Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-08-27
A VERY SAD AFFAIR


of the Snowman, James Daley, Friday,
Aug. 10Th. Without desiring to NOR
alize over the matter, it must bring
home to every man the truth of the
divine admonition that we know not
the minute on which the thread of life
! will be cut short. 1t further illustrates
the fact that no matter how careful,
upright and blameless our lives may
| be, trouble comes unawares to us, and
in that hour the character and record
of lifetime are often forgotten in the
excitement of the moment or obscured
by passion and prejudice. God only is
the true friend in whom we can safely
put our trust.
In times of great excitement and
nervous strain as this, no two people
see the same thing alike or repeat the
same story as it was told them. Elk
aggeration and regeneration are twin
| impulses of excitement and alarm, and
the natural consequence is misrepre-
sentation. Enough has been said and
written of this sad affair to fill news
paper. When sifted out certain facts
remain, the rest has no trace of truth
or authority. The evidence itself is
at variance and conflicting
In fact and detail we believe the fol-
lowing to be correct. The Harris Nickle
Plate Show came here from Cumber-
land Friday, Aug 10, and pitched tent
on the c. V. r. r. Commons. Their
empty cars with the baggage and lunch
cars were left standing near the B. &
o. freight depot. The shortest cut
would be by the old path, past the col
ored house, out on South Maple Aven-
ue near Tuscarora bridge. Since the
sale of the Boyd lots and the building
of new houses that part was fenced up,
the property of Geo. F. Evans by deed
from the Boyd purchasers. The way
around is by Boyd Avenue to Race st.
and Maple Avenue. Occasionally some
scale the fence, though a trespass notice
is posted up. There is a good deal of
annoyance during shows. This time
the trouble began in the morning, Mr.
Evans being there and during his alb
sence the colored boy in his employ,
Cornelius Veney, requesting trespass-
ers to keep out Some of them resent
ed this interference and made threats of
what they would do. Mr.. Evans call
ed on the manager and was promised
that there should be no further
cause for complaint.
Between Is and 20 minutes after ?
O'Clock, James Daley, two men and
few boys, (the show1nen having gone
down to the lunch car through the lot,
which brought the colored boy there
came to the fence at the colored house
and climbed over, Daley being in the
lead, and before the last one was over
there was a sharp report of a revolver
All but Daily ran back over the fence
Daily fell stretched straight out with
his head towards town and his feet
towards the Hannis Distillery, IS feet
from the adjoining lot and 20 feet
from the wire fence at the Common to-
wards which he was going when or
dered back by the colored boy. Veney
ran down to Evans's, told him he shot
the man because he feared he would
| kill him with a stone he picked up,
and then hid himself in the colored
house adjoining. The revolver was
given him (when the threats were
made Of " cleaning him up, } by the
youngest son of Mr.. Evans, a boy of
10 or u, who got it out of his older
brothers room. Mr.. Evans came up
to the gate told the men who were
coming down from the show to open
it and go for a doctor. Then the con-
fusion and excitement began. The
men from below came ups and those
from above came down. One man or
boy famed the man who was shot, for
about half a minute, then Joined the
angry crowd and left the man lying
alone for at least 10 minutes. Cries
of "who shot him - the colored
| boy" d" You ordered him to shoot, "
curses and threats and an attempt to
lynch Mr.. Evans, followed quickly. |
Mr.. Evans was the only man present
who retained his presence of mind, and
asked the crowd to attend to the dy-
ing man and get at the facts of the
case. By some Masonic sign, Mr..
Harris, the proprietor, recognized him
as fellow Mason, and pointing to his
own badge, crossed hands with Mr..
! Evans and said " l am a Mason, and
will protect you. l own Tor am pro-
prietor of this show men fall back. "
This averted further danger All
present turned to the dying man, a
wagon was sent for and the doctors.
He was carried to the nearest tent.
Dr. Bland was the first doctor there
and probed the wound. DR.. Baker
rode up, but Mr.. Harris had placed
the case i'll DR.. Bland's hands, who
sent for DR. Morrison The officers
had arrived and arrested the Veney
boy in the colored house and took him
safely to jail. Naturally excitement
was high among the showmen, and
also among the people, and reports
flew thick and fast There were scat
tered threats, but common sense and
order prevailed after the man had been
removed. and it must be said for the
showmen that they Gained down, con-
Quoted themselves properly, done all
they could for their comrade, left mon
ey and a nurse brother of Daily,) and
after the night performance packed
up quietly and left for Hagerstown,-
no drunkenness and no quarreling.