Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-07-12
q gleasant Storp.
A THRILLING SCENE.

"Where can find Squire Window ?"
said dust-colored traveller, who had just
gallopped into the town of Winchester,
Va, at o'clock P. NJ, on the 10Th of
August, 1916, to several citizens loung-
ing in front of the Cumberland hotel.
"You will find him at Mike Ready's
billiard saloon, on the corner" replied
one of citizens.
what is the matter Has anything
happened p
my God, yes" replied the horse
man. "Cartain Summerville, of your
city, was shot dead an hour ago at the
first brigade encampment."
The citizens sprang to their feet in
great excitement.
''Shot dead BY whom ?" they in
quired with one accord.
''By an unknown assassin" replied the
horseman. II have been sent to Squire
Window at once to come out and hold an
inquest over the body"
Fifteen minutes later the squire, ac-
companied by the messenger and num-
Der of mounted citizens, were on their
way to the grove, three miles from Win
chester, where the first brigade of the
Virginia militia was holding its annual
encampment.
Upon reaching the grove they found
the camp in perfect uproar. The
commanding general of the brigade
Elihu Perkins, said to Squire Window
Coroner, the painful event for which
| have caused you to be summoned &C.
Cured as follows: Shortly after 3 O'Clock
to-day the Winchester company of light
infantry had invited the brigade staff
and other officers of the encampmcnt tc
witness the rifle practice. Captain Sum.
merville, of your town fired the frs
shot. Ho thought he had hit the bulPr
eye. The marker signaled he had not
Captain Summerville hurried to the tar
get. When he had about reached it I
shot was fired by some unknown party
and we were shocked to see Captain
Summerville fall to the ground. TIL
first two persons that came his to assist
ance were the marker of the company
Larry Bootby, an old colored man, ant
Mr.. Scorcsby, first lieutenant of Cap
tain Summerville's company. But the
bullet had entered the brain of the un
fortunate officer, and in a minute or two
he breathed his last. Will you accom-
pany me to the surgeons tent, where the
remains of Captain Summerville arc
lying"
The squire proceeded, with Genera
Perkins and other officers to the surgeons
tent.
There they found the brigade and
regimental surgeons engaged in trying
to extract the bullet from the terrible
wound which the poor captain had re.
ceived in the back part Of his head
Among the by-standers who watched the
sickcning proceedings with the most
visible marks Of grief was First Lieu.
tenant Scoresby.
"Oh, my poor Captain y he groaned
again and again.
Several officers stepped up to him and
consoled him. He burst into tears and
sobbed convulsively.
"My poor Captain y he sighed again
and again.
At this moment the surgeon extracted
the bullet They looked at it, and were
evidently greatly surprised.
at is pistol bullct!" exclaimed the
brigade surgeon.
Squire Window and General Perkins
examined it.
ayes, it is horse-pistol bullet" said
the general. "Who could have fired
itT
The squire announced that he would
now open the inquest. A jury, con-
sisting Of number of officers. was
impancled. Larry Bootby, the colored
marker, was informally examined. He
stated that just as Captain Summervile
had arrived in front Of the target shot
had been fred at him from behind the
last tree on the left. The negro added
that be had not looked at anybody but
the wounded captain. A minute later
Lieutenant Scoresby arrived on the spot.
Captain summeBvillc merely said IL
know who did this" and he then cx-
pircd.
Lieutenant Scoresby confirmed this
statement, except that he said Captain
Summcryille's last words bad been Il
don't know who did this" The sur
geons declared that death had been
brought about by pistol shot. and the
jury found that the shot had been fred
by some unkDown person.
Squire Windon had then long con-
iideniial conversation With General Per
kins. who al is close. ordered the whole
brigade " BE- formed 10 line.