Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 34, Number 190, 17 May 1909 — Page 1

i VOL. XXXIV. NO. 190.

nicimoiav nox, tjoOTAT evening, may 17, 1909. SINGLE COPY, 3 CENTS. KM) WiflUD M

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Culmination of a line Fence Feud Between the Members oi the Meelc and Rallsback Families, Residing Two Miles West of the City on the National Road, Came This Morning, and Amid the Wlldflowers Alexander Meek and His Son Raymond, Meet Their Death, While Frank Railshack, and His Son Frank Otto Railsback Are wounded, the latter quite Seriously The Two Meeks Were Slain By the Deadly Shotgun Operated By Joel Railsbc&jWho States He Shot in Defense of His Father, Mother And Brothers. Hundreds Are Attracted fenet Fight After Rapid Spread of News.

mm TROUBLE OVER THE FENCE

DAY WHEN THE RAILSBACKS, ARMED WITH AXES, STARTED OUT TO HEW IT DOWN-AFTER ONE POST HAD BEEN CHOPPED DOWN, THE MEEKS, EACH ARMED, ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND ORDERED THE RAILSBACKS TO DESIST UNDER THE PENALTY OF THEIR LIVES.

MLSBACK SMCOTS WITH DEADLY PRECISION

AFTER RAYMOND MEEK HAD FIRED POINT BLANK AT FRANK OTTO RAILSBACK, JOEL BRINGS HIM DOWN ; WjTH A CHARGE OF BUCKSHOT, WHICH ENTERED . w THE NECK, CAUSING ALMOST INSTANT DEATH.

RAILSBACK DOG : TfilES TO TEAR BODIES OF DEAD After Shooting Started, Infuriated" Beast Rushes on the ; Scene,; But Held Off by the Elder Railsback. ; SJ-AYER SURRENDERED HIMSELF TO SHERIFF fOld Man Railsback, Who Suf- - fered a Slight Thigh Wound, ; Calmly Discusses Affair, , -. After Shooting. Y " 1 " ' WOMAN SHIELDS HER SON MR8. RAIL8SACK GRABS HER SON, FRANK OTTO, BUT THE i CHARGE FROM RAYMOND'S GUN ' ENTERS HIS LEG. Alexander Meek Killed. N Raymond Meek Killed. " Frank Railsback, ' 8r Seriously wounded; shot in the thigh. Frank Railsback, Jr. Seriously wounded; kneecap shot off. Amid beautiful rural settings in a f picturesque locality, one of the most Uieadly line fence feuds that ever has been waged In the state came to a .faftal ending between 3 and 6 o'clock ithls morning, about two miles west of the city. Alexander Meek, a prosperous fanner and his son Raymond, a young . college student, . are dead. Frank Otto Railsback, a caller and yard clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad company, is In the hospital with his left knee shot away and Joel Railsback, a brother, who shot the Meeks is behind the bars at the county jail. Frank Otto Railsback was shot , by Raymond Meek. Frank Railsback Sr. the father of Frank Otto and Joel received alight flesh wound on the right thigh from a bullet aimed at him with deadly intent by Alexander Meek. The Meeks and .Frank. Otto Railsback were brought down by shot guns. The senior Railsback was wounded by a thirty-eight caliber revolver bullet. - -y t Carry Wounded Away. Immediately following the shooting. Joel Railsback assisted bis brother Larkin. another ; participant in the quarrel that preceded the shooting, to carry Frank Otto to" the house. , Joel then walked the two miles to the city, went to the county jail and told Sheriff Meredith be believed be bad killed two men. He said there had been a fight and some shooting done. He appeared Quite cool and collected and rent behind the bars without a visible tremor. The coroner was notified by neighbors and hastened to the scene. An undertaker was summoned, and took care of the bodies. They were removpA to the Wilson, Ponlmeyer Down-

