Creigh-
ton, Pa; three sisters, Mrs. Anna
Natalia, Butler, Pa; Mrs. Helen
Brisko, Connellsville, Pa; and Mrs.
Pauline Contensso, Detroit, Mich.
The body was taken to the David
son Funeral home in MorgantoWn.
Funeral services for Melish were
held Wednesday afternoon from the
Davidson Funeral home with Rev.
Edward A. Griffin, pastor of st.
Ursula Catholic church, officiating.
Intermcnt was in Beverly Hills Me
mortal Gardens at MorgantOwn.