Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-04-27
From the Baltimore American.l
Murder in Hartford County, Maryland
a Seduoer Killed by His Victim.

The quiet village Of Jarrettsyiie, Hartford.
county, was thrown into state of the utmost
excitement aud confusion By tragedy which
occurred in It's bounds or Saturday evening
last about six o'clock. Nicholas McComas,
a young man living about two miles from the
village, was shot and almost instantly killed
by Miss Martha j. Cairns, who resides the
same distance from Jarrettsyille, but in a diff
ferent direction from it than the house of
McComas. The accounts given of the mel
ancholy affair render it certain that McComas
seduced Miss Cairns over . year ago under
promise of marriage, and in January last
child was born, which is living at the present
time. Miss Cairns frequently importuned
McComas TO fulfil his promise of marrying her,
but by cquiyocations and excuses he eyaded
her requests until she felt towards him no
other feeling than utter hatred and determi>
nation to avenge her injuries.
On Saturday evening he had ridden into
Jarrettsville for the purpose of attending a
meeting of militia company, of which he
was a member, and at the time of the murder
was in the yard, at the rear of the tavern
Miss Cairns followed him to Jarrettsviile, and,
on arriving at the tavern, dsmounted from
her horse, fastened him securely, and, passing
into the ladies' apartment, removed her riding
skirt. her hat and other membranes that
might retard her movements. Leaving the
ladies' apartment, with Colts revolver in
her hand, she walked directly through the
bar room, which was iull 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 being scarcely ten
PAGES distant from her.
The bullet struck him in the breast, aud as
he reeled wildly towards the pillars which
held on the porch, she fired two more shots,
neither Of which took effect. He ciasped the
pillars of the porch, and endeayored to sustain
himself by them. but weak as he was from the
wound, his strength failed him. and he fell TO
the ground She walked directly TO him and
standing over him, fred the two last shots
from her revolver into his body, one 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 senseless by the awful scene
being enacted before their eyes, did not move
a finger to bar her passage. Along the porch,
through the bar-room, and back to the ladies'
apartment, she walked without showing a
trace of emotion or a qualln or nervousness.
In the dressing room she resumed her
riding habit, and again mounting her horse,
she galloped back toward her home, and had
gone a considerable distance from the village
before any one thought of following her Mr..
jarrett rode after her, and joined her about a
mile from Jarrettsvlle. She asked him if Nc
Comas was dead He replied yes, when she
said, Il told him what was going to do
She exhibited no signs of regret, aud was
apparently as composed as if she had just
finished the most ordinary action.
On Sunday she rode to Bellair and gave
herself up to the authorities. Miss Cairus is
about thirty, and McComas was thirty-seyen
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 retribution runs very high in
the neighborhood, but public opinion is gen
orally on the side of Miss Cairns.
NlcComas is supposed to have been killed
by the first shot which struck him, and the
last two shots were probably 6red 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