Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-03-15
The Eastern Shore Murder.


THE SHOCKING TRAGEDY NEAR SALISBURY
ND. Pull PARTICULARS 80 PROBABLE
SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER.
Our telegraphic adyices on Saturday,
brought us the news of a terrible murder
in Wicomico county, Md, the victim
being Mary Amelia Shockley, beautiful
girl of fifteen, just blooming into woman
hood, and her slayer, Geo. W. Hall, a
youth Of nineteen aud an unsuccessful
lover Of his victim. We gather the fol-
lowing additional particulars of the ter
rible affair from a special dispatch to the
Baltimore Sun.
Hall has for sometime protested au
ardent passion for Miss Shockley which
was apparently not reciprocated. On the
day of the murder Miss Shoekley left the
district school, in which she was pupil,
In company with four small children. She
had probably proceeded one hundred yards
from the school house when Hall met her
carrying a gun in his hand. lie addressed
some language 10 her, and she replied in
an aniable manner. Hall then asked her
why she had not answered his note, written
a few days before. She replied that she
could not, implying that she was unwill-
ing to do so. lie told her she could have
answered his note as well as others she
had written to, and proceeded TO say that
he intended to shoot her then and there.
To tits threat she replied, "Pshaw, George
Hall, you cau't brighten me-"
Hall then asked the children If Miss
shockley's brother Elijah, youth Of six
teen, was at school, aud upon receiving q
negative answer ordered little girl who
was standing bv the side Of his Victim to
move away, a. he intended to shoot
Amelia shOcSley, and then deliberately
raised his gun and fired at her. The load
took effect lust under the shoulder blade,
and entered her heart. The unfortunate
girl exclaimed, son, Lord - and fell to
the gre ~.
Her murderer fed through the uelghbor-
Ing woods. The children notified their
teacher, Mr. Isaac $. Adams, Of the sad
affair, aud that gentleman FASTENED 70 the
scene Of the tragedy, and found Miss
shockley lying upon her side In the middle
Of the road with blood poutng out OF q
terrible wound In her side, aud spirtiug
from her nose and mouth AS she gasped
in the agony Of death.
lie raised her head aud asked her 70
speak to him She tried to do so, but her
strength was Inadequate, and she fell back
and expired without having been able tC
articulste word. The body was con,
veyed TO the residence Of the deceased.
parents near by, and Jury OF Inquest
rendered u verdict IN accordance with The
facts.
Evidence brought 10 light since the mur-
der, show thai Hail hi contemplated
numbering her several days before he ac-
cunplished his purpose, hut was foiled By
the presence of her brother in his walks
10 and from the school. The whole coun-
Try is reused, and he will probably be
captured within the next twenty four
hours.
The people are greatly excited and
threats Of lynching Hall, II he is caught,
are freely made. Over Il thousand people
attended the girls funeral on Saturday.
Intelligence reached 3 lisbuIy Sunday
that a man answering 10 HALLS descrip
ton WA, killed Saturday evening south OF
Kingston station, by being run over by
the soGth bound freight train. The engi-
neer Of the train supposed he threw him.
self on the track intentionally.
The train was running nearly twenty
miles an hour when within ten yards OF
him. He ran to the track and threw him
self on his right eide on the track. The
train passed over hin, cutting HE head
both arms aud both legs from the body.