The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-12-11
Brutality Beaten and Shot by an Infatuated


Mr.. Joseph Wood. farmer of the 18th district,
living in PatRpsco Neck. was brntally assaulted
on Thursday night Of last week by negro named
John Gothard, who had been In his employ Tor
some time. Mr.. Wood had been 10 the city with
his wagon aud on returning after dark he was met
In the yard by Gothard, who at once entered into
q discussion with him about pay for some work.
Mr. Wood busted himself about unhitching his
team when the negro seized an axe and dealt him
fearful blow on the head, telling him under the
wagon. Mr.. Wood then called for help and
dragging himself from under the wagon staggered
towards the house, GothaTd In the meantime beat
ing him over the head with bludgeon which he
had picked up. Mr.. Wood finally reached the
house when he picked up gun which stood In
corner but was too weak 10 use II. Gothard had
pushed into the house also and when Mrs. Wood
came TO the assistance Of her husband the negro
also assaulted her, striking her several times and
smashing n lamp which she held In her hand. She
managed 20 push the man out Of the door and
quickly closed and bolted II. Gothard tried 20
kick II down but failed, and with the gun which
he had wrenehed from Mrs. Woods hands he fred
through the door the charge lodging In the groin
Of Mr. Wood who lay Frustrated On the inside.
Mrs. Wood, taking her infant in her arms, slipped
out Of back door and proceeded 20 Mr.. George
Haines', about n Of q mile distant, and gave the
alarm. Mr.. lIaines and n colored man named
VIM. Dorsey, started for Woods house, on reach
ing which they found Mr.. W. in the yard. whittier
he had crawled after the assault. His skull was
crushed and he was bleeding profusely from the
gun.shot wound in his groin. Mr.. Haines took
the wounded man TO his house and after alarming
the neighborhood, started for doctor. num-
Der Of the ncighbors gathered and started In pur-
suit Of Gothard, whom they captured about two
miles OF. lie was lodged in the Canton station
house and on Friday was brought to Jail at this
place.
DIR. Stein, upon arriving at Mr.. Haines' house,
found Mr.. Wood In an unconscious condition.
His skull was very badly fractured, from which
the DR.. removed several pieces OF bone, and whilst
the other wounds were serious they were not
necessarily fatal. From the nature Of the wound
in the head II was at first thought that Mr..
Wood could not recover, but he IL still alive and
the DIR. now thinks he will survive.
Gothard. the man who committed this murder
Gus assault says he Is 81 years DID, but looks older
lie has very forbidding countenance which indi
Gates that he Is n man Of british nature. The
affair created great excitement in the neighbor-
hood and there were threats made Of lynching,
but no attempts were made in that direction.
DEATH or TR. woop.
Tho victim Of tho terrible assault, the particn-
lars Of which are given above, died Mt " o'clock
on Wednesday morning. Justice Dorsey, Of Can
ton, was nj once notified and proceeded 10 the
home Of the deceased and held an inquest. The
Testimony Of several witnesses was taken. among
them Mrs Wood. wife Of the deceased. and the jury
returned . verdict that "Joseph Wood came TO his
death nj the hands Of Sandy Smith. alias John
Gardner, or John Gothard, colorcd. by being
struck on the head with some blunt instrument,
and tho jury believe that the said killing was de-
li6erate and prcmcditated.'
Tho statement Of Mrs. Wood before the coroncr's
inquest was that her husband had been TO Balti-
more city to sell n load Of wood and returned home
about $50 o'clock ut night with his wagon. lie
came into the dining-room and put down some
candies he had bought for their little child, two
years old, and asked Gothard, who was in the
kitchen, to come out and assist in unhitching tho
wagon. Gothard said he did not understand about
unhitching horses, but went out after Mr.. Wood.
In n few minutes she heard groans and the rat
Ting Of chains, and thinking that Mr.. Wood had
been run over, ran 10 the side door and called to
Gothard TO go to his assistance. Suddenly sho
saw her husband come from towards the wagon,
followed by Gothard, striking nj him with q large
club. Mr.. Wood got into the door first and seized
the double barrcled gun. which was In the right
hand corner ut the side of small safe. but had
not strength to use II. She went quickly for n
light and returned with lamp in her hand
Gothard was struggling with Mr.. Wood, who was
covered with blood. and wrenched the gun from
him. Gothard then struck at her several times
with the club, breaking her lamp and cutting her
upon the upper part Of the forehead. lie also
struck blow ut her child, but missed Il. Catch
ing her child in her she went out Of the back
door Of the Kitchen and running around the house,
screamed Murder - Fearing, however, that her
cries would bring Gothard on her track, she hush
ed them, and made her way across the fields TO
the house Of Mr.. Wsorge II. Haynes, several hun
drcd yards or. She met with much difficulty, rs
the night was pitch dark and the fields very mud
dy. Al the gate leading TO the house of Mr..
Haynes she fell, but recovered herself and got Go
his house. she awakened Mr.. Haynes by her
cries and was taken into his house, while he and
VIM. Dorsey. n eoiored man. went 20 aid her hus-
band. About 2 o'clock a. M. Go,hari was brought
g. ehah aV1 hn flt tva1 Inn ahss
man who had committed the assault. While she
was cooking supper for her husband Gothard
dipped his naked fingers into pan of sausage on
the stove and took out portion. She reproved
him for doing so, saying she would not allow n
white man to take such liberty. The blow Of
the club which struck Mrs. Wood was partly
broken by Grst striking against the ceiling Of the
roon-