Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-26
1T MAY BE A HOMICIDE.
A Ratchet Used at Terra Gotta with
Murderous Effect.

TIE MAN WHO Piled THE nAToHEr SAYS He
THOUGHT HIS WIFE WAS sHor-A SINGULAR
ARRAY GROWING OUT OF BAD TELLING BE-
TWEEN TWO NEIeHpoRs.
The little village of Terra Gotta, on the Met
ropolitan branch Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, was the scene Of Q murderous assault
about o'clock yesterday afternoon. The as
sault, which it is thought is likely to prove
fatal, occurred in the village within short dis
lance Of the house Of the alleged assailant and
his victim and was the result of an i'll feeling
between the families Of the two men. The
man who was assaulted was George Oswald and
his alleged assailant was Michael Cleffey.
They are about thirty years old. The men
occupy houses near each other on Mr.. John
Lynch's property. near the terra Gotta works.
TWO PISTOL SHOTS
fred by Oswald led to the difficulty. Oswald
was on his own premises when he fred the
shots and Cleffey was in his woodshed splitting
kindling wood for this morning.
When Oswald fired Cleffey started toward
him with the Ratchet in his hand. Oswald ran,
but Ciefey caught up to him and dealt the
running man
STUNNING BLOW
on the back Of the head with the hatchet he
had used in splitting wood. Oswald fell to the
ground with cry Of pain and Clefey turned
and went back home, where he finished prepar-
ing his kindling.
and return to his house His condition was
such that IL was feared he would die and DIR.
Darling was sent for. Later in the day Police
men Morgan and hardwood visited Terra Gotta
and made an investigation of the case. The
information they received was that the mans
WI hat hia aafh
probably result from the injury.
CLEFTEY ARRESTED.
The officers found Cleffey at his home and
they placed him under arrest He did not
deny the charge, but was inclined to believe
that he was justified in what he did When
questioned by STAR reporter the prisoner
said that Oswald was quarrslsome man and
was always interfering with his family. Yes
terday afternoon he said he was splitting wood
started toward the house. He heard the re-
port of two pistol shots. His wife threw up
her hand and cried I'm shotp'
THOUGHT HIS WIFE WAS SHOT.
II heard her." he said, ''and thinking she
was shot started after him with the Ratchet.
He ran off and followed. 1 caught up to him
and struck him with the hammer end Of the
Ratchet. He fell down, but he soon got up
and walked home. / was almost mad when
ran after him, for my children we're crying
and thought my wife was shot"
On the other side it is claimed that the shots
were not fired at Mrs. Cleffey, but at some of
Cleffey's chickens.
Cleffey was in the Police Court this morning,
charged with assault and battery with intent to
Kill. and the case was continued to await the
result of Oswalds injuries.
They Said the Special Was at Fault.
Temple Moore, colored special officer at
Mt Pleasant, appeared as a witness in the Po-
lice Court today against Robert Brown whom
he charged with disorderly conduct. num-
Der Of citizens testified that they saw the arrest
which they claimed was entirely unwarranted,
saying that the special was the one to be
arrested, if any, for he was loud and demon
strative without cause. The court, in dismiss
ing the case, said ii was commendable to see so
many citizens coming forward to prevent injus-
tice and he hoped that they would see that the
proper police authorities were notified.