Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-22
CHINCOTEAGUEs TRAGEDY

Killing the Girl He LOved-Enraged by
Her Refusal to Marry Him-ShOOting
the Mother who Sought to Protect Her
Daughter-His own Suicide.
The following special from Saturdays
New York Tribune gives fuller account
of the ChincOteRgue Island, Va, tragedy,
which occurred last Thursday, than
appeared in our dispatches: II an earth
quake should swallow up ChincOteague
Island people in this vicinity could not
well be more astOnished than they were
Thursday night when they learned that
W. T. Freeman, clerk of Timothy Hill,
an oyster planter of the island, had shot
aud killed his employers wife and
daughter and then killed himself. All
Thursday night and Friday the lit
tie sound separating the island from
the mainland was alive with Ca
noes of natives crowding to and fro in
search of gossip in connection with the
startling affair. W. T. Freeman, the
chief actor In the tragedy which in one
day deprived respected VirgInian Ofhis
whole family, was an orphan about Is
wears old. He owed everything TO Mr.
Hill, who got him out of a New York
orphan asylum ten years ago and reared
him. The boy worked during the day on
the farm and around the pony pens, and
gained ah education by hard study at
night. He was ambitious, and was of late
years intTusted with much Of the detail
Of his patrons business.
Mr.. Hill IL about 40 years old. His wife
was 81, and his daughter, Jennie, Is. The
latter was a girl OF marked beauty. She
was tall, and her gentle disposition made
her queen on the little island, where she
had no rival in popular admiration.
When Freeman first came to the island,
the girl was away at school in Snow Hill,
Md, and later went 10 a Baltimore board
ing school. She returned home % stay
last summer, having graduated with high
hOnOrs. She soon became prominent
among the few girls on the island, none Of
whom could equal her in accomplishments
and beauty,
1t was noticed that Freeman at once
became her devoted attendant, the girl
practising many pretty coquetries, which
only served 20 enhance her attractions in
his eyes. At no time, however, as every
body can testify, did she mislead the boy,
as she called him. and the poor fellow
seems to have been the victim Of an un-
comfortable passion. About month ago
he made formal proposal, but the girl
laughed at him, telling him that she was
his sister and would never be anything
else She incidentally let fall remark
which showed Freeman that in the full
blush of a vigorous young wOmanhoOd
she regarded him as youth and
his love as unworthy Of moments
serious consideration. He frequently
complained 90 Mrs. Hill after this Of what
be termed Jennie's cruel treatment, and
said that some daY be would show her
that he was not 10 be laughed at. His
proposal had been precipitated by the de-
voted attentions paid 10 Jennie by Will
liam Bunting. q young cOllege-bred man
of ~. the son Of the proprietor of large
fish factory on the island. Young Bunt-
ing naturally affected % feel contempt
for bis youthful and unpublished rival, and
on three or four occasions uttered threats
which came near costing him his HE.
on Wednesday evening Bunting left
the Atlantic Hotel. where he was board
ing. a few minutes before Freeman en-
tered and called for him. When told that
Bunting was out, Freeman drew pistol
aud swOre he would shoot Bunting on
sight.
.sIf I had found him here" said he, 81
would have blown out his brains, just as
quick as laid eyes on him"
The bystanders laughed, thinking that
t was only threat. Yesterday morning
jimmie was IN the yard, watching her
mother feeding flock Of Young chickens.
when Freeman, who had been at the
store, approached them. In tones Of pas
siouate pleading, he asked the girl 10
promise 10 think Of his suit. The girl said
pleasantly:
son. now, VIII. dear, don't let's talk
about that any more"
He persisted, however, and Mrs. HUI
finally overheard the conversation and
said sharply "NOW, Bill, don't let me
hear any more OF that nonsense"
Instantly the boys face giowed with