Smyrna times., 1873-03-12
The Eastern Shore Murder.
THE SHOCKING TRAGEDY NEAR SALISBURY,

THE SHOCKING TRAGEDY NEAR SALISBURY, MD.
Telegraphic advccs on Saturday brought
the news Of terrible murder near Salisbury,
Md, the victim being Mary Amelia Shock ley,
beautiful girl of fifteen, and her slayer, Geo.
w. Hall, youth of nineteen und an unsuccess-
full lover of his victim. We gather the follow.
ing additional particulars Of the terrible affair
from special dispatch to the Baltimore San ::
Hall has for sometime prOtessed an ardent
passion for Miss ShOckley which was apparent
y reciprocated. On the day of the murder
Miss Shockley 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 gun III his hand. lie
addressed some language to her, and she re-
piled in an amlable manner. Hall then asked
her why she had not answered his Dote, writ
ten few days before She replied that she
could not, implying that she was unwilling to
do so. He told her she could have answered
his note as well 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 cant
frighten me-"
Hall then asked the children if Miss Shock
ley S brother Elijah, youth of sixteen, was at
school, and upon receiving a negative answer
ordered little girl who was standing by the
side of his victim to move away, as he intended
to shoot Amelia Shockly, and then deliberately
raised his gun aud fred at her. The load took
effect Just under the shoulder blade, and en-
tered her heart. The unfortunate girl ex.
claimed, "Oh, LOrd!' and fell to the ground
Her murderer fed through the neighboring
woods. The children notified their teacher
Mr.. Isaac s. Adams, of the sad affair, and tha
gentleman hastened to the scene OF the tragedy
and found Miss Shockley lying upon her side
in the middle of the road with blood spoutinl
out of terrible wound in her side, and spirit
ing from her nose and mouth as she gasped il
the agony of death. He raised her head auC
asked her to speak to him. She tried to 10 81
but her strength was inadequate, and she fel
back and expired without having been able t
articulate word The body was conveyed L
the residence of the deceascd's parents nea
by.
|, Evidence brought to light since the murder
! show that Hall had contemplated numbering
, her several days before he accomplished hi
purpose, but was foied by the presence of he
J brother in his walks to and from the school
{ The people were greatly excited and threat
, Of lynching Hall were freely made. Over
) thousand people attended the girls funeral o.
/ Saturday.
: Intelligence reached Salisbury Sunday tina
e Hall purposely threw himself under a South
2 bound train, between Westover and Kingsto
I Stations, on the Eastern Shore railroad, o
e Saturday afternoon and was instantly killed
, The train was running nearly twenty miles a
n hour when within ten yards of him. He ran
f the track and threw himself on his right sid
u on the track The train passed over him, Gu
9 ting his head, both arms and both legs froI
d the body. The body was so terribly mangle
h that recognition was impossible until h
!, remains were brought to Salisbury and el
# amined by relatives, who proved, without
doubt that it was Hall. An immense jam an
K crowd of people gathered around the depot Q
Al the arrival of the train having on board Il
e. body. The body was handed over to h
N father, and on Monday afternoon was burie,
Ne and so ends this terrible tragedy.