Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-22

A Tragedy That Has stirred up Fred
erick Society.

1
A Tragedy That Has stirred mp Fred
erick Society.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star
| FREDERICK, Md, August 20, 1893.
startling suicide occurred in Frederick
on Friday afternoon. which. owing to the
strange circumstances surrounding it, will
be likely to form topic for discussion for
some time to come The victim was Miss
Nettie, handsome and accomplished
young lady. daughter Of Lewis H. Moberly,
who was at one time mayor of Frederick,
| but has for some years past been employed
| in Washington, u. c. Miss Nettie Moberly
was generally seen on the streets with her
elder sister, Miss Jennie, and was notice
able for her bright, CHEEKY disposition and
genial manner. She was of striking appear
ance and attracted attention wherever she
went. ON Friday she was out several
times in the morning and appeared in her
usual bright and happy spirits. She went
home shortly after noon, and a little before
o CLOCK went out of the house, remarking
that they would never see her any more.
She had laughingly said this several times
before, however and no one paid any at
tention to 1t. She went directly to the
home of her brother. Robert Moberly, on
South Market street about square from
her own home, and within a few doors of
the entrance to Mount Olivet cemetery.
She retained her bright spirits and laughed
and chatted with members of the family
and played and sang. Suddenly she left
the room, and a few minutes afterward
the report of a pistol was heard from the
direction of the front bed room on the sec
ond floor. One of the family rushed up to
the room, and upon entering it found Miss
Noberly stretched in death on the floor.
with a stream of blood flowing from
horrible wound in her right temple. She
mad gone to the room, taken her brothers
42-caliber Colts revolver. and, standing in
front of the bureau looking glass, sent a
bullet crashing through her brain 1t passed
out at the back of her head on the left side
ana struck the frame of the window on the
opposite side Of the room. falling on the
floor, where 1t afterward found.
Friends and neighbors rushed in to render
assistance, the first to arrive being d. J.
Michael, superintendent of Mount Oliver
cemetery He lifted up the body and found
life extinct, and discovered in the pool of
blood that had formed on the floor a note.
erly's hand. 1t was addressed to her sister.
Miss Jennie. and stated the exact hour
at which she would kill herself. Ills pm.
love for her only
Physicians were soon on the scene. and
States Attorney Edward 5, Eichelberger
once. but. after viewing the body and ascer-
tanning the manner of death. deemed that
an inquest was not necessary-the case
being clearly one Of suicide.
The tragedy caused intense excitement
throughout the city and crowds gathered
at the house. Miss Moberly would have
had she lived. and was her fathers fav-
orite child Speculation as to the cause of
her SUICIDAL act mas led TO the unearthlnS
Of the theory that she was disappointed in
love and that the failure of some one to
whom she was engaged to be married to
keep his promise drove her distracted. 1t
was known that she was making prepara-
tons to wed. having bought dresses and
other apparel, jewelry, &C, for that pur-
pose. On Thursday nearly all day and all
Friday morning she was seen in company
with w. j. Gnity and c. G. Burger. two
young men from Philadelphia. who came
here Wednesday night and registered at
the CITY Hotel. Their business the
buying up of old postage stamps and relics.
Glnity was here about six weeks ago