The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-05-07
SECOND DAY.

The Court met pursuant to adjournment,
Thursday morning, at o'clock, and procee-
ded with the examination Of the witnesses for
the State
John Thomas STREET. being sworn, testified
that he resides at Jarrettsville, and knew both
Nicholas McComas and Miss Cairnes He
was at home at the hotel where the shooting
occurred, when McComas came to his death,
and saw Miss Cairnes there that evening"
About six o'clock, witness continued, was
informed that Miss Cairnes wished to see me
and met her in the parfor. She asked if
Nicholas McComas was there; replied that
he had been there but l thought he had gone
away. She said yes, he is" said nothing
further and walked into the dining room, and
was standing there when the shooting COM
menced After several shots were fired,
went into the ballroom, and when on the
way heard some one holloo, Hes a dying
man" or something like that. The time
was very briet not a minute from when
met her in the parlor till the firing occurred
at first thought that some of the soldiers
who were there were firing off their pistols
did not see Miss Cairnes in going out
Found McComas lying on the ground in q
moment or so afterwards he was taken into
the parlor. l saw nothing more. Did not
see any wounds. Tie crowd was SO great
that / was shut off from him when they car
description of his house, and the position
Of the parties at the time of the firing vs.
James Wood testified that he was at Jar
rettsville on the day of the shooting, and saw
both the parties Saw Miss Cairnes about
six o'clock in the evening. She was in the
dining room adjusting her hair, after which
she walked into the parlor. Witness saw
nothing OF her until after the firing, as he re.
NAMED in the meantime at the supper table
and knew nothing ofthe occurrence until Of
ter 1t was over. Saw her return, accompa
MED by her brother, and go out into the Black
Horse road Witness assisted in attending to
the body in the parlor, and was present at the
inquest
Matthew Clark, Jr., testified that he ar
rived at Jarrettsville about half an hour
before sunset, and soon after was standing
ON the hotel porch near McComas with his
back to the bar room door, when he heard
the report OF pistol; turned and saw la
dy, which he took to be Miss Cairnes, in
the door leveling pistol. After the Sec
ond shot witness jumped ON the ground
and McComas got behind post on the
porch, held with his right hand, and after
the third shot slipped and fell to the groundl
She then advanced and fired two more shotsl
She retired and witness saw her soon after
in the act ofgetting on her horse assisted by|
her brother Richard. Saw the body and
wounds afterwards
Joshua Jarrett testified materially to the ore.
ceding facts, observing that Miss V Fnes fired
the first two shots in rapid succea . hestat-
ing before firing the third, a. if she had SOME
difficulty in managing the weapon, and firing
the two last in rapid succession. Heard Mr..
Ware during the firing tell McComas to run,
the only word used by any person that wit
ness heard.
Asbury Ayers besides testifying to the
general facts already,given, stated that when
Miss Cairnes approached the bar-room door
from within, Immediately before shooting
McComas. She had on no bonnet, and wore
cloak and figured dress. Saw no pistol I'M
til after the second shot was fired. When
she returned through the bar room after the
affair was over, witness lost sight Of her.
Carville Burton testified also to the gener-
al facts rs given by other witnesses, adding
that he saw pistol taken from the PAM.
pocket OF McSPmas after he was removed an
DIR. Martin Jarrett testified as to the ma
ture ofthe wounds found by him on the body
of McComas at the inquest. His examine
ton was not thorough; nothing more than