The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-12

[FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
CLOSING SCENES OF THE sEssIoN-sHoorING OF THOMAS
H. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE HoUsEs-INcE
DENTS
ANNAPOLIS, March IL, 1860.
To the Editors Of the Daily Exchange:
Yesterday afternoon, about four o'clock, a shoot
ing affray took place in the rotunda of the State
House, in which Thos. Ii. Gardiner, clerk of the
Criminal Court of your city, was shot by Mr. John
Mccoy, also of Baltimore. The particulars as elic
tied in the examination of Mr.. Mccoy, before a
magistrate, were as follows: Mr.. Mccoy and Mr..
William 7. Walters were standing in the rotunda
of the State-House conversing, and Thos. FL. Gard.
liner was also there within ten or fifteen feet of Mr.
Mccoy, and surrounded by number of his friends.
Mr. McCoy's back was towards Gardiner. tho lat
ter drew off his cloak, and without the least warn
| ing, sprang towards Mr. Mccoy and struck him a
severe blow on the right cheek, which stunned him
and caused him to stagger to the WALL Gardiner
| followed the blow with others, and Mr. McCoy w a
| felled to the floor; Gardeners friends thronoed
around, CRYING "kil him. ''kill the s. of b.
| While Mr.. Mccoy was down, he drew his revolver
from the side pocket of his coat and fired at Card
ner. who commenced retreating on the instant.
The first shot did not take effect. The second
struck Gardiner on the left thigh, passed throuph
the feshy part and entered the right thigh were il
| could be fired, Gardiner (excaiming ssPm shot !
| found refuge behind recess leading to a closet
Mr.. Mccoy had regained his feet but at this iunc.
ture was again struck to the floor by blow from
pehlnd' ana as lie Tell the revolver dropped from
his hand. He made an effort to pick it up, but re-
peated blows and kicks from Gardeners friends
| completely Frustrated him, and in this emergency
he cried "murder." The Sheriff of the county wa:
near at hand and approached Mr.. Mccoy who de.
ivered himself up, and was taken to the office of a
Justice of the Peace, who on hearing the evidence
as above given, released him on security of 81 20(
to answer the charge at court. Mr.. VIM. Il. Wal.
tiers becoming his bondsman Gardiner was carried
to his hotel, where he received medical attention
Mr.. Mccoy had been informed that he would he
assailed, and although he was not aware that the
assault was to take place when and where it did
yet he was expecting it, Threats had been made
against him for several days, and there was mr.
| doubt determination to injure him much more
severely than he really is. As it is, his face and
| head give unmistakable evidence of the feroctv o.
the attack. The fellow who assaulted Mr.. Mccoy
after Gardiner was shot, knocking him down anc
| tramping upon him, is named Wilson, a resident O
Annapolis. The whole gang however, were ready
| to assist in his assassination.
| Much excitement was created by this atfray, an6
| as soon the particulars were known, a most de
cided feeling of sympathy was expressed for Mr..
| Mccoy, and he was fully justified in his action
Even the friend of Mr.. Gardiner, admitted that be
was to blame There is no doubt but Gardiner W a:
prepared for sarguinary fight, as a gentleman
who attempted to enter the closet, to which Gard
ner had retreated, found him there, pistol in hand
Inere was not much excitement during the after
noon, IN either House After seven o'clock, in the
evening, in the House of Delegates with Mr.,
Stake, of Alegany, in the Chair. the usual scenes
attending the close of the session were presented
AN. number Of members ts were on their feet crying
crying ''order," "order," the gavel was nerforn;.
ing its functions, and the reading Clerk was hurry.
ing through the Appropriation Bills. At last
| order restored, and a member of the HnnSo,
asked the Speaker what was before the House 10
which he replied, the General Appropriate
bill" on which the members tcok their seats or
rather laid down in their chairs with their boots
resting on their desks or extending beyond. A
number indulging in the favorite past-sime Of
throwing paper balls at each other, and there was
continual lodging to avoid these missiles This
amusement was carried to such an excess that the
| Speaker was compelled to stop all proceedings and
| state that no business would be transacted until
| oroer was restored.
just before the Speaker made the demand for
order, the "farmer of Linganore," with his usual
bland countenance, entered the House, smiling and
nodding to the recognition of his ''troops OF