The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-07-24
The Denton Tragedy.

We clip the following account of this sad
affair, which occurred in Denton, Caroline
county, on Monday last, from the Baltimore
.Sun of Thursday:
DENTON, Md, July 2l.-DrS. George,
Fisher and Hackett. the attending physi-
clans of Mr. Robert j. Jump, who was at
tackled and seriously injured by James p.
Melvin, at this place, late Monday after
noon state to day that there is Il possibility
OF his ultimate recovery, though ii it is by
no means certain. Mr.. Jump has been suf-
tcring Il great deal, but his family ana
friends are watching him constantly and
rendering all the care and attention possible.
The cause of the attack was alleged Grim
inal intimacy which, it is said, existed be-
tween Mr.. Jump and Miss Sallie O. Melvin,
aged 20 years, sister of James +. Melvin.
The friends OF Mr.. Jump empliatic3lly deny
this, and Stoutly maintain his innocence.
His wife says that she has never had cause
to doubt her husbands t:iithfulncsS and
believes that he has been true to her. Mr..
Jump is well known throughout the PENN
Sula. He was born near Oakland, Caroline
county, December !, 1888. In 1851, he was
elected clerk of the circuit court Of his
county. In 1864 he was elected comptroller
of the State, and held the position until
1861, when he was succeeded 10y Col Vim.
j. Leonard, of Wicomco. He has II wife
and four children living. One of his daugh-
1crs married Mr.. Charles w. Emmerch, for
nerly of Washington, ID. c., now of Den
ton His second daughter is Il very pretty
girl, aged about seventeen years The two
remaining children are boys, neither of them
being over fifteen years old.
About six years ago Mr.. Jump became an
energetic worker in the NJ. f. Church. He
was elected superintendent of the Sunday
school connected with the church, and num-
bered among his pupils Miss Sallie Melvin,
who was then in her fourteenth year. Miss
Melvin is a daughter of Mr.. Thomas Mel
vim, n Iuenber of the Legislature of 1915
and at present 4 justice OF the peace. He
has eight children living, five of whom are
girls. One of his sons, John Il. Melvin,
WAS accidentally killed in Wilmington last
month, by rolling ont of Il window, near
which his bed was placed. The fall was Il
terrible one, and the young man lived but Il
short time afterwards.
Mr. Thomas Melvin when questioned
about the scandal relative to his daughter
said that his family first heard of it in May,
1879. Mr.. Jump, he said, called upon him
Il few days later and purposely referring to
the matter said that he had always acted
toward the young lady us he would to his
own daughter. 1t was Miss Melvin'S wont
to attend class meetings regularly. Mr..
Jump, who was class leader ut the time,
would, it is said, frequently walk home
with the young lady, sometimes in com
pany with others. Things went on in this
way until in 1879, and rumor began to link
Mr.. Jumps and Miss MelvinS names so
often that Mr. Jump sent resignation to
his church, declaring that he wished to
withdraw, as an attempt was being made to
blacken his reputation, and that he would
rather leave the church than remain in it
in a responsible position while runor was
so busy with his name.
In October of 1879, Miss Melvin went to
Preston, Il short distance below Denton, to
teach school. While there she boarded
with Il sister OF hers, who is married to Mr..
Elijah Todd, of that place. She had been
at Preston some time when, it is alleged,
j. ID. Fletcher, the postmaster, inquired of
Mr.. Todd why it was Miss Melvin was re-
ceiving SO many letters from some one
whose handwriting was very much like
that of Mr.. Jump. Mr. Todd informed his
wife of it, and she in turn, riding over to
her fathers, told her mother and father,
who gave orders thar the trunk wherein
Miss Sallie kept her letters should be broken
open and ransacked, which, it is stated, was
accordingly done. Nearly Il peck of letters
We're discovered, and among oher things Il
lot of gold trinkets These letters are all
written in the same hand, and bear ticti-
tlpuS vi
Although the contents of the letters We're
not known to the people of the town, the
scandal was i'll everyhody's mouth, and was
only hushed when one of the Melvins hap
pened to be near. This thing so weighed
upon young Melvin's mind that losing con-
troll of himself he sought Jump for the pur-
pose, he says, of cowhiding him, but the
moment he saw him he picked up the near
est weapon he could get his hand upon,
which happened to be n club, with which
he struck and knocked Jump down, cutting
his head feariully.
James Melvin is about 10 years old, well
built, intelligent and manly looking. He
was sent to college ut the expense of his /,
brother, George Melvin, attorney-at-law f.
and senior editor of the Denton Journal, of
which paper he afterwards made his brother
James junior editor. James Melvin is con- I
Sidered ready writer and Il young man of
great promise. He is now confined in Jail !
awaiting the result of Mr.. Jumps injuries.
All the letters WI ich could be found are
written in Il sentimental style, ANA are filled .
with all sorts Of endcafins names. Miss .
Melvin remains in her room ut her fathers .
house, where but few persons are allowed t.
visit her. Her meals are sent to her room.
She denies that the relations between her. /
self and Mr.. Jump We're criminal. George
Melvin, Esq, however, who is his brothers .
proposes to 90 to the bottom of the |
affair if it is necessary.
Wanted--Country Sides, cash or
trade: at REESE'S PROVISION House.
az You can buy Peach Baskets at q low
price at REEsE's PROVISION House.