Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-08-17
soMeRssr,s SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
In Cold Blood james Maddox with AN
Axe Brains Thomas wallace and Shoots
Il

Himself
Princess ANNE, Md, Aug. 16-A
shocking tragedy occurred at King s
Creek. Somerret county, eve miles south
of Princess Anne. on Friday afternoon,
in which Thomas Wallace colored had
his head split open and was instantly
| killed with an AK by James Maddox, alias
Lull. colored, who Immediately after
wards shot and killed himself with q
pistol.
The parties lived In little hut Of two
rooms at Kings Creek, Wallscs with his
wife down stairs, and Maddox, who was
single man, up stairs The men
had been strong friends and lived
together for eight years. On Fri
day afternoon Pete johnson went
to the house and Maddox, who was
something of barber, was cutting Wal
lace's hair when he had finished, John
son asked to have the same operation
performed for him aud while about the
work Wallace asked to be shaved. and
the barber said all right, get your razor
Wallace in reply said Il have been
looking for my razor all day and cannot
find It. / have also missed some of my
papers and books. and | want TO tell you.
jim, am getting tired Of your having
so many women around here, and II you
don stop il Twill make you. z dc concluded
his speech with further threats, mixed
with profanity.
When he ceased Maddox. without say
/ ing word in reply, dropped the scissors
and walked quietly upstairs, and In n
minute came down with his pistol ia his
hand Wallace was then standing IN
the front door with his face toward
Maddox. When Maddox saw Wallace
he put the pistol In his hip pocket, and,
walking TO little closet just across the
room, picked up an axe Not
la word had been said by
either Of the three men present
| since Wallace had made the speech above
quoted Still, without saying a word,
Maddox walked within two feet of Wal
lace, who never moved an inch. and, with.
out warning OF without the slightest in.
dication Of what he INTENDED to do, Mad
dox raised the aka and let II come down
with full force on Wallace's head, the
force Of the blow bsing 70 great as tc
drive the blade of the sxe up to the han
/ die.
Wallace fell his full length on tn,
| ground, Maddox still holding on to tn,
handle OF the axe. walked out the door
and, setting It up, took the pistol from
his pocket aud said TO Johnson, who haC
never moved from his seat all the time
pete am going to kill myself. | an
never going TO have it said that the gal
lows broke my neck, aud | know l vii
be hung"
johnson jumped up. grabbed the pisto
In MAddox's hand and told him not to d.
IT, After quite tussle Maddox hnalll
got off with the pistol, and, pointing i
at Johnson, told him to stand back; 1
be didn't he would fhoot him. too
Maddox then walked to the cornell
Of the house, and, putting thu
pistol to bis breast, said. Good bye
Pete, am gone Immediately pulling
the trigger Of the pistol, he shot himself
aud railing to the ground died instantly
the ball going directly to the heart. Wal
lace lived until late hour Friday night
waen he also died Both men wer
buried in a grave together Saturda!
afternoon. coroner g inques
was held, the jury bringing in the fol
lowing verdict Thomas Wallace
colored, came to his death from blow
on the head by an axe In the hands o
James Maddox sliRs Lull. colored an
James Maddox. alias Lull. colorei, cam
TO his death from a wound caused w
pistol ball by the hands of himself