Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-05-24
Fatal Professional Jealousy.

Tan gier Island, Va, was the scene of
brutal murder OH Saturday last, in which
DR.. l.. Il. Walter was the victim of DR..
Pitts. The cause for the act is said to
have been professional jealousy. Walter
was young physician who had graduated
at the University of Maryland this spring
with high honors. After receiving his
diploma he returned to Tangier Island,
his home, with the intention of building
up 4 practice. Being we'll known through
out the island and exceedingly popular,
his success dated almost from the day of
his coming. This was in part owing to
the absence of DR.. Pitts, the regular prac-
ticing physician at that place, and who
had until then monopolized all the prac-
tice. Pitts was in Baltimore at the time
at one of the medical colleges, where he
was under treatment. He is q confirmed
opium-catcr, and excessive use of the drug
has undermined his health. Becoming
thoroughly unfit to attend to his profess
sional duties, he found IL absolutely nee
returned from Baltimore several weeks
ago, after an absence of about month,
and saw the havoc that Walter had in the
meantime made in his practice. He be-
came exceedingly morosc, but made no
hostile demonstration until last Saturday,
when, while standing in the doorway of
his office, he saw his young rival passing
BY. lie called TO him in a very friendly
manner and invited him in. The unsus-
pecting young physician, totally oblivious
of the danger surrounding him, entered,
and taking seat, began pleasant con-
vcrsation. After time he arose TO leave.
As lie turned Pitts drew Il revolver which
he had concealed about him and shot him
through the shoulder. The door being
closed, Walter, wounded rs he was, sprang
to the window with the intention of leap
ing ont, but the Infatuated physician jerk
ed him back from the ledge; and, placing
himself before his victim, fired three more
shots at short range, all OF which took ef-
feet i'm Walters breast, killing him Instant
lv. The news of the murder spread
through the island like wildfire, and with
in very short time after the killing of
Walter mob surrounded Pitts Office and
threatened to lynch him. The county
officers, however, succeeded in rescuing
the murderer an lodged him safely in the
Drummondt0wn, Accomac county, Jail.
The popular feeling against Pitts is in
tense, and threats of lynching him are
openly made. Young Walter was bright
and promising physician, and hut for his
untimely end he would have secured in
short time a very large practice. As it
was, in the few short months that he has
been on the island in professional capac-
ity, he had achieved good reputation.
Pitts, although his unfortunate habit was
pretty well known, has always been held
in highest respect. 1t is urged in his be-
half that his sickness had partially de-
throned his reason, and that his counsel
will make Il plea of emotional insanity.
Both the victim and his murderer were
married.
A dispatch from Altoona, Pa, says that
on Saturday morning on opening freight
car filled With lumber the bodies of two
boys, aged about 20 years, were found
crushed out of all semblance. They were
well dressed, but nothing in their cloth
ing indicated who they were. The unfor-
tunate victims had concealed themselves
among the lun Der, and had been crushed
to death by its shifting to and fro while