The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-12-27
Invited Out to be Shot.
Wnyli

Woridi
4 most singular and as yet altogether
incomprehensible shooting affair has
brown this old-fashioned town into a
state of unwonted excitement and given
rise to all manner of speculation and
strange gossip. The facts, as far as l
have been able to gather them-and it
will be seen there is much yet to be eX-
plained-are as follows: --
Frank Stuart, the son of q prominent
merchant, and Theodore Ashmore, Jr.,,
whose father is connected with the First
National Bank of New Brunswick, have
for long time been intimate friends.
They are described by the townspeople
as rather fast" yottf1g men, not vicious,
but inclined to follow idleness and its at
tendaht, habits with a persistencey
which has always been deprecated by
their respective parents. On Wednes-
day evening they met as usttal at cigar
store in Church Street-which seems to
be general place of rendezvous for the
youth of the town--and, according to
The testimony of several voting men and
the statement of Ashmore, Stewart pro-
posed to the latter that they should
cross the river and visit TITO young
ladies of East New Brunswick. Ash
more readily consented, and they set
forth together, apparently on the best of
terms and in the best of. spirits. An
hour and a half after young Ashmere
staggered into The cigar store, his face
and neck streaming with blood, and ex-
claiming that Stewart had attempted to
murder him, begged to be taken to a
physician. His arms were hanging help
less by his sides and blood trickled from
beneath each sleeve. In this condition
he was taken to the Office of DR.. Bald
win, where his wounds were pronounced
dangerous, but by no means fatal, one
shot in the back of his head having
most ii1ifaculonsly lodged in place
from which it could without danger be
extricated, and another having torn the
flesh upon his temple without penetrat-
ting the bone the wounds in his arms,
thotigh painful, were not serious, in each
case the ball having passed through flesh
alone -'..
For time the young man was unable
to give any account of himself, but
Iater, in spite of the remonstrance
of the doctor, he told the following re-
markable story, to the truth of which he
has since sworn: After leaving the
cigar store he accompanied Stewart
| across the Albany Street bridge to East
New Brunswick, where, taking a lonely
road, they were soon Among vacant lots
and open fields. While crossing one of
the fields as a short cut to the house fol
which they were bound, Ashmore no
ticed all old, unused well, from the
mouth Of which had been removed a
| o,,I ii, A al n, 0rc
saws he remarked to his companion, at
admirable place to hide a, body away il
any one wanted to commit a murder
A moment after he had uttered these
words, he says, Stewart dropped pace
in the rear, and SO. they walked for {
short distance. Suddenly, without tht
slightest warning or provocatlon, Stew
art stepped rapidly up to him on hi,
left side, and drawing revolver, free
! seven shots in rapid succession at him
81 cried" says young Ashmore, in tell
ing the story, L" for Gods sake, Frank
don't kill mep but he continued to shoe
! until the pistol was empty, and thet
threw himself upon me, forcing me tt
the ground. 1 felt him grasp my collar
and became conscious that he wa
dragging me towards the old well.
IhlS thought, ASnm0re says, gave MN
strength, and breaking away from the
young man he gained his feet and started
at a run for the bridge. Stewart soon
however, overlook him and demanded
that he should promise to say nothin,
about the shooting, or at least to concea
the truth, threatening to kill him if h
did not so promise. Unable to accoun
for the assault in any way except upol
the supposition that he was to be robbe'
: as we'll as murdered, Ashmore begge'
! his companion to spare his life, offerin
to give him his watch and all he had
To this proposition, he says, Stewar
made no reply, and he again started t
! cross the bridge, the wounds in his hea
: making him blind and dizzy as he wen
Stewart followed close behind, an
begged him to go to the telegraph otfie
why, or for what purpose, he does NJ
!, know. In this singular manner, Asl
: more staggering on just in advance {
: the man who had once been his frien'
and who had now riddled him wit
bullets, the young men recrossed Il
!, bridge, Stewart disappearing hastily tt
u u moment they reached the other side.
u