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HAD EXISTED FOR SOME Ing morgue. Dr. W. W. Zimmerman, who had been notified by Joel Railsback of the affair, before he surrendered was one of the first from the city to reach the place. He returned with Frank Otto and took him to the hospital 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 encroached upon their land and demanded its removal. i! Meelc would not take it down. Various conflicts had occurred between members of the famines over the Question of the fence and the culmination came this morning. It was early sunrise when Joel Railsback ;, aged 29 and bis brothers Larkin, aged 26 and Frank Jr., aged 24, took their axes and, crossing the blackberry 4 patch, proceeded to the fence. They intended to cut down the posts and throw over the fence. One post bad been severad and the axes had passed half way through another, when Alexander Meek, aged 50, and his son Raymond, aged 22, rushed up on the scene. - Lives Are Threatened. The son was in the lead and in his hands he clutched a double barreled shot gun. The father brandished a revolver. The Railsbacks were wielding 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 tox procure a shotgun. As he entered he told his father, mother and other members of the family the Meeks bad come down and were going to shoot "I must do something to protect the boys," answered Joel when his parents remonstrated with him taking the gun. Mr. and1 Mrs. Railsback harried to the place of the dispute, about 100 yards from the house. They jumped into the thick of the fray and Joel 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 shotgun. The shots struck young Frank in the left knee and he fell to the ground exclaiming "He's got me." . Fights With His Ax. Raymond Meek turned and directed his gun at the head of Larkin Railsback, who struck at him with an ax. As he did so Joel Railsback fired bis gun. The load struck young Meek under the chin blowing it away and plowing through the upper part of the throat into the head. Raymond fell still holding to his gun. All the time Alexander Meek bad been brandishing his revolver and jumping about, as if to gain an advanageous place from which to shoot. When his son's body rolled backward down the hillside, the father drew a bead on the senior Railsback. The bullet ' passed through Railsback's trouser pocket just erasing the right side. Old man Railsback fell back and Joel thereupon leveled his gun upon the elder Meek and shot. Meek was struck square in the left side of t He. head and as he fell the revolver dropped by his side. With the two fatalities the shooting ended. During the melee the Railsback dog had rushed upon 1 the scene and the senior 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 bodies until someone else came. Bodies Are Covered. Harmon Wolke, a neighbor, was the first upon the scene. He had heard the shots fired and being acquainted with the ' enmity between the Bafie-

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TIME AUrn CRISIS CAME

backs 'and Meeks divined their meaning. He ran across the fields to where the two bodies lay with their heads down the hillside. Percy Lankert, another neighbor, came soon, having heard the Bhots. Wolke left to telephone to the city for an undertaker and to notify the authorities. Upon his return, he and Lankert drove stakes and placed a covering of canvas and old carpet over the bodies, so as to protect them from the rays of the bright sun. The shooting took place just about 150 yards south of the pike. Meek's pasture adjoins Railsback's berry patch here. It was on a grass covered slope of a little ravine. Spring beauties and anemonies were flourishing and their white petals were stained crimson by the blood that trickled down the hillside. Parts of the elder Meek's brains that were blown from the skull were scattered about and later spectators used the axes with which the posts bad , been cut to chop out pieces of sod to cover the bits of matter. - -;-.": All Are Prominent. Both the Railsback and Meek families are well known in the community. Alexander Meek moved to the place from Abington township about seven teen years ago. The land was fairly good and by dint of careful saving and close cultivation, the ground had been made to amass comfortable means. J In recent years prosperity had befallen j him to such an extent that he had con-; tracted but recently for the erection of a $3,000 residence. The little hut-like house that had sheltered the family for so many years was moved from its foundations and the excavation bad been made for the foundation of the new structure. The contract had been awarded the man for whom Joel Railsback has been working as a carpenter, and had it not been that Railsback. now has killed Meek, he would have been employed on the latter's house, despite family differences and fence quarrels. . Origin of the Trouble. The dispute about the fence originated four yeaYs ago. when Meek erected a woven wire fence along what ne claimed was the west line of his farm. The Railsbacks said he had encroached about three feet onto their land. Meek refused to move his fence and recently Meek put up a barbed wire fence for a portion of the distance. This v Is. along what a surveyor designated the proper line. There was a "devil's lane" between his woven wire and barbed wire fences. Neighbors say he put up the new fence,-fearing the Railsbacks would tear down the other and thus permit Meek's stock to get onto the Railsbacks premises and give them a cause for civil action. Cut Down the Posts. But the new fence did not extend beyond the corner where the Railsback berry patch begins. The feud was renewed when the barbed wire fence was stopped at this point by joining onto the old fence. Last February, upon the advice of their attorneys, it is claimed, the Railsbacks went forth with their axes and cut down the poets for a -distance of 100 feet. But Meek propped the posts ' up and ' the wire held them in place. Hostilities continued and on February .25, of this year there was a display of firearms. Joel Railsback and the elder Meek had an argument and Meek threatened to use a revolver. He jerked the weapon from his pocket but Railsback grabbed him and induced him to restore It before any injury bad been inflicted. Since that episode both families have been expecting trouble. It was claimed by neighbors today they " had understood the Meeks had been- carrying arms for some time In anticipation of meeting one or more of the Railsbacks " at some time when. -blood might be shed. The entire community has been aware of the ill feeling that has existed and previously; lawyers had been appealed to, to try and settle the controversy. Neighbors Intercede. The Railsbacks have been in consultation with the firm of Jeseup Jessup several times. The old man Railsback claims his attorneys had advised him to protect his Interests, bat not sUvt any trouble. Net have at

