DASTARDLY DADS FROM THE ARCHIVES (Cambridge, Maryland - 1884)

It's frightening how contemporary this story really sounds. Dad CHARLES SHENTON was killed by his son as he was assaulting the boy's mother. The only thing that distinguishes this from a modern newspaper case is the archaic language.

From the New York Times, April 17, 1884

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=940DE4DE1338E033A25754C1A9629C94659FD7CF

KILLED BY HIS SON.
A LAD IN PROTECTING HIS MOTHER KILLS HIS FATHER.

CAMBRIDGE, MD., April 16.--Intelligence reached here to-day of the killing of Charles Shenton by his son, Frank Shenton, both living in the lower part of Dorchester County, one and a half miles from Gilden Hill. The father was 55 years of age and the son 19. The former is said to have been dissipated and had been on a spree for several days, and while under the influence of drink commenced a fracas with his wife, the mother of Frank, and beat her severely. The son remonstrated with him for his cruel treatment, and immediately the father, seizing a gun nearby, rushed at the son, who ran out of the house and fell behind a pile of lumber just as the load from the gun passed over him. The father then returned to carry out his intention of a brutal assault on his wife. The son returned to the house, and found that the father had the mother upon the floor, with one hand clutched in her hair and in the other he held a large knife. The son, supposing his father was about to take the life of his mother, seized a club and dealt him a blow, killing him instantly. A neighbor who went to the house a short time after the deed was committed , saw the knife upon the floor, also a large roll of hair pulled from the head of Mrs. Shenton. It is generally thought that the son had no intention of killing his father, but under the excitement of saving the life of his mother struck a more severe blow than was intended. An inquest was held to-day. Sheriff Melvin and State Attorney Henry left here this afternoon to investigate the case.