Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-19
QUEER DELUSI0N.
AN EAsTEgH SHORE NAN 1MAdIEEs
HIMSELF A WOMAN.
His Eallucinstion Humorsd and the Re
suit Shooting scraps-A Tragedy
Recalled.
rn.cl.l tolnrrnm o the plspatch.l

OxAXCocK UIq TAsLEY, VA, January
18.-Informstlon reaches here from Grad
dockyille, q small village in the southern
part OF AccOmsck, OF a rather singular
shooting ARRAY that recently occurred there.
Andrew Ashmead, who lives near that place,
has long been lAbOring under the h1llucina-
ton that he is 4 woman. Among the Young
men OF the nelghborb0od 10 whom he hSs
paid court is John Keam. youth OF twen-
~, and the sou OF a widow who resides
near the village. Y0uRg kellam humored
Ashmesd's peculiar wbim and led him 10
believe that his affection for bun was re-
cprocal. Kcllam bad popped the ques-
ton. Ashmead had accepted him, ana
the day for the nuptihs had been set.
Unmndiul Of the fact that hoax was
being played on him Ashmead left of all
business 10 prepare Tor hs marriage and
summon his friends aud neighhOr' to the
feast. According 10 agreement Keilam es-
coried him 10 a neighuor's house several
nights ago, where they spent some time and
then started home. While in the midst of
deep pine forest they got into a dispute
about the color Of the dress which A'nmead,
the prospective bride, shOuld wear at his ap'
preaching marriage 10 krllam. AShmead
in sisted stoutly that be would wear nothing
but bright-red dress. while keilam with
eoual emphasis insisted on his wearing a
dress of another color. The quarrel was
warm, and kelam. IN order 20 frighteu Ash-
mead. drew revolver and brlndished It 10
the arr threatening ~ shoot Ashmead un-
less be would give in But Instead OF
getting alarmed Ashmead flew into tower
ing rage and. drawing his pistol, shot kel-
lam through The hand and arm, cutting on
one Of nis fingers. Kelism then shot Ash
mead twice. one Of the balls inilicting q ilesn-
wound in the lee, the other striking hm IN
the back and gl2nclng OF on rib I'LL II came
out al bis side, where l. tore away the ile-h
for more than an inch. Both went home
az i crcpt 10 bed without telling what had
happened. The next morning u was FOUND
that Ashmead bad flooded bis bed with
blood, and helllm's wounded hand and arm
confirmed the suspicion that something
wrong had happened. An attempt was
made 10 hush the matter up, bat the facts
leaked out among the neigh bora and finally
came 10 the ears Of the local justice OF the
peace. who had both parties arrested and
placcd them under bonds 10 answer before
the next grand jury Of the County Court.
II + said the bali that struck Ashmead IN
TIE back would have been fatal bad II not
struck rib and glanced on.
Ashmead, who is a tailor by trade, lived
for some time ~ this town, where be was Te-
garded - crank. While here he indited
several cnuIye loye-lrtters 10 some cru,ty
Old barhclor, 81 the vicinity, who made
thing, so hot for him here that he was glad TO
get away. This singular occurrence rcyiyes
the memory OF the once famous Duer-lIearn
traeedy. that occurred some twelve years ago
iu.i across the Virginia lire near PocomOke
City, Nd, where Nis, Lily Duer. VINO, while
laborins under the de'u,ion that she was a
man, shot and Killed Miss llearn, OF whom she
pretended 70 be jealous, because she thought
her fonder Of some one else than herself.
Miss Duer's trial, which resulted In her ac-
UI.tiai on the plea oi insanity. was one of
the most remar kaule IN the crimina. annals
of tho Eastern shore.