AT AN EARLY HOUR TO

tempted several times to pacify the quarreling factions and at one time two neighbors acted as a board of arbitration to decide where the fence should be run. Railsback offered to give six inches of a foot of the disputed territory. He was to have possession of a pear tree that figured in the squabble. Meek consented at first but afterward changed his mind and hostilities were resumed. As soon as they learned of the tragedy Mrs. Meek and her daughter. Hazel, who is about eighteen years old, became hysterical. Their condition was so critical that at first neighbors expected that their lives, too, might be sacrificed as the result of the fence. Mrs. Meek became so crazed that all efforts to induce her composure were fruitless. She was taken to the home of a neighbor and there her ravings continued. Her daughter was frantic but after about three hours of grieving became somewhat calmed. Mrs. Meek remained in such a state of nervous collapse that the services of a physician were needed. Sheriff on the Scene. As .soon as he learned of the affair, Sheriff Meredith -hurried to the place. He went to the Railsback: home- and i sitf the sfcotgonv Med by- JoeLlt contained two empty shells. The shotgun that lay on the body of young Meek contained one 'empty and one loaded shell. The revolver which had been used by Alex Meek1 contained one discharged cartridge shell and another showed where the hammer had hit, but It failed to explode. The guns, revolver and the hat of the senior Meek were taken by the sheriff for evidence. The hat was an old, black slouch, and was completely riddled by the small bullets. . ,, ' " After examining the bodies of the dead men, Coroner Bramkamp began his inquest. He took the testimony of Frank: Railsback, Sr., and his wife's. Mrs. Meek's condition was such, that the official could not secure an account of the story from her. The elder Railsback maintained throughout his account that his son Joel had shot to defend Frank, Jr. and Larkin. "Old Woman" Jumps In. In his version of the affair, the Railsback father said: "Joel came in and said he had to do something to protect the boys. Me and the old woman told him not to get the gun, but he did. and when he went into the wardrobe after it we ran down to the fence. We found Alex and Raymond just about to shoot. The old woman jumped in and as she grabbed Frank, Raymond shot him. TMlle kept screaming and. while 'I was looking at Raymond. I heard a gun fired and the bullets whiszed by my head. I saw Raymond throw up his hands and fall backward. I supposed Joel had shot him. Somebody yelled "Ma's bit" and Just then I felt a bullet that Alex imtiri at me strike mr leg. Hes a pretty bad shot or else was awful ex fitA. Then I saw Alex go over. He fell riant back on his back. It an excitable time, I tell you. If ever I was in an excitable time, that was it. The others carried Otto up to the honse and I staid to keep the dog off. Harm Wolke came across the field and then Percy Lankert came over. Felt Something Coming. "I had felt something was coming for a long time. Saturday the line for the fence was staked out and then in the night somebody pulled up the stakes ' This morning I stayed at the house while Joel, Lark and Otto went down to chop the fence down. I call him Otto because my name's Frank, too, and we do it so as not to get con fused. It was only a short time afterward that Joel rah in for the gun. Just as we got there Otto was shot down and then a bullet came through my ' pants. The Meeks were ' at the fence defying my boys and daring them to touch the fence. Otto tried to argue them out of using the guns. He said to Raymond. Take that gun off of me just as Raymond shot him. Otto fell rUbt at " his mother's' feet, then Raymond pointed the can at Lark's head; Joel was 15 or 20 feet from, the fence and I heard a shot and saw Raymond falL I -am sure Joel shot to save Lark's life. I had always forbid the" boy's to take any firearms and they went down to cut the fence without so much as pocket knives for weapons. Tttile . kept screaming and - it seemed everybody was yelling." . , Wfeem the undertakers

