Evening journal., 1889-12-26
THE HARTLEY TRAGEDY.
PARTICULARS OF GEORGE PETER
SONS MuRrERous ASSAULT.

Citizen Goes on Christmas carousai
and when lie sobers Up Finds Himself
All But "A Double Murderer.
Special Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Dec GA slim-built, curly
headed, boyish faced young man sat In
Squire testers Office last evening, and
among the crowd gathered there he
appeared to be the most unobtrusive and
quietest Of the lot. Yet this same, rather
good looking and quiet appearing chap
had Just come through an experience
that few men ever live to tell of. For at
least twenty four hours fully ifty-four
infuriated men, with loaded guns, had
hunted for him, breathing death and ven
geance against him.
The Young man was George Peterson,
son of James @. Peterson, respectable
and industrious citizen of Dover. On
Tuesday morning last, George, In response
TO an invitation from Edward Emory, a
farmer who resides near Peters's Corner,
in Caroline county, Md, went to the lat
ter's place TO visit young man named
Lode Honey, Georges brother-in-law.
George, IL Is said, carried with him two
or three bottles of whiskey, which the
three men sampled. after which all three
Of them, Emory, Peterson and Honey,
drove into Hartley. intent on carousal.
After imbibing pretty freely at Jacobs
Hotel. Peterson and Honey visited the
blacksmith shop Of the town, where
Frederick Mas and Alexander Din con.
duct general smithery and wheelwright
ing establishment in partnership
Mas at the time was shoeing horse,
while Dill was making = coilin-llttle
dreaming, perhaps, that oneof his visit
ors would furnish a subject for the
burial box before he departed. Peterson,
who is blacksmith and works in his
fathers shop here in Dover, began criti-
cising the style in which Mas was shoe
ing the horse, and his tauuts also
included Dill The two workmen,
who are reputed to be rather quiet,
and were at least perfectly sober,
stood the taunts for awhile, but
| finally ordered both Peterson and Honey
/ to leave the shops This the latter re-
| fused to do and Mas and Dill undertook
| it is said to eject them, when Peterson
drew a razor and first cutting Mas in
the side, inhicting what is yet considered
fatal wound, he slashed Dill across the
face, in the throat and across the hand
and then disappeared with Honey.
Mas dropped TO the ground uncon'
scious from the loss OF blood, and Dill,
himself covered with gore, was endeavor-
ing to stop the flow from Mass side
when number Of citizens attracted by
the noise appeared on the scene. Word
was Immediately sent TO Dover that Mas
was dead and Dill dying, for this was the
general opinion until Dr. Cooper of Ken
ton, arrived on the scene. The physician
found both men in bad condition Will
Mas probably fatally hurt, aud up q
last night his condition was pronounced
critical, the keen blade of the razol
having penetrated one of his lungs
Dills wounds, though painful, were pro
nounced not dangerous
While some rendered what assistanc
they could to the wounded men, other
started in pursuit of Peterson and Honey
and by nightfall it is estimated that Eft
men were securing the woods, all boun
. | and all bent on wreaking summary ven
|. geance on what they considered the mui
: derers of two of their fellow-townsmeI
y The fugitives were located at Emory
Z house, which was surrounded and closel
4 guarded until yesterday at noon, whe
Peterson was captured but Honey ha
= disappeared and has not yet been found
Z The crowd was divided In sentiment as
I whother Peterson should be lynched (
: delivered up to the law, but the latte
!, sentiment prevailed and he was brougi
!. to Dover where he is safely lodged in ia
! y to remain until the extent Of MASS in
I juries is definitely known.
Peterson, though of excellent paren
: age, bears an unsavory reputation Il
Z viciousness, and when drunk is especial
/ N,N
Dover, but sympathizes with his fathe
James G. Peterson, and his mother, bot
of whom are heartbroken, and many me
IS in Dover last night were canvassing Il
causes and associations which have mad
{ this bright. looking boy almost a mul
y derer While it is rum, and that is a
/, ceptad, it is on all sides state
q that the one particular spot in Dow
e where, especially young men, have ever
e facility for not only procuring rum, q
d Flibitum, but Of finding associates of Il
e worst sort, is an institution in the su
8 urbs of the town. For years the law hi
y been invoked in every shape to get rid
q it, but so far without success, and II Il
|, sentiments of several leading citizel
q openly expressed last night mel
g anything, they indicate that Il
J. formation of vigilance col
{ mittee to tear the establishment oI
le root and branch is not only possibilit
rs but a probability.
sr The excitement in Dover, ever since I
first news Of the affair reached here, b
been intense, because both Honey a
IN Peterson are wen known here, as 8
also the injured men. Mr. Peterson b
1t retained Messrs. Massey and Wolcott
Id look after the interests of his son.
he Christmas Day was quietly passed
IN Dover. The hose company had a monk
be run last evening, a couple Of fodC
be stacks on the outskirts OF town bel
I'D burned. They were set a-fire by
g imbecile pauper who had escaped fr,
n the almshouse.
he horse belonging TO Lou Rist
Dover dropped dead while being driv
to Camden.
The body Of colored man was fou
Id near Thomas's chapel yesterday aft
et noon, and the coroner will hold an inqu
n, to-day.
ss- In many open yards Of Dover, bouqu
g. and flowers were gathered yesterday.
cHRiSTlANA'S CHRISTMAS.