Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-08-20

PRINCESS ANNE, Nd, Aug. 16.-
FRIDAY afternoon shocking tragedy
occurred at Kings Greek, Somerset
county, five miles south Of Princess
Anne, in which Thomas Wallace,
colored, had his head split open and was
instantly killed with an axe by James
Maddox, alias Lull, colored, who imme-
diately afterwards shot and killed him
self with pistol. The affair grew out
OF sudden quarrel. and was deliber-
ate and highly tragic episode. The
parties lived in little hut of two rooms
at Kings Creek, Wallace 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. Friday afternoon Pete
johnson went to the house and Maddox
who was something of barber, was
cutting Wallace's hair; when he had
finished johnson asked to have the same
operation performed for him and while
about the work Wallace asked to be
shaved, and the barber said all right,
get your razor
Wallace in reply said: 81 have been
looking for my razor oil day and cannot
find 1t. / 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't stop it | will make
you" He concluded his speech with
further threats, mixed with profanity.
When he ceased Maddox, without say
ing a word in reply, dropped the scis-
sors and walked quietly upstairs, and in
minute came down with his pistol in
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 word
had been said by either of the three
men present since Wallace had made
the speech above quoted. Still, with
out saying word, Maddox walked
within two feet of Wallace, who
never moved an inch, and, without
warning or without the slightest indica-
ton of whath he intended to do, Maddox
raised the axe and let il come down
with full force on Wallaces head, the
force of the blow being so great as to
drive the blade of the axe up to the
handle. Wallace fell his full length on
the ground. Maddox, still holding on
to the handle of the axe, walked out
the door, and, setting 1t mp alongside of
the house, took the pistol from his
pocket and said to johnson, who had
never moved from his seat during all
this: pete, am going 40 kill myself. |
am never going to have it said that the
gallows broke my neck, and know |
will be hung" johnson jumped up,
grabbed the pistol in Maddox's hand
and told him not to do it. After quite
tussle Maddox finally got off with the
pistol, and pointing at johnson, told him
to stand back; if he didn't he would
shoot him, too Maddox then walked
to the corner of the house, and, putting
the pistol to his breast, said, Good bye,
Pete, am gone" Immediately pulling
the trigger of the pistol, he shot himself
and falling to the ground died instantly,
the ball going directly to the heart.
Wallace lived until late hour Friday
night, when he also died. Both men
were buried in grave together Satur-
day afternoon. A coroners inquest WIS
held, the jury bringing in the following
verdict; "Thomas Wallace, colored,
game to his death from blow on the
head by an axe in the hands of James
Maddox alias Lull, colored, and James
Maddox alias Lull, colored, came to his
ieath from a wound caused by pistol
ball by the hands Of himself"