the scene, the bodies of the Meeks bad grown stiff. They had been left lying in 'the field in exactly the same position in which the men fell. Raymond Meek was a well known farmer. He was 22 years old. He had been a good student and graduated from high school. He had been a student at Earlham college, also. Neigh

bors say his disposition was pleasant for the most part, but that his temper sometimes overpowered his control of it. It was asserted by a neighbor that the trouble over the fence had been preying on the mind of the elder Meek for several months. It was said he has been nervous lately and appeared worried at all times. He was fifty years old. Prosecutor Investigates, Prosecutor Ladd was one of the early arrivals on the scene. He began tak ing notes and making an investigation at once. He was not prepared to state if he will call the grand jury. The only witnesses of the shooting were members of the Railsback family and they claim self defense was responsible for the murder, as the Meeks acted as the aggressors. At the jail today, Joel said he shot to defend himself and brothers as he fully expected the Meeks would try to kill all of them. Joel points to the fact he did not shoot until after Raymond had fired at his younger brother, as evidence in his favor. High School Graduate. Joel Railsback is a graduate of the Richmond high school. He also at tended the local business college. At high school he was regarded as a peaceful, quiet farmer boy and seldom gave his teachers any trouble. He has a first class reputation. This point will prove favorable to him at the time of the trial, it is thought. .FoilowiBSh -tragedy, the members of the Railsback family appeared very cool and collected. At the hospital Frank Jr. appeared interested only in his own condition. The knee cap has been replaced and although the injury may' prove a permanent disablement, it is not believed the leg will have to be amputated. Young Frank claims trouble had been expected, but nothing so serious had been looked for. Frank Railsback, Sr. was quite dis posed to talk of the case. During the inquest he persisted in diverging from his main story to speak of minor de tails. His health has not been good recently and today he seemed to be suffering from an affliction of the lungs. Mrs. Railsback Cool. One of the coolest and . most col lected persons of the seven involved was Mrs. Railsback. With one son a murderer, behind jail bars, and another at the hospital suffering from se vere injuries, she did not appear wor-j ried in the least She went about her household duties with her customary vigor. She believes her son shot in self defense and in her eyes it appears as a hero, who saved his brothers, father and herself from probable death. Hundreds Visit Scene. The scene of the fight was visited today by hundreds of visitors. News of the affair spread throughout the city with wonderful speed. By 9 o'clock there had been 100 persons to view, the bodies, which at that time had not been moved. Automobiles and all kinds of vehicles were pressed into service. The interurban cars hauled dozens of persons to the scene. The cars stop directly in front of the door of the Meek home. The camera man was there and several pictures were taken of the hillside on which the two men met death. The men with cameras did not arrive until after the bodies had been removed. There were the souvenir fiends, also. These plucked splinters from the fence post at which Larkin and Frank Railsback were chopping when the Meeks arrived. Wlldflowers that grew about the place, as If In mockery, were plucked for bouquets. Several women were among the number of visitors to the scene. No steps have been taken as to the day of the funeral of the father and son. The details will be attended to by relatives. It is probable It will be a double funeraL Singular Coincidence. - A singular coincidence is the fact James R. Meek, father of Alexander Meek, met death lit a spectacular manner. He "died after an assault committed on him by William Gates. Meek resided In Abington township. Gates and a party of friends were picking blackberries in the Meek patch, when be appeared and ordered them out: An argument followed and Gates struck the old man. He fell over dead." At the trial it was claimed death resulted from apoplexy and not the blow. The jury accepted the plea. Gates wss found guilty of assault and battery and was fined S50 and costs. The occurrence was in 1990. The outcome of the trial resulted in a deluge of criticism. Soon afterward Gates left this section of the- country.

