The daily gazette., 1881-10-26
THE KENT COUNTY TRAGEDY.
Latest Particulars OF the Affair."
The Assassin Dying and his Vic.
tim Somewhat Better.

Latest Particulars OF the AFFAIR
Tho Assassin Dying and his Vic,
tim Somewhat Better.
The shooting Of Curtis Williams. nj
South Murderkill Hundred, Kent Conn.
ty, by Jerry ScanlaD, right before last, &C
briefly related In yesterdays GAZETTE
causes the greatest excitement In Dover
and other places. The following par.
ticulars are gwen:
The tragedy took place on the road
leading from Frederick TO Bowers
Beach. Between Williams and Scanlop
there had long existed bitter feud,
growing out Of frequent disputes about
the divisiOn.line between Williams land
and small property which Seaman had
recently purchased from John Saxtop.
Last Friday the men met at the Office of
George V. Massey, E.q., In Dover, with
view Of I'm cably tlllI z their d fer
ences, out they grew more bitter towards
each other than ever Inst cad of effectinp
q reconciliation.
On Monday evoning Scanlun took q
double barrelled shot gun aud started
Tor the house Of Williams. which is on
the bay shore, east of Dover. Arriving
there he Knocked at the front door.
Then, peeping through the window
be watched until he saw Williams EN-
erge from the kitchen into the front
room, when be deliberately fred at him
through the window. The gun was
charged with heavy shot, and the entire
load struck Williams in the right breast
and shoulder, severing an artery and
causing the blood to gush out In ghast-
ly stream. He iell to the floor, while
scanlon, without waiting TO learn the
effect OF bis shot, Immediately ran away,
and went TO the house of John Saxton's
about quarter of mile distant, with
the intention,a ,as was afterwards learned,
OF shooting him also, but fortunately
Saxton was not seen by Scanlon, who
concluded be was not at home. Saxton
Son and boy named Wash Blades,
were in the kitchen oiling harness.
Hearing the report of gun they ran
oat and found ScanloI lying in the road,
bl eding from a wound IN bis groin aud
stomach. They Immediately procured
help and conveyed him to his home,
where he was attended to by DIR. Albert
Whteley, of Frederick. The doctor, on
bis arrival, expressed very little hope for
Williams as the wound was Of such q
character That peritonitis was sure to set
In, and doubtless with fatal effect.
The shooting of Williams was wit
messed by members of his family, who
at once summoned medical assistance.
DIR. t. V. Cahall, OF Frederick, for
merly of this city, arrived and did all
IN his power for the wounded man.
At first he had very little hopes of his
recovery, but as the patient 8 condition
improved he became more hopeful,
and this morning, it is stated, believes
he will recover though his condition is
still very critical. Rev. Father Brad
ford, Of Dover, was called to attend
Scanlon, and administered the last
rites Of the Catholic Church. Timothy
Scanlon. brother of jeremiah, says
he believes his brother was inssae when
he committed the deed.
Late last night Scanlon was suffer-
ing from internal hemorrhages.
Sheriff Lacey was not allowed to move
him by the attending physician, say
ing the removal would kill him In an
hour. Scanlon is conscious, but
sinking. He acknowledges the shoot
ing, and said {: ~ killed Cart Williams
but l am glad I did not kill Saxton ;
he was a poor old man, and not worth
shooting"
Scanlon is a native of Ireland, but
has been living in Kent county for q
number of years and owned considera-
BILE property. He is described as man
OF violent temper and quarrelsome
disposition. Williams Is farmer of
excellent reputation and is highly
spoken of.