Daily Republican., 1879-05-23
FIFTH EDITION
A TERRIBLL FRATRICIDE,
A n sn Shoots His Brother and Then
Shoots Himself In the Presence
Of His Tive Sisters.

The usually quiet section of county
about mile east of Severn station OF
the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Anne Arundel County, Maryland, wa
thoroughly startled on Wednesday
about noon by a terrible fratricidt
which resulted in the killing of tw,
brothers.
John Stinchcomb, GA years of age
assassinated his brother, Lewis Stinch
comb, aged 30 years, by shooting hin
in the back with an old musket Will,
at work in woods burning charcoal
aud then going home, about a hal
mile distant, declared the horrd deco
to his sisters and shot himself in thei
presence, within ten steps of his home
which had he left scarcely an hour be-
fore.
The difficulty which led to the TRACE
dy was dispute in regard to the divis
ion Of tract Of land lett the brothers il
common with three sisters, over twenty
years ago. John Stinchcomb had al
ways been in possession of the farm
Lewis receiving no benefit from 1t, anC
until within the last two years he hat
made no effort to obtain his share.
Lattely, however, he had appearc(
anxious to have his rights, and tol'
his brother he would be satisfied with
any part of the farm, provided he hat
enough to build house upon anc
maintain himself. John was violently
opposed to any division or any arrange
ment except the existing one, whicl
left him master Of all, and threatened
to take his brothers. life if he pusheS
his claim for share of the estate.
Lewis, 1t appears, finally applied tc
the County Court and obtained deere,
for division of the property, and afte1
considerable disputing over the matter
it was finally decided to divide thu
property into four pares. Several in
tsrviews took place between the broth
ers, one of which occurred ON Monday
last, when John went over to wher,
Lewis was burning charcoal, anC
brought him home and helped him tt
his supper.
The brothers did not meet again un
til Wednesday, when John went out a
about ! A. NJ, carrying his gun, un
observed by any of the sistsrs, He wal
then seen walking about the coal
pit about this time by Mr.. Dyson's sol
talking with Lewis as if they were goot
friends, no gun being in sight.
Between l2 and o'clock, John re
turned home with the gun. His sister!
fearing some disaster seeing the gun il
his hand, asked if he had killed poo
Lewis. He answered, "Yes, expect
have"
They then started off in the direction
of the COAL pit, calling the name of Lew
is, to whom they were both much at
tached. John begged them to COM
back, saying, 81 am dead tool an
dead y and, slipping off his shoe ant
sock, placed the muzzle of the gun
against his right side and discharged
the gun hy pushing the trigger will
his toe. The load went entirely through
his body, killing him instantly. TIT
musket was loaded with slngs and BIZ
sho..
An inquest was held on the bodies o
the brothers the same day, and the,
were buried on Sunday morning, sid,
by side On the place, within few yard
OF the house, at the regular buryiDg
ground of the family, in the presenc
of a large assembIage Of neigbors.
The sisters, who were not afraid O
John at the time of his arrival hom
after shooting Lewis, say that from hi
wild behavior they now think he wa
insane, and that it is strange he di'
not shoot them when they went out il
the yard to inquire if he had shot Lew
is. The two sisters will continue to liv,
on the place alone.