NET OVER $1,

AT MARKET SALE Booths Sold Saturday at Very Good Figures. Marketmaster Joseph ' Walterman was unusually successful in the sell ing of stalls at the South Sixth and A market house, Saturday afternoon, approximately $1,009 being received from the sales.. The sale was by auction and was spirited from the first. The average price received was about $20 a stall. The stands, on the corner of Sixth and South A streets. seemed especially desirable to the gardeners, judging from the number seeking them. WILL OF SllBVRIIE London, May 17. The will of the late Algernon Charles Swinburne was filed today and shows his estate to be worth $121,412. All OLD CASE HEARD Argument on the demurrer in the case of the' Citizens' and Merchant' National Bank of Bryant, Ind.. against Ben Miller, living near this city, was made in the circuit court this morn ing by Thomas J. Study. This case is celebrated only for the long time it has been on the docket books. LOIIG RETURIIED: POLICE III DARK Relatives of Missing Man Forgot to Notify Officers. Martin Long returned to the home of his son-in-law W. S. Harvey. 31 North West Third street. Saturday night, while the police were making a thorough search of the city for him. The Harvey's "forgot" to notify the police and the department knew nothing of Lamb's return until yesterday morning. He left home Saturday noon and is believed to have sought refuge in a haymow while the heavy rain storm was in progress. He is quite old and somewhat eccentric INCOME TAX WAS SUBJECT OF TALK Senator Sutherland Airs Views To Senate Today. - Washington, May 17. In the senate today, Senator Sutherland spoke on the income tax, contending that this form of taxation should be reserved to the state except in case of absolute necessity. II1SPECTIQII MADE Bll CITY OFFICEJIS See the Dust Proof Streets of Cincinnati. Fred Charles, city' engineer. Edwin Dye, street commissioner, and Watson P. O'Neal, of the board of works, inspected the streets of Cincinnati, treat, ed with Tarvia. Saturday. They- were the guests of the Cincinnati Arm manufacturing the composition. That the substance prevents dust was agreed by all. It is probable a report will be made to council this evening. THE WEATHER PROPHET. INDIANA Fair and warmer Tuesday. Palladium

With customary promptness the first news of the Meek murder case was given to the general public today by The Palladium. The Palladium was on the streets-fifteen minutes in advance of the other local evening. paper, which issued an extra, also. Just another indication that r the Palladium is the most progressive paper ; la the - city. -Watch for more of them. .r- ' " --

DETAILS OF CASE SLOWLY OIIOAVEL Police Think They Can Throw Light on the Providence Mystery.

FIND AN IMPORTANT CLUE IT IS NOW GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT MISS REGISTER WAS STRANGLED TO DEATH IV A LEFT-HANDED MAN. Providence, R. I., May IT. Laura E. Regester was slain by a left-handed man of extraordinary strength that en abled him to drag her bodily In the grip of his fingers on her throat for a long distance, according to the latest theory of the police advanced today. "If It was not a left handed man who strangled her." said a high police official, then' the murderer mast have twisted his right hand) in such a peculiar manner that the imprint of his thumb was left on the. left side of her throat. "This does not seem feasible and we are certain that the strangter when found will .prove, to be left-handed. -'- One Scream Heard.' ."The fact that only one scream was heanL and that the young woman, although not of slight build, was practically carried In one band of the slayer proves that he was a man of enormous strength,' declared . Inspector . Armstrong. " " . " . The .police still believe," Clarence Chase.' the missing Auburn barber, might be able to throw some light on the circumstances leading np to the tragedy. He was knows to have bssa In this city Monday night. Since the no one . hero : has seen . nbsy and al- , though the fact that he .is wanted, has been published far and wide, he has not communicated with the police yet. COLORED MASOHS v HAVE DEDICATES Take ' Possession of New Quarters. The dedication of the new quarters of the Quinn lodge, No. 28, P. ft A. M. and Adah Chapter, No.' 21 O. E. &, on South .Sixth street, took place yester day afternoon. - - The meeting was largely attended by local .colored peo ple. . Prof. T. D. 8cott of Xenta, Ohio delivered the dedicatory address. This evening a banquet will be held In the new lodge room, at which toasts, referring to the different phases of work among the colored people, will be responded to. FAILED TO LOOK ATCULJOtO C. & 0. Officers Deny They Want the System. While at Cincinnati. Saturday, tha party of C. ft O. railroad officials denied that their .present , trip and tear of Inspection has anything to do with the probable purchase of the CL, C A L. lines. The officials sakt the C, C ft L. is not entering Into the) present negotiations in any respect. They claimed the matter of a route to Chicago is not being given eonsldsratloa. MORE, WORK ,1. is done by a postage stamp thaa by a pair of horses. Ton eaa gat a. whole army of postage) stamps working for you if you ase the small want ad. The ad makes the business. The stamps bring it to yoo. Can phone 1121. ' the First Out. . - $J

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