Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-08
THREATS OF LYNCHING.
Rye, However, Appears Unconcerned-His
Story of the Shooting.

Rye, However, Appears Unconcerned-His
Story of the Shooting.
The funeral Of the late ]. ]. Wheeler, the
Charles county school teacher, who was shot
and killed by ]. Marshall Rye, Wednesday
afternoon, as heretofore published in The STAR,
took place from his late home in Lower Mamie
moy at noon yesterday.
His remains we're taken to the Durham
Church, where the pastor, Rev. NJ. Painter,
conducted the services. The church was
crowded, nearly every person in the neighbor-
hood attending the funeral The deceased, who
was well connected and had been teacher in
the public schools for number Of years, was
very popular, not only about his home in the
third election district. but throughout the
county, as he was well known in all sections
The manner in which he came to his death is
still under investigation by the coroner's jury
and 1t is likely that a verdict will be reached
today.
THREATS OF LYNCHIN3.
The tragedy has greatly excited the people
throughout Charles county and since the news
OF the fatal shot was received men have gath
cred about in small groups at the country
stores and post Offices and discussed the affair
nearly every one denouncing the prisoner, who
10 confined in jail. Wheeler's friends. and
they are numerous, have INDUCED in threats
against Rye, but no demonstration has been
made to warrant the sheriff in the belief that
he has any reason to fear mob law.
Sheriff Adams does not anticipate any from
BILE, although he probably would not be en-
tirely surprised il the citizens should break
into the Jail and carry off his prisoner
Rye Is apparently the most uncou ,erned man
In the vicinity Of Port Tobacco. He does not
know how the feeling is against him, and from
the fact that he believes he acted in selfdefense
he is perfectly calm and collected. He is not
handcuffed or ironed in any manner. as persons
charged with murder are usually Kept in
county jails, although the sheriff has the neces-
sary irons in readiness should they be needed
The prisoner converses freely about the homi-
eide, ~ though he has nothing to conceal
THE PRISONERS STORY.
The beginning Of the trouble. says the pris-
oner, was in the early part Of July, when some
one sent the school teacher q letter accusing
him Of improper relations with one Of his
pupils, and giving the name of Marion Han
COCK, his (Ryes niece, as authority for the re-
port. The girl was pupil in Wheelers school
ut the time.
Wheeler" he says. "kept the child in
school for one hour at the end of session and
taxed her with spreading the report. and en-
deavored by every means to induce her to
admit that she was guilty. This, however, she
refused to do, and maintained her innocence
throughout. When heard of this occurrence
no gentleman. l suppose that Mr.. kendrick
repeated what l said to Mr.. Wheeler, for
never said it to Wheeler and never sent him
any message concerning the matter. The
whole thing occurred in the early part of JULY
l met Mr.. Wheeler about two weeks after 1
made the statement to Mr.. Kendrick. but be
said nothing to me nor to him at that time"
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE SHOOTING.
Concerning the shooting the prisoner saws
W9tnQa1ay of
to the house of John Bowie, his (Rye's)
in for him (Rye).
Il was on the front porch stemming some
tobacco, he says, land l went out to the front
gate where Wheeler was seated in a buggy.
When l got within about twenty feet of The
fence Wheeler asked me what meant by saw
ing he was no gentleman. l replied that be
had kept my niece locked up in his school room
one hour and tried TO make her tell a lie This
did not think was proper conduct for a teacher
and had said 30. Wheeler then got out of his
buggy and, coming to the fence. put his hand
Oh the top railing as if to get over, saving at
the same time that he was going to have re-
dress As he did this 1 drew my pistol and shot
him did not know that he was not armed
and felt that l was in danger. l had been told
that q neighbor had said that he would make
Jack Wheeler whip me-"
WILL NOT EMPLOY LAWYER.
Rye says that he does not intend to employ a
lawyer He says he could have escaped into
Virginia after the shooting had he desired to do
80 but he thinks that upon a hearing of the
case he will be exonerated
Buck johnson, the boy sent in to Rye by
Wheeler, is the only witness to the shooting
Wheeler at the time Of the shooting was un-
armed and, as heretofore stated, he was Grip
pied and had to walk with the aid Of crutches
The men were on the opposite sides of the fence
when the shooting took place.
DR.. Speake who madNthe post mortem ex-
animation, described to the coroner's jury
yesterday the course of the bullets. The piece
OF lead that entered the chest passed through
the heart and also penetrated the lungs The
other bullet that took effect lodged in his hip.
II the citizens do not take the law into their
own hands Rye will probably be tried in No
vember, as the next session Of the grand jury
will be held during the first part of that month.