National Republican., 1883-03-16
PROBABLE HOMICIDE.
A Drunken Row Over II Game OF Cards
and What It Led 10.
SnrrLnI nInnnlrl

SDtCtut DtSDNlCN.
ANNAPOLIS, Mar. 15.-We have intelligence
to-day of the probable homicide of Mr.. Ham
ilton q. Webb, II well known farmer of tho
eighth district of Anne Arundel county, by u
man named William Webster Wilmington, of
Friendship, in the same district. From the
particulars gathered to-day it appears that
Mr.. Webb, Wilmington, and II party of men,
among them George c. Wood, j. Amos Dowol,
w. b. Owings, George w. Jones, and Walter
Crosby, were engaged in playing Il game of
cards at William + Leitchs saloon, at Friend
ship, last night, when Il dispute arose over the
game which eliminated in harsh words, and
rs result may end in a tragedy. As the hot
words over the game progressed Webb, who
was sitting Il few PAGES from Whiting
ton, it was stated attacked the lat
ter striking him in the eye. He then
followed Wilmington to the door, holding on
to his shoulder and continuing the assault.
In his efforts to become released, Wilmington
drew II knife from his pocket and began to
cut right and left at his assailant but he
stated to-day that he had no idea of cutting
Webb but only intended to frighten him
50 rs to get out of the place without further
molcstatiOn. Before he got out he had in
ilicted II number of cuts ON Webbs body, two
of which are deemed fatal. Both men, il is
stated, were greatly under the influence of
liquor The cutting took place ut the door to
which Webb had followed Wilmington, and
occurred few minutes before 10 o'clock.
Webb was picked up unconscious outside the
dOOr,and carried to the residence of DIR. Stewart
| in the neighbOrhOOd, and in the meantime
Wilmington went to his house, about one
hundred yards from the saloon, and retired
Ii was sometime before Webb rcgaincd con-
sciOusness. DIR. n. S. Knighton, with Dr.
Stewart, made an examination of the injuries
inflicted which disclosed fatal wound in
the side, there being two gashes of about
| three inches in length Il wound in the spleen
and two cuts ON the hip four inches in length
besides several slight cuts on other parts Ol
| the body, making nine wounds in all.
The physicians expressed no hopes of his
| recovery.
Officer Thomas Loitch, of Friendship, ar
| rested Wilmington at his house this morning
| at 2i5 O'clock, a warrant having been ISSUED
| by Justice Arthur Carr Wilmington antc
| pated the officers visit and began to inquir,
of him the extent of his nOudlin career Of las
night. lie affected great surprise when hC
was told that Webb's injuries were of serious
nature, and wept. His wife, who IL in deli
cate condition, was also overcome by the ar
rest of her husband aud the general excite
ment Although il WAS alleged that Whit
tington was greatly under the influence .
liquor last night he realized what he ha,
done this morning, aud related wha
had occurred in straightforward manner
lie said he was only trying to get away from
the trouble, was acting purely on the delen
sive, and his sole object in drawing the knit
was to keep Webb oil without harmng him
Wilmington is about 30 years old lie is
plasterer by trade, and has always been rC
garded as a peaccable citizen. Webb is ais
married and has five children living. He /
quite influential as local politician of tn
4. 4. L .t.s.N IL, Il IL. 4
Wilmington was brought to Annapolis to-da
and placed in Jail to await the result of hi
injuries. At last accounts Webb was livin,
but his death was momentarily expected.