The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-08-02

The DEATH OF MAJOR WISGFIRLD.-The
friends of the late Major j, Page Wngteld in
the county will be interested in knowing the
circumstances which led to the unhappy affair
which cost him his life. The college of St.
Augustine, at Benicia, California, is a military
school for boys, under the management of
Bishop Wingheld. During the last four years
the Bishops sou, Page, has been his chief as
sistant. AT the recent commencement at ST.
Augustine, two Bcnlcia boys, Joseph Clyne and
JOHN &. Crooks, were to have been graduated
and receive diplomas, but failing to come up to
the standard in mathematics, the Bishop out of
kindness TO the boys, rather than withhold their
diplomas altogether, wrote on each, "This d.
| ploma does not include mathematics" The par.
ents of the boys being disappointed, stigma
| tiled this phrase as "a mutilation of the d
plomas" and returned them to Bishop Wing.
! field with very insulting letter. The Bishop
wrote politely in reply inclosing the eXamina.
ton papers with the remarks made upon them
by the professor of mathematics, and he also
offered to give the boys another trial, but this
was declined, and 4 second letter was written by
| the father of Crooks in such insulting language
| that Bishop Wngfeld could not notice it, This
took place in May They brooded over their dis
, pleasure until the first week in July when they
published in the New Era of the 9th an "open
letter" stating their cause of complaint, couch
&C in most ins ultng language. The knowledge
of this publication was kept from the Bishop
and he did not see it until his return from San
Francisco, the evening after the fatal shooting
Young Wingfeld, however, in the mean time
saw the letter and on Monday morning, accom-
panied by W. l.. Clark, both unarmed, went to
see Mr. Crooks to ask an explanation OF the in
sulting language used in the letter, Meeting
| Mr. Crooks near the City Hall, young Wing
field addressed an indignant inquiry 10 him,
"why such a letter had been published" and
receiving no reply struck Mr., Crooks a blow in
| the face with hs hand, and walked off. Clark
also retired, but on Crooks firing the first shot
both young men returned towards Crooks, and
! Clark endeavored to prevent his firing a second
shot, but was not quick enough, and 1t struck
young Wingdeld in the abdomen, inaicting a
mortal wound. He was carried into DR.. Gray's
Office where he was tenderly nursed by his
mother and sister until the arrival of his father,
and subsequently all that day and night until
! Tuesday at noon, when death ended his suffer
| ings. He WAS brave, courageous and hopeful to
the last forgiving his slayer and dying trium.
plant Christian death. Funeral services were
held in St. Paul's Church, Benicia, on July 10th,
| in the presence Of an immense concourse Ofsym-
pathizng friends, The body was sent East for
interment in Major Wingfed's native State,
Virginia, the box containing the coffin being
literally covered with the choicest flowers,
offerings of loving and appreciative friends. On
arriving at Petersburg the remains were carried
into ST. Paul's Church, of which Bishop Wing.
field was once pastor, short service was held,
tho remainder of the church's service being said
at the grave In old Blandford Churchyard, where
he sleeps "beside his saiuted adopted mother,
who brought him up in the admonitiou Of the
/ Lord"