Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-11-01
The Killing of W. W. McKaig, Jr

A correspondent of the Baltimore Gazette,
wiring from Cumberland under date of the
9th instant, gives the following account of u
terrible tragedy in that city,
A most horrible assassination was committed.
here, at an early hour on Monday morning
last, by young man by the name of II. c.
Black. AS ". w. N cKag, Jr, (sou of W.
w. McKaig Esq, prominent lawyer of this
barr, was going from his residence, on the west
side of Wills creek, to his business, on the
east side Of the creek, he was met by young
Black just after he crossed the bridge over
Wills creek. Black passed McKaig, and i'm
mediately wheeled round, placed his pistol SO
close to his body, and fired, that it burned
McKaig's clothing and skin. McKaig stag
gered out into the street, his back still to
Black. when Black fred again, hitting him in
the back. McKaig fell on his face, when
Black walked up and shot him again in the
back, and then turned round and said, in the
presence of DR.. Samuel =. Smith and several
others, 81 have killed this man, and have one
more shot for any id man who says l did
not do right" The news of the shooting
spread rapidly, and very soon a large aud ex-
cited crowd gathered at the place of the shoot
ing. Black Immediately rushed to the court
house and gave himself up to the Sheriff, who
lodged him in Jail. Never since the assassi-
nation of VIM. o. Sprigg, some years ago,
have we seen so much intense excitement in
this place. The manner in which the life of
young McKaig was taken, aroused the indg-
nation of almost every man, woman and child
in the town. McKaig was a great favorite
with all classes of people who knew him
He was married man with one child. Black
is an unmarried man. Both were young men,
neither being over twenty-eight.
The cause of this sad affair is said to be the
seduction of Blacks sister, but whatever may
have been his other sins, no one in this com
munity believes McKaig did any such thing.
About three months ago, one evening as Nc.
Kaig was going home to his tea, just after he
passed the gate leading into the residence of
j. p. Roman, Esq, H. D. Black. the father
of this girl, and H. G. Black, fred at him
with a double barrel shot gun, loaded with
buck shot, woundng McKaig in the arm
As McKaig passed him standing at Romans
gate, Black spoke to him and then shot at him,
as he has since said, behind his back, with
intent to kill. Our people thought that this
unfortunate affair had been hushed up and
were willing to excuse the father for the first
firing, as he had just found out the condition
of his daughter who, it is said, told him Me-
Kaig had seduced her, and was the father of
the child. But since that time it is known
that friend of Blacks had made him state
ments which induced Black to say nothing
further should be done in the matter. Both
the father and son have since repeatedly passed
McKaig on the street without either doing or
saying anything to him. In this way they
threw him off his guard, and, though armed
the morning he was killed, he did not even
touch his pistol, so unexpected was the assault.
McKaig's funeral took place on Tuesday,
and was one of the largest we have ever seen
in this place People of all ages, classes and
conditions turned out to it, and all the busi-
ness houses closed, out of respect to him, from
4 till 6, thus showing on which side the sym
pathy of the community is. He manly,
high toned young man, and it is hard that he
with wife and child, should be sacrificed for
such a cause.
A gloom las been cast over the whole town
by this sad affair. Much sympathy is ex-
pressed for the mother of this miserable girl,
who has been the cause of all this grief
ALLEGANY