South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-09-06
A Tragedy at Cumberland. nd.

AN AfFIAY BETWEEN LAwyEss-THos.
COOK uUonEv SHOOTS AND KILLS A..
uoCTEN BLACKIsroN.
About 1880 on the morning OF the
Both nlt,. Thomas Cook Iughey, a law
yer. shot a. Hooten Blackiston, also q
lawyer, inhicting wounds from which he
died in less than fifteen minutes. That
morning Blackis.on, with q client, went
into The Office or the special auditor or
the court and found second report
FLED in an equity case in which Hughey
was trustee, charging Blackiston with
having made an offer TO Withdraw OBJ
jections made by him TO payments from
q trust fund, reported previously, If
Hughey would pay fifty dollars. and on
refusal, with somewhat similar propo-
sal to Hughey's attorney, employed to
argue exceptions taken from the ruling
OF The court OF tho same objections
What follows 10 substantially what was
| brought out at the cor oper's inquest
y few minutes afterward Blackiston.
with his client, Frank o. Baush, went to
Hugbey's Office, where liuahey was seat
ed at desk talking with VIM. Brace, a
lawyer. Blackiston said "Hughey,
I've read the report made by you in tina,
case. What it contains in regard to me
is add lie. You arc lying s-or u
b." and struck lEughev two or three
blows on the head with his fist. Brace
seized Blackiston and Baush seized
Iughey, forcing the latter into a corner.
Just then j. J. ard J. A. McHenry.
lawyers, attracted by the noise, rushed
in, the latter taking Blackiston's arm,
and, with Brace, trying to persuade him
to leave. Hughey, having gotten from
his pocket fve-barreled Remington,
said, "If you advance on inc I'll shoot
you" TO which Blackiston replied
Il am rot afraid" Hughey responded,
You arc son Of" etore he could
complete the sentence Blackiston, n
powerful young man, threw off Brace
and McHenry and dashed at Hughcv,
when the latter fired. Blackiston struck
him two or three times, then they clineh-
ed and fell, Ilughey beneath. Byestan-
de.s seized Blackiston, and Dughey
crawled out and ran from his Office into
an adjoining one, where he remained
until the deputy sheriff came and took
him tojail. j. j. McIIenry, supporting
Biackiston, seeing his check b,anch
said, "l'!ackiston, are you shot?" Yes.
| am" responded Blackiston. and his
eyes Turned upward McIIenry said.
My God, you are dying Have you
any message for your wife?" Blackis-
ton made no reply, and never spoke or
recognized any one, dying in about thir-
teen minutes after being shot.
A ooroner's inquest was bel ut once,
States Attorney Boyd attending. Af-
ter hearing the testimony Of those who
Witnessed the tragedy, the jury returned
the following verdict: That the said
A. liooten Blackiston came 10 his death
by pistol ball fred from pistol in
the hands Of Thomas Cook uughey.
whilst said liughey was defending him
self from an aggravated assault made on
him by said a. Hoeten Blackiston."
Hughey was committed TO Jail for n
hearing on the 3rd. Of September The
body OF Blaclkiston was removed to his
late residence, on West Washington
street. He was so years OF age. native
Of Kent county, Md, and son of David
Blackiston. He has lived in Cumberland
| about ten years, and was leading
member of the bar of that city. The
deceased leaves wife, who is daugh.
ter of Judge Pearre, and an infant SON
Thomas Cook Hughey is q native of
Queen Annc'e county, Md, ond has been
in Cumberland 10 years, has q wife and
one child, and is lawyer in fair practice.
ES'The hearing in The case OF Thorn
| as Cook liughcy, who shot and killed
| a. Ii. Blaclliston, on Friday morning
| last was set for Tuesday last. but
! Iughoy waived an examination and
was committed to Jail 10 await tho action
Of tho grand jury next month. Bail had
been placed al $4,000 which nuahcy
could have furnished. The magistrate be-
J fore whom the hearing was 10 have been
had was the acting coroner when tue
inquest was held and did not care to TO.
hear the evidence
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