Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-03-14


SALISBURY, Mp, March 9, 1873
On the 7th inst at five o'clock p NJ
most horrible murder was committed
about five miles from this palce, the par
tculars Of which display an amount of
cool generalization and savage atrocity
quite shocking to contemplate. Mary
Mary Amelia Shoskley, beautiful girl
of Is years, just blooming into lovely
womanhood, was shot through the heart
by George w Hall, youth of 10 years,
at the hour above mentioned, the girl
dying almost instantly.
The particulars of this most shocking
affair are as follows: Hall has, it is sup
posed, long loved Miss Shockley, and
pressed his suit with vigor, but she did
not smile upon him, and he saw with
modification and cbagrin that she was
not likely to look upon him with favor
On the day he killed her, Miss Shockloy
left the district school, in which she was
a pupil, in company with four small chill
dron. She had probably proceeded one
hundred yards from the school house
when Hall met her, carrying gun in
his hand He addressed some language
to her and she replied in an amiablc
manner Hall then asked her why she
had not answered his note, written few
days before. She replied that she could
not, implying that she was unwilling to
do SO. lie told her she co Ill have an
swercd his note as well as others she had
written to, and proceeded to say that he
INTENDED to shoot her then and there To
this threat she replied, "Pshaw, George
Hall, you can't frighcn me-.
Hall then asked the children if Miss
Shockeys brother Elijah, a youth of
sixteen was at the school, and upon re-
ceiving negative answer ordered lit
tie girl who was standing by the side of
his victim to move away, as he intended
to shoot Amelia Shocklcy, and then de-
libcrately raised his gun and fired at her.
The load took effect just under the shout
der blade, and entered her heart The
unfortunate girl exclaimed, ooh, Lordw
and fell to the ground.
Her murderer fed through the neigh
boring woods. The children notified
their teacher, Mr. Isaac S. Adams, of
the sad affair, and that gentleman has
tened to the scene of the tragedy and
found Miss Shockley lying upon her side
in the middle of the road with blood
pouring out Of terrible wound in her
side and spirting from her nose and
mouth as she gasped in the agonies Of
death
He raised her head and asked her to
o,,,,1. b.. 10 4 a -
her strength was inadequate, and she fell
back and expired without being able to
articulate word The body was con-
ycyed to the residence Of the dpceased's
parents near by, and Il jury of inquest
summoned The jury rendered verdict
of death at the hands Of Geo. w. Hall
Since the preparation Of the deed.
parties have been iudustriously securing
the country in quest Of the murderer,
but up to this time he is at large. The
friends Of the murdered girl have offered
a reward Of two hundred dollars for his
apprehension and delivery to the sheriff
Of Wicomico county. It was reported
that Hall was in Snow Hill yesterday -
Hall is nineteen years of age, has long,
straight, light hair, sallJw competition,
burly form, has large gray eyes with a
east in them. and wore when last seen II
blue and gray mixed fustan suit and
I slouchcd hat.
The people are very indignant over
this outrageous act, and ten chances to
one he will be lynched if taken before
the fever heat Of passion is cooled off -
The murdered girl was the daughter of
James II Shockley, a most respectable
and worthy citizen. Hall is the son Of
Philip W. Hall, who is also worthy
man. Both families are crushed with
grief over the awful tragedy.
The body Of the murdered girl was in
TERED this morning at 101 o'clock in the
cemetery of her family, about / 900 per-
sons attending.
Evidence brought TO light since the
murder shows that Hall had contemplated
numbering her several days before he ac-
complished his purpose, but was foiled
by the presence Of her brother in his
walks 10 and from the school. The whole
country is reused, aud he will probably
be captured within twcuty-four hours.
Since writing the above. intelligence
has reached here that man answering
to Halls description was killed ycster-
day evening, south Of Kingston station.
by being run over by the south bound
freight train The engineer Of the train
supposed he threw himself on the track
intentionally.
The train was running twenty miles
an hour. When within ten yards of him
he ran aud threw himself on his right
side on the track The train passed
over him, cutting his head. both arms
and both legs from the body.