As the sun set on Thanksgiving Day 1868, two young men walked into Adam Brailer’s bar-room in the mining village of West Delaware Mines or “Newtown,” northwest of Pottsville.

The patch town was also known as “New Street.”

The Pottsville Miners’ Journal told the story:

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Shooting Affair at Delaware Mines

On Thursday evening last between 5 and 6 o’clock, Edward Pursel and John Duffy entered a drinking house in Newtown, West Delaware mines. Pursel, who was intoxicated, asked Duffy to take a drink. Duffy replied that he could not as he was a member of a temperance society.

Pursel became enraged at the refusal, and drawing a revolver from his pocket, fired at Duffy, who seized a chair to defend himself. Pursel fired three shots at him.

One of the balls entered the left breast between the second and third ribs. Dr. [George] Halberstadt was sent for, who cut the ball out from under the shoulder. The ball was flattened, probably by coming in contact with one of the ribs.

Dr. Halberstadt’s impression is that [another] ball passed through Duffy’s body. An inch lower and it would have passed through Duffy’s heart.

Pursel was arrested and yesterday afternoon had a hearing before Squire Frailey. Several witnesses were examined, and Dr. Halberstadt testified that Duffy was in a critical condition.

Pursel was committed to prison to await the result of Duffy’s injuries.

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John Duffy died the following Tuesday from his wounds. He was 23. Duffy had served as a private in the 15th Regiment of the United States Army during the Civil War, having signed up in Pottsville in 1864. He was honorably discharged in 1867.

Edward Pursel, or Purcell, was put on trial for murder in Pottsville in December 1868. Convicted of second degree murder, he was sentenced to 12 years in Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. The 21-year-old was labeled as “occasionally intemperate” on his intake form at the infamous prison.

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