Evening star., 1886-07-07
The Frederick Shooting ARRAY.

THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED To IT.
BEsANT's CONDITION CRITICAL.
The shooting of Harry r. Resent At Fred
erck, Md, on Monday, by DR.. Joseph A.Wepb,
a baltimore dentist, has caused a decided SEN
sation in the latter place. A special 70 the Bal
timore Sun from Frederick, dated Tuesday,
says; The cireumstances- which led 10 -this
tragic affair extend back several years. The
figure next in prominence 10 those of the two
principals is Miss Mary Need, daughter of the
late Jonn Need, who kept the Clty hotel and
the Graft house In Frederick. Al his death,
about fifteen years age, his Iamiy consisted of a
wife, two SONS and iour daughters. DIR. Webb
was born near EmmittsourS His parents died
When he was young, and Mrs. Need took him
and raised him with her children, who were
his cousins. After her husbands death Mrs.
Need Retired from the hotel business, and just
before she died. about seven years ago, she
committed her daughters TO DIR. Webb's protec-
tion. Harry X. Besant is twenty-iour years Old
and unmarried. He Is the son OF Mr.. James III.
Besant, justice Of the peace. About two years
ago Mr. Besan the victim Of the shooting, be-
gan u visit Miss Jane Need, one OF the younger
sisters. She Went To Washington, and III ner
absence an intimacy sprang up between hlm
and Miss Mary, older sister. On july IL,
1855, a child was born to Mary in Baltimore.
II was placed in an institution and died Octo-
ber II, 1855 Mr.. BeSant paid all expenses vi
mother and child. After the birth OF the child
Mary came home. At its death, IL is said, Mr..
Besant became open in his atten tiOns TO other
ladies. THIS Is said to have weighed heavily
upon her mind. About six weeks ago she was
more. She is about twenty-eight years old.
Harry Besant, the young man VINO MAS shot,
last night gave reporter the following sIALt,-
ment: II nave known Miss Need five six
years. She had been away from home Tor q
year. l saw her In Sharpsburg in July, 1854.
She acknowledged she had gone wrong al the
age OF fourteen. 1 told her that only cared
iOr her aS q friend, and could not marry her.
Sne said she did not expect me TO marry tier,
but asked Ii she got in trouble would see her
through. l told her l would, and did. She
wrote me q letter after The child was born,
thanking Inc for what had done, and saying
was tree 10 go with whom pleased. Sue has
admitted all this to q married lady here in
town. acknowledged the child anu kept IL as
long as it lived. She seemed 10 have some
donuts about 1t being mine. Her brother never
said q word to me about it. Yesterday alter
noon about six o'clock, was coming from the
base ball grounds in company with Henry b.
Debring When we were coming along Market
street, near the corner OF Patrick street, heard
q report that sounded like a large hrecracker.
l turned and saw him aiming at me, and
thought he firing blank cartridges aud
called to him to stop. He kept on hiring. Ihe
fourth shot struck me in the right arm. /
threw up my left hand to the wound and
stopped over, when another ball went over ME.
did not recognize Webb at first"
The condition Of young Besant was said last
night to be critical He 10 quite heavily built,
anu blood-poisoning Is feared. DIR. Webb, VINO
shot him, was admitted TO bail. No doubt is
felt that lie went TO Frederick with the inten-
claim that ne Was no more to blame thaIA the
Need girl was; that At the time OF the seduction
Miss Need was nearly 80, while Besant was
hut