Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-18
A Carroll County (tId.) Tragedy.
THE SEDUCER OF MARTHA PICKET KILLS HER

"A special to the Baltimore American from
New Windsor. i'd, October 16. says: Milton
Picket. man So years OF age, living In Freedom
the road leading from the Old Sans Greek road
to Brandenburgs min, was shot on Tuesday
morning last by Luther Picket, Of the same
neighbOrhOod. and died on Thursday night at Q
O'Clock. The verdict of the jury was as follows:
''Miiton Picket came to his death on the evening
OF October 14th from ball fired from revolver
held In the hands OF Luther Picket on the morn
Ing of october 18th" The following facts in
regard to the tragedy disclose its origin and
character: About tour years ago Milton Picket,
E., bis daughter, about II years Of age, aud
young son-mOved to his present place Of abode.
A short time after this Luther Picket, who is
second cousin to the girl Martha, moved into the
neighborhood, and, with the aid of his brother
took charge Of farm belonging to his widowed
mother. He soon commenced paying attention
to his cousin Martha, which continued for sew
eral years. Eventually an engagement OF mar
rlage was made between them. This was the
beginning OF the trouble. Under the promise OF
marriage he accomplished his cousin S ruin. Her
condition became known, and she, with her par
entS, was anxious for the marriage to take place.
But young Picket, Offering pre1ext after pre-
ext as ground OF delay, succeededfn postpon-
ing the marriage. About two weeks before her
confinement he called to see her, and again re-
Dewed his promise TO marry her at once. He
he n left her. and Martha never saw him again
corn on the 18th day OF April last just six
months b fore the tragedy. During that interval
the father and daughter repeatedly sent wO I'd to
young Picket to return and fulfil his promise
to which he paid no attention At last the girl,
frenzied with her grief, determined to fore
matters to crisis. Accordingly, last Tuesday
to field about two miles distant from her home,
where Luther was sowing wheat. and met him
close to the fence. The girl had a rather large
sized; fve-barreled Smith d Wesson revolver.
and her father had In his pocket an old revol-
yer, which had been loaded, but not discharged,
for nearly year. AS they met the father
you will go with US to the house. Wul you
go?" His reply was, mo. won't; and at once
The shooting commenced. After Martha's re-
volver had been emptied OF Its contents, fredla
all directions she turned to her father, who had
not taken his pistol from his pocket, but who
vas beating hasty retreat. During this time
Luther Picket was firing at tie retreatIDg man,
struck him in the back, about three inches to
the right OF the spinal column, a little below the
crest OF the 1liium. passing through the cavity
| face OF the right lobe of the liver and lodging
near the surface about two and half inches
above the umbilicuS, The unfortunate man,
after receiving the shot, walked ed some distance
| conveyed to his home AMI medical aid hastily
| summon ed. Or. /. A, Aldridge pr0bad Tor the
! ball and found 1t located as above stated, and
| at once removed 1t. The doctor rendered all
| avail. When the doctor told him he could not
| live, he said, 'Wel, Luther SHOT me. / went
| With my girl to protect her. but was shot,
He said further ''thst he never fired at ALL and
that Lu! her had fired the first shot, This how
ever, Is denied by the boy who followed the drill
| who said the girl Martha fired the first shot
Young Picket and his brother, who witness I'd The
shooting, were not present at the preliminary ex
animation, as they had gone to Balt.ulore In the
morning, not knowing that the old man had
| died. The general impression among those as
sembled seemed to be that he young Pickett
would not return, but this is mere conjecture.
The mother of the girl remarked: "It the men
will not protect the women, they must protect
themselves