The Cecil Whig., 1886-07-03
ANOTHER KILLING.
A Young White Man Shot and
Killed BY a Negro.

n 1OunS WmCe Man SnOt ana
Killed BY Negro.
The Killing Probably JustiHable-The
Slayer and His Wife in JaiI-The Ac-
cused Tells His story of the Affair
Whiskey at the Bottom of the Matter.
w illiam Henry Webster better known
as Henry Webster, colored man, and his
wife, Florence Webster, were brought to
| Elkton on Thursday morning about eleven
o'clock by Constable J. H. Benson, of the
First district, and placed in the care of
Sheriff Mackey. The man was committed
by Magistrate Vansant to await the action
of the Grand Jury at the September term
on the charge of homicide, in having caused
the death of Edward McNelly, "a young
white man. His wife is charged with being
an accessory to the fact Both Webster and
McNelly worked on the farm of Isaac Rich
ards, on Grove Point, at the mouth of the
Sassafras river. Webster lived in half of a
fish house. His part of the house was but
one story high, and contained but one room.
he w lilp ltpOIltI NlSlJtu Ullt ltll SUOrLlN
after the arrival of Constable Benson with
the prisoners, and had talk with Webster
He is very dark negro, and wears a mou-
stache. He is of medium height and size.
about SO years of age, was in his bare feet
and otherwise meanly clad. His wife Flor
ence wore loud colored dress, and was
smoking stone pipe. They have two chill
dren, one six years of age and the other ten
months old. The latter they brought to Jail
with them. Webster is native of Vir.
ginia, but has not lived there since the war
He had only lived in the cabin at Mr. Rich
ards about three months. His account of
the affair is as follows:
On Tuesday Mr.. Samuel Moore, of Havre
de Grace, arrived in the neighborhood with
soop, on board of which he had several
gallons of whiskey. Robert Craig Wash
ington Nabb and Edward McNelly, young
white men, all of whom worked on Mr..
Richards farm, went to the boat on Tues
day night and got three or four gallons of
the whiskey. They came to my house with
the grOg and stayed nearly all night. After
they had drank and wasted the liquor th at
night they sent and got gallon more to
take home with them. While they were
there that night Edward McNelly went into
the adjoining room of the cabin, which was
occupied by William Thompson, colored,
and abused stepdaughter of Thompson'S;
at least she told us so. We let her in, to
take care of her. Ed. McNelly was angry
AZ m IN MI Il f,,11
he would lick me and my wife too. They
left towards morning. Ed. McNelly came
back Wednesday morning, bringing with
him his brother Daniel. | was sitting
down eating breakfast when they entered.
Dan came up to me and hit me over my left
eye The men were under the influence of IL
quor. They went into Thompson's house
and again assaulted his stepdaughter They
then went away. They returned during
the afternoon probably between two and
three O'Clock, having John McGlory, a
boatman, with them. McGlory called to
me to open the door. l had fastened it
fearing the men. One of them spoke up
saying you don't pay any rent and l am
going to lynch you, and calling me a s-of
b-I said please don't open the door; 90
up to Mr.. Richards and lay down and you
will feel better. Dan McNelly said "By God
I'll 60 in | said "don't come in here,
don't do it please" They grabbed the door
and burst it open. Both brothers had hold of
it. They stepped on the threshold and Dan
struck at my wife with chunk of wood. |
then fired one load from double barrel
muzzle loading gun. The load struck Ed.
in the breast. His brother gave him a
shove aside and said 81 will go in He
then struck at my wife again with the
chunk of wood, and she struck at him with
corn knife. Dan thea left, leaving his
brother lay. My wife and decided to so
over to Constable Bensons and give our
selves up. He was not there when we
reached his house, and did not return until
late. We stayed there over night" Web.
ster's wife stood at his side while he told
his tale, and she occasionally assisted him
with the narrative. Justice Nansant of
the First district, held an inquest over the
remains of Edward McNelly. John Nc
Glory, the stepdaughter CT Thompson, and
sui VI IuoiHPSou dseu dpouG seven
years testified much to the same effect as
Websters story. 1t was in testimony that
Webster had told them that if they broke
the door open he would shoot. The parties
had been after more whiskey and were re-
turning. They were intoxicated. Daniel
McNelly on the other hand testified that
when Webster shot lie was standing about
three strides from the door, and his brother
Ed. was about the same distance behind
him. This witness is contradicted by the
fact that the body was found lying within
a foot or two of the door. DIR. IIardcaste
who examined the corpse stated that the
| shot entered the left breast and cut the
cords ofthe heart causing inward hemor-
RACES. The jury Of inquest found that Nc
| Nelly came to his death by shot from a
| gun in the hands of Webster.