The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-07-03
Fatal Shooting Affair.-A shooting af-

W. Flamtr almoS! INSTANTLY. William
!. luttcr, = Young man, illmer. i'll the
same neighholhood, had the colorcd man
to work for Mr.. Cruikshank, while Potter
was from home. When Potter returned
home he went to Mr.. Cruikshank and re-
qucSted permission to go into his field and
Get his man to return, and was granted that
privilege The colored man had formerly
been 4 slave of Potter's family, and he and
young Potter, the panty who did the shoot
ing, were raised together, and as boys, it
is said were always very intimate, Flommer
having always been Il special favorite of
Potter's.
\ The testimony in regard to the particu-
l,rs of the shooting was given by four col
orcd men who were the only parties in the
harvest field near where the shooting took
place, except tho principals to the tragic
affair They state that Potter passed by
them in apl roach :ng Flamer, showing no
symptoms of unusual excitement, and that
when he came up t. Flamer he asked him
why he had left his field. No other words
were spoken, the colored man accosted ma
king no reply; the two men nearest the
parties who were,-one of them 30 yards,
and the nearest only about 8 feet distant
testify to hearing only this remark. The
other two were considerably further otfand
did not hear the words of Potter. The
next instant they all heard shot and saw
the colored man fall, and Potter with the
pistol in his hand. Potter's back was to-
ward the witnesses who appear to have all
been in line along swath of wheat
Nothing like an encounter or alteration
took place, but everything was so void of
excitement that the witness who was within
a few feet of the parties set up the sheaves
he held in his hand against shock after
Potter asked the question above quoted, so
little had his interest been excited, but in
the instant the pistol was fired.
Potter has the reputation of quiet,
peaceable young man, with nothing of the
"border ruffian'' apparent about him,
which makes the melancholy affair wear
a still more unaccountable aspect. Potter's
account we have heard, is that he drew the
revolver for the purpose ofintimidating the
negro into returning to work for him, and
he thinks, but does not seem certain about
the action of the negro, the colored man
attempted to strike up his arm, and in so
doing the pistol was fred the ball passing
through the upper part of his head.
This painful occurrence shows the wick
ed folly of carrying deadly weapons, par
ticularly revolvers, about the person, habit
ualy, as so large number of our young
men do. The very custom is presumptive
evidence of an intent to kill or fatally
wound some human being, under some con-
tingency that may arise, and on compar-
atively slight provocation too; for i'll this
orderly community, the danger from as
saults which carry with them any serious
consequences, requiring the use of deadly
weapons in self defence is almost imagin-
airy.
T. Potter came to Elkton on Saturday morn
ing and delivered himself up, but was not
committed to Jail until Monday, Justice
Brown held Coroner's inquest on the body
of Flamer on Saturday, and the verdict
of the jury was that William J. Potter had
committed the deed in the heat of passion:
a verdict as singular as any other part of
the tragedy, for there is not particle of
evidence of passion having manifested it
self in the whole melancholy affair.
| MiSoa1vany-Ah pnt 700 OO0 TONS
of bituminus coal is expected to pass
through the Chesapeake and Delaware
Canal this season. The increase in ship
mcnt within the last two years has more
than doubled.
The steamer "Alice" has stopped her
running as a ferry boat between Havre de
Grace and Port Deposit, having been sold
to firm i'll Baltimore, who intend to put
her Oh the ronte from tho city to Browns
Pavilion, which is pleasant resort during
the summer, being near the battle field of
North Point. She will be missed on the
Susquehanna river as the ride on the wa
ter was delightful during the hot season.
Post No. IA, Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, at their last meeting, elected the follow
ing officers, to serve for the ensuing three
months :-R. II. Tuft, Post Commander
Wash. II. Bennett, Senior Vice Command
er; George Turner, Junior Nice-C Com
mandcr; d. L. Sloan, Adjutant Jos. l..
Mahan, Quartermaster Alex. Alberts,
Sergeant Major; ]. r. Lowman, Quarter
master Sergeant.
The vote on Lay Delegation was taken i'll
the North East NJ. E. Church ON Monday
last, and resulted in Z for and 5 against. 1t
was taken in the Elllton Church. the same
day, and resulted in 90 for and Is against
Very little interest seems to have been
excited in the affair. Up to the present
time, as reported in the official papers, the
vote on the question throughout the coun-
try stands 40,3s3 for and 1904 against,
showing the vote to fall very far behind a
full one.
The ladies of Zion Presbyterian Church
will hold a Raspberry Festival, at the
church, to-day, to continue afternoon and
evening.
Needing our earnest appeals, and fearful
for the health of the town, the Bailiif this
week visited Church street, threw the filth
from the cutters into the middle of the
street, and then covered it with sprinkling
of gravel. The difference then and now is
this Last week the filth was visible; and
now it is inrisi6le but it's still there.
We have on hand an article from an
Agricultural correspondent, which will
appear in our next issue. We would like
to have the experience of our practical
farmers on agriculture, stock raising, &c.
There will be a trial of Reaping Machines
on the farm of S. r. Carson, on road from
Battle Swamp to Rock Run, Port Deposit,
on Monday next, July 9Th, at o'clock PM.
All Reaping Machines offered for sale in
this county, it is hoped, will be represented
at this trial, and the farmers are invited to
attend.
An -, ~, AZ