Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1869-04-16
Snow Storm.

Fourth Charles II. Burcn.
Snow Storm.
There was quite snow storm in this Sec
ton of Maryland on Sunday last, and also in
other sections of this State and Delaware
We fear it has seriously injured if not entire
ly destroyed the peach buds in this vicinity.
The Wilmington Commercial says:
The snow was followed by quite heavy
frost and freeze, both of which extended
this far north. Much fear is felt concerning
the effect of this unreasonable storm upon the
fruit. The peaches were in full blossom in
Somerset county, where the snow was heavi-
est, and were almost ready to blossom in Sus-
sex and Wicomico, where the snow was from
one and a-half to three inches deep. A gen.
tleman who came from there on Monday says
there were balls of ice in many Of the buds,
and this is generally fatal to the peach.
Murder in Hartford County---A Seducer
Killed by his Victim.
The quiet village of Jarrettsville, Hartford
county, was thrown into state of excitement
and confusion by tragedy which occurred
in its bounds on Saturday evening last, about
six o'clock. Nicholas McComas, young
man living about two miles. from the village,
was shot and almost instantly killed by Miss
Martha j. Cairns, who resides the same dis
lance from Jarrettsvlle, but in different d.
rection from it than the house of McComas.
The accounts giveneof the melancholy affair
render it eertssi.s ~ Gesaas setluced Miss
Cairns over year Ago, under promise of mar
riage, and in January last child was born,
which is living at the present time. Miss
Cairns frequently importuned McComas to
fulfill his promise of marrying her, but by E.
quivocations and excuses he evaded her re-
guests until she felt towards him no other
feeling than utter hatred and determination
to aveuge her injuries. On Saturday evening
he had ridden into Jarrettsville for the pur-
pose of attending meeting Of militia compa.
pany of which he was member, and at the
time of the murder was in the yard at the rear
of the tavern. Miss Cairns followed him to
Jarrettsville, and on arriving at the tavern
dismounted from her horse, fastened him Sc
curely, and passing into the ladies' apartment
removed her riding skirt, her hat and other
membranes that might retard her move
ments. Leaving the ladies' apartment with
Colts revolver in her hand, she walked d.
rectly through the bar-room, which was full
of men, and stepped out upon back porch,
which overlooked the yard where McComas
was. Standing in the doorway opening from
the bar on the porch, she took deliberate aim
with her pistol at McComas and fired, he be-
ing scarcely ten PAGES distant from her. The
bullet struck him in the breast, and as he
reeled wildly toward the pillars which held W
the porch, she fred two more shots, neither of
which took effect. He clasped the pillars of
the porch, and endeavored to sustain himself
by them. but weak as he was from the rapid
flow of blood from the wound, his strength
failed him and be fell to the ground. She
walked directly up to him, and, standing over
him, fred the two last shots from her revolv-
er into his body, Que lodging in his right leg
and the other in the groin. Still carrying her
revolver in her hand, she passed back through
the crowd of men, who, as if stricken sense
less by the awful scene being enacted before
their eyes, did not move finger to her pas
sage. Along the porch, through the bar
room, and back to the ladies' apartment she
walked without showing trace of emotion
Or qualm of nervousness
In the dressing-room she resumed her rid
ing habit, and again mounting her horse, she
galloped back towards her home, and had
gone considerable distance from the village
before any one thought of following her,
Mr.. Jarrett rode after her, and joining her a.
bout mile from Jarrettsvile, she asked him
if McComas was dead. He replied yes, when
she said: 4 told him what / was going to
do" She exhibited DO signs of regret, and
was apparently as composed as if she had
just finished the most ordinary action.
On Sunday she rode to Bel-Air and gave
herself up to the authorities. Miss Cairns is
about thirty, and McComas was thirty-seven
years of age. Both the parties belonged to
highly respectable families, and held fore
most position in the social life Of the county.
The feeling of excitement in regard to this act
OF summary rctribution runs very high in the
neighborhood, but public opinion is generally
on the side of Miss Cairns.
McComas is supposed to have been killed
by the first shot which struck him, and the
last two shots were probably fred into his
dead body.
Some time since Miss Cairns brought suit
against McComas for breach of promise and
seduction, but the case has not yet come to
trial,