Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-09-03
A Tragedy at Cumberland, Md.
lsne.i.I nisn.tch to tha baltimore Sum

Especial Dispatch to the Baltimore GUN
Cumberland, Md, Aug. 30.-About 1890
this morning Thomas Cook Hughey, q Laws
yer, shot A Hooten Blackiston, also lawyer,
inficting wounds from which he died in less
than fifteen minutes. This morning Black
iston, with client, went into the office of
the special auditor of the court and found
second report filed in an equity case in
which Hughey was trustee, charging Black-
iston with having made an offer to withdraw
objections made by him to payments from o
trust fund, reported previously, if Hughey
would pay fifty dollars, and on refusal, with
somewhat similar proposal to Hughey's at,
torney, employed to argue exceptions taken
from the ruling of the court of the same OBJ
jections. What follows is substantially what
was brought out at the coroner's inquest
A few minutes afterward Blackiston, with
his client, Frank o. Baush, went to Hugh
ey's Office, where Hughey was seated at q,
desk talking with VIM. Brace, lawyer
Blackiston said "Hughey, I've read the re-
port made by you in that case. What it
contains in regard to mo is id lie. You
are lying g. of b." and struck Hugh
ey two or three blows on tho head with his
fist. Brace seized Biackiston and Baush
seized Hughey, forcing the latter into q
corner. z..tr. lies. .
just then j. j. and J. A. McHenry, law
yers, attracted by the noise, rushed in, the
latter taking Blackstone arm, and, with
/ Brace, trying to persuade him to leave-
| Hughey, having gotten from his pocket a
| fve>barrel ed Remington, said eff you ad-
vance on me I'll shoot you" To which
Blackiston replied, II am not afraid"
Hughey responded, "You are q son of -"
Before he could complete the sentence
| c,,l oA
Brace and McHenry and dashed at Hughey
when the latter fred Blackiston struck
him two or three times, then they clnched
and fell, Hughey beneath. Bystanders
seized Blackiston, and Uughey crawled out
aud ran from his Office into an adjoin-
ing one, where he remained until the deputy
sheriff came and took him to Jail. j. j.
McHenry, supporting Blackiston, seeing his
cheek blanch, said, "Blackiston are you
shot ?" eyes l am" responded Blaokiston,
and his eyes turned upward. McHenry said,
SHY God, you are dying! Have you any
message for your wife 2" Blackiston made
no reply, and never spoke or recognized any
one, dying in about thirteen minutes after
being shot.
A coroner's inquest was held at once,
States Attorney Boyd attending. After
hearing the testimony of those who witnessed
| the tragedy, the jury returned tho folloWln
verdict THAT the said y. Hooton Black
iston came to his death by pistol ball fired
from pistol in the hands of Thomas Cook
Hughey, whilst said Hughey was defending
himself from an aggravated assault made on
him by said A. Hooton Blackiston."
Hughey was committed to Jail for hear
ing on the 5rd of September. The body of
BIackiston was removed to his late residence,
on West Washington street. He was 80
years of age, native OF Kent county, Md I,
and son of David Blackiston. He came to
Cumberland about ten years ago, and was a
leading member of the bar of this city. Tho
deceased leaves a wife, who is daughter of
Judge Pearre, and an infant son. Thomas
Cook Hughey is native of Queen Anne s
county, Md, and came here thirteen years
ago, has wife and one child, and is law
yer in fair pactice.