This article that appeared on the front page of The Hartford Times, Tuesday, July 22, 1890:

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Drunken Roughs, the Assailants, Have Fled.

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The residents of Main street; East Hartford, around the Center, were startled about 9:10 Monday evening by the report of seven pistol shots fired in rapid succession. The news soon spread that two men had shot Frank Miner, a carpenter in the employ of John F. Whaples, and who resides in the upper tenement of D. L. Bryan's house. The two men who did the shooting lay under a tree drinking from a bottle, cursing and using foul language. Mr. Miner and his brother went out and requested them to move on, as their conversation was not pleasant for the ladies in the house to hear. One of them said "You come any nearer and we will make you move". Mr. Miner stepped out to the walk, when three quick shots, probably from a self-acting revolver, were fired at him. The first bullet whizzed by him; the second one hit him in the right side. Mr. Miner then fired two shots at the fellows, who had started to run, and his brother grabbed the pistol and fired two more shots at the retreating would-be murderers.

Mr. Miner was assisted to the house. Drs. McKnight and Griswold were hastily summoned, and an examination showed that the ball had entered the right side just above the groin, struck a rib and passed around the back to the left side, where it was located.

Two men were seen running down Main street across the causeway just after the shooting. Sheriff Moore was sent for, and with several teams the roads were searched down to Naubuc till midnight, but no trace of the men could be found. At the time of the shooting it was so dark that no accurate description of the men can be given. One man was a tall one, the other a short, thick-set man, and both had on dark clothing. It is supposed that they took to the fields after passing the house of George E. Pratt.

The bundle carried by one of the men who shot Miner was found in the locust bushes a few rods south of where the affray occurred by Austin Warren, jr. The bundle contained a pair of old boots wrapped in a paper with Strong's advertisement printed on it. The pistol was found by John Martin on Main street in front of the house of H. B. Williams. It is a nickel plated five-chambered revolver, with a rubber handle, and stamped "Hopkins & Allen M'r'g Co. Pat March 28, '71, Jan. 5, '86. XL Bull Dog. 38 Cal. Centre Five." Four empty shell remain in the cylinder, and one shell has not been fired . Sheriff Moore left town for Enfield early this morning, and the search for the scamps, seems to have been given up by the authorities.

Selectman Smith went to Hartford and engaged the services of Officer Ennis, and he is now at work on the case. Mr. Strong, who sold one of the men a pair of $5 boots , is able to give a fair description of the men, and the officer is now working on this description.

Mr. Miner is kept as quiet as possible, and when awake suffers great pain. The doctors have as yet made no effort to remove the bullet, which is plainly located on the left side.

At 1 p.m. Mr. Miner was reported as much worse and Doctors McKnight, Griswold and Childs held a consultation.

At the consultation this afternoon, Miner's condition was found very serious. His temperature was 100 and his pulse had risen to 133 since this morning, when it was only 90.

The ball was not removed but lies close under the skin. It was thought unnecessary to submit him to the pain of its removal.

The physicians regard his case as very critical.

The page is maintained by Daniel A. Bellware and was last updated on February 12, 2001.