Delaware State Journal And Statesman

Terrible Affray—A Son attempts to Murder his Father, and then escapes.—On Tuesday night, at about quarter past eight o'clock, parties living in the vicinity of West street, between Front and Second streets, were startled by pistol firing and loud screams proceeding from a house in the neighborhood, occupied by an aged man named Adams, his wife and son. For a time the excitement was intense, and crowds of people gathered outside the house, endeavoring to discover the cause of all the commotion. At the foot of the stairs lay the wife, and a report was soon circulated through the crowd that she had been shot by her husband. A policeman was sent for, and the following revelations were made : It seems that the son has but recently been discharged from the army, and since his return home has borne anything but the best of characters. On the night of the affray he and his mother had been imbibing rather freely of the ardent, and took it into their heads to administer to the old gentleman a sound thrashing He being a quiet, inoffensive person, highly respected by all who knew him, was soon overcome by the superior numbers. The young villain, not content with beating his father, drew a large navy revolver and fired at him, but fortunately the bullet failed to reach the victim for whom it was intended, and the father escaped serious injury. In the excitement of the moment the cowardly miscreant succeeded in making his escape. The officers in attendance thinking that they had no jurisdiction in the matter, made no arrests. It is time some effort was being made to break up the gangs of ruffians who make this locality their head-quarters. The order-loving citizens are left entirely at their mercy, and they render it unsafe for persons walking the streets. The sidewalks and corners there are as much obstructed by impudent loafers as are those of Market street, where it is a notorious fact that ladies are continually subjected to insults and other annoyances by these corner frequenters.