Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-07-10
Shooting Affair I'm Frederick,
DIR. JOSEPH A. WEBB DANGEROUSLY
WOUNDS HARRY r.. BEsANT.

WOUNDS HARRY r.. BEsANT.
FREDERICK, MD., July 5-Great
excitement was produced on Mar
ket street, near the intersection of
Patrick street, in this city, at about 5
O'Clock this afternoon, by the shoot
ing and probable fatal wounding of
Mr. Harry r.. Besant, son of Mr..
James II. Besant, justice of the
peace of Frederick, by Dir. Joseph
A Webb, well-known Baltimore
dentist, whose place Of business is
at the northwest corner of Park
avenue and Fayette street. The
cause of the shooting was the alleg-
ed seduction by Besant of a cousin
of Webb, who has since become q
maniac and is now confined in Mt.
Hope Asylum, near Baltimore.
Webb formerly resided in Freder-
ick, and at the death of his parents
was taken by his aunt, the mother
of the lady referred TO, and was
reared and educated as one Of her
children. Although the alleged
wrong occurred some time ago, Webb
it appears, was kept in ignorance of
the fate of his cousin until yester-
day, when an intimation of the facts
WAS given him by q relative, who
was on visit to Baltimore. This
afternoon Webb came to Frederick
on the 4 o'clock train, and going to
the residence ofhis sister, Mrs. Vim.
Welsh, requested her to give him
all the particulars of the unfortu.
nate affair. His sister in reply, said
mo, Joe, / will tell you nothing
about it," whereupon he took his
| departure, saying he would then
have to find out about it elsewhere
Shortly after wards, while standing
on the northeast corner of Market
and Patrick streets, directly oppo-
site the residence of his sister, talk
ing to q friend, he turned, and see
ing o short, heavy-set young man in
company with another young man
Mr.. Henry Debring, walking on the
opposite side of the street, he in.
| CURED who he was. When informed
that it was Harry Besant he imme-
diately walked out into the middle
Of the street, and although some
distance away, drew a fine new IS
calibre revolver and began firing at
Besant. Four or five shots were
fired, two of them penetrating a
glass in the doorway of the estab.
lishment of Mr.. j. III. Marley, one
tearing the rim Of the derby worn
by Mr.. Debring, and another strik-
ing Mr.. Besant in the right arm,
near the shoulder, inflicting a horri-
rible wound. Besant fell to the
| ground with cry that he was shot,
and after surgeon had been sum.
moned was carried to his home on q
stretcher Webb was arrested and
taken before Justice Thomas Tur-
ner, by whom he was committed to
Jail for hearing at 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning. Capt. James Nc.
Sherry appeared as his counsel. The
escape Of Mr.. Debring was almost
miraculous. The wound of Besani
was probed, but the bullet could not
be found. His condition Is regard
ed by his physician as critical, es
pecially if Inflammation sets in
Besant is about "a years of age, and
has been engaged as clerk in the
large establishment of Messrs. Be
SAINT & Knott, on East Patrick street
When taken before the magistrate
Webb appeared calm and collected
and expressed no regret at what he
had done. He is very quiet and
selfpossessed man, but is known tc
be very courageous. 1t is generally
believed that he brooded over the
information he received yesterday
and regarding himself in the light
OF brother, resolved to avenge the
unhappy condition of his cousin
! The affair is deeply regretted by The
| MANY friap6a IF oil aauearnod