Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-12-12
One Man Killed and Another Sc

One Man Killed and Another Sc
riOusly Wounded Deputy Sheriff Miles,
of Medley's district, arrived in this town by
the early train Monday morning last with
negro man, named George Clark, in his
charge and committed by Justice Donahoe
to incarceration in the Jail TO await trial
at the coming term of Court for maliciously
killing John Lyles, another negro man, by
stabbing him with dirk knife, on last Satur-
day night, at Poolesville.
The facts of the killing have been ascer-
tanned as follows from Mr. Elias Price of the
firm Of Price & Sparrow, in whose place of
business the murderer first began his attack :
This firm is doing business in the village of
Poolesville, this county. They have store
above and bar-room in an under apartment
of the same building. AS was usual, on
Saturday night the negro employees of the
farmers adjacent to the village congregated
at the establishment to purchase goods
Several negroes were in the bar-room when
Clark came in. Before being elected from
the room by Mr.. Price, Clark quarreled with
several of his color. Clark then left as if
going home Three of the Lyles, father and
two sons, were in the bar-room when Clark
was put out and one of them had exchanged
angry words with him After Clark had
gone the Lyles passed up into the store AT
ter some moments Clark returned and bran
dished in the store as he had done in the
bar-room dirk knife and said if any man
hit him he would cut him with the knife
John Lyles responded to Clark saying he
would strike any man with the auger handle
he had in his hand who would cut him with
knife
Clark made pass at Lyles with the knife
and cut small cash in his cheek. Lyles
put his hand to his face and felt the blood
coursing through the wound, remarking you
did cut me, and struck Clark with the han
die on the head inflicting a cash. Both
parties were then put of the store by Mr.
Sparrow and admonshed to stop fighting.
Outside they clinched, and while in that
position Clark was heard TO sayT could cut
your d. heart out, John Lyles, if wanted
10, but don want to do it," and then made
an effort to throw Lyles, but Lyles being a
stronger man Clark was thrown to the
ground with his opponent on top. While
down on the ground Clark cut Lyles three
times in the leg-in the thigh, in the calf
and just behind and above the knee, sever
ing the main artery, from which he bled to
death in a little time after being separated
from Clark.
Moses Lyles, father of John, was dan
gerously cut in the leg twice and the abdo-
men by Clark, in making the separation.
Moses, we learn, has passed all danger Of a
fatal result by skillful medical treatment.
After the separation Clark was held a
pace or 50 from Lyles by two men, and
Lyles appearing to be In stupor staggered
10 Clark and hit him three successive blows
on the head with the handle, and again
turned and reeled several yards and died
Through the excitement upon Lyles' death,
il is supposed, Clark made his escape from
the village and took 10 his home on the farm
Of Mr., Benz. White, by whom he was EN-
ployed He was at once pursued by Deputy
Sheriff Miles, DIR. Wootton and colored
empoye of the latter gentleman, named
Bowens, and discovered concealed far under
a straw stack. When he found his pdrsuers
were close on him he tried 10 make his ~.
cape by running away. Bowens being the
nearest 10 Clark was ordered TO fire by the
Deputy Sheriff. Three Of four Of Bowens
o shots took effect, two in Clark's back and one
in his arm, from which he has suffered nc
little since placed in Jail.
Clark bears bad character which wa,
the reverse Of Lyles. He has several times
narrowly escaped the committal Of SINH
bar crime which be has just perpetrated ant
the ends Of justice that he will meet in thi
case At the preliminary trial Clark saic
that his wife told him that night he woulC
be in the Peniteniiary or hung befor
Christmas. and that he had n jerking Of
the eye, from which he believed that h
was 10 commit murder. Il was though
d. tod this 10 make an impression Of his In
sanity or OF his uncomfortable Temperament
IN extenuation Of his crime. lie is abou
thirty.fve years Of age, Of low statue, AM
halls from Virginia.