The Cecil Whig., 1878-07-06


One of the most shocking and terrible
tragedies ever enacted i'll this county took
place at Port Deposit, on the lth Instant.
Certainly nothing so bloody and startling
has taken place in this part Of the PENN
sula since the massacre of the Cosden fam
iy many years ago. The terrible story is
briefly told by our Port correspondent as
follows:
Mr.. James Armstrong, who lives in Bal
timore, and has charge Of the branch house
of Armstrong & Co. in that city, came to
Port Deposit, on Wednesday, on visit to
his brother to spend the lth. About 10
A. NJ. or Thursday, McGill came up with
Thomas and James Armstrong on the pave
ment near their stove shop, when an alter
cation of words ensued between the par
ties, very bitter and personal, continuing
for some time when the two Armstrong;
went into the shop, followed by McHill
who, as soon as he got in, drew revolver
and shot James in the stomach. Thomas
seeing his brother shot. started to run out
of the back door, but McGili fired at him,
striking him il the leg above the knee and
crushing the bone, he falling to the tlocr.
George Maclley, who ran in and caught
McGill, came near meeting the same fate,
as McGir turned his pistol and fired at
him, but fortunately missed Kim.
When Mackey caught McGill, James
Armstrong, though badly wounded, rushed
into the inner cttice, and as soon IS McGt!l
cot free from M&cEey, he rushed TO the
office door and fred the second ball into
James, the ball passing through his LETT
lung. McGiIl, finding his Work was a2-
complished, put the pistol to his own fore
head and blew his brains out, falling to the
floor a corpse.
Doctors Hanna, Shure and Mccullough
we're called in and rendered all assistance
possible. Dr.. Bromweli was also sent for
Immediately.
James Armstrong died at twenty min
utcs past eleven or Thursday night There
is bat little hope of Thomas Armstrong
surviving. The physicians have decided
it will be necessary 20 an'PGt&-e lis les as
the only possible chance toc his recovery,
and sert for Dr. \. p. smith, who was eN-
pec,ed on Thursday night, but did not
come.
There is no doubt McGiil had prcmcdi-
tated the deed. and met them with the de.
termination if they did not acccGe to his
demands, to kill them both. lie said to
Macllcy, he would kill him or anybody that
attempted to interfere.
McGll the murderer and suicide was 4
first cousin Of tie men he murdered, and
also a brotherin law Of James Armstrong,
they having married sisters. He WAS an
ingenious mechanic and the patentco of
several stoves. which he had invented. 1t
was out Of the business of these patents.
which he had sold to the firm that the dit
iculty grew. One of the patents was for
a smoke consumer as an attachment to i
stove, the right for which lie sold IL
! Armstrong & Co, and which proved to be
failure. Another patent was for stove
known to the trade as Tile ChaMPi5n. BE.
sides this he patented the Regu}Htor aud
Fame stoves, all of which the firm OF
| Armstrong Il Co. were at one time or
another engaged in manufacturing. About
wear ago McGill brought suit in the |.
s. District court for damages in the matter
of royalties for the sum Of $1,000, which
suit is still pending. lie formerly was in
the employ Of the finn, but was discharged
about three years ago, ard has since wolk-
ed at his trade, that o: ali iron .Houider, IN
various places. Ills family remained in
| Port Deposit, and it is said that during his
absence levy was made upon his house
hold goods for rent. He returned home
some months ago, since which he has been
ont of employment. At the time Of his
meeting the Armstrong brothers III font
OF their warehouse, he was accompanied by
his two children, whom he left unattended!
upon tie street when he followed the Arm
strongs into their place of business. He
was a member Of Cecil Lodge, Knights OF
Pythias, and leaves Il widowed mother, Il
wife and two children.
After the shooting, the Coroner Mr..
| Kaufman katZ, summoned jury of in
quest upon the body of McGili, composed
Of the following citizens Of the town:
John McCleuahap, JOS. w. Ahrahams,
Win. y. Loag, Henry G. Nesbitt, john W.
Malone, VIM. j. Stebbings, VIM. I. Way,
y. Peoples, Jos. L. Reynolds G. y. Van
mort, Daniel Vanneman and j. r. Miller.
After hearing the evidence in the case the
| jury rendered Il verdict ' That William
| McGil came to his death by = pistol shot
| discharged in his own hand, at the store Of
Armstrong & Co., on July 4th, 1873"
The Armstrong; came to Port Deposit
many years ago and learned the business
Of iron founders in that place. The three
| brothers commenced business there in 1874.
The firm, during the last four years, was
composed of Thomas and William, who
reside in Po:t Deposit; and James, who
! had charge of the business i'll Baltimore,
where they had a large ware house OH
Light street, from which their customers
in the Southern cities were supplied. They
were an enterprisng firm, and had ma
chine shop for the repair OF agricultural
and other machinery and were also en-,
gagged in the manufacture of gas fixtures.
Their foundry and shops gave employment
to many persons in Port Deposit, and theil
loss will be severe one to the people oi
| town.
Meeting of the Hartford County Medical
Society.
A special meeting of the IL. c. NJ. So
ciety was called for Saturday, June 29th
instant. TO take such action as Was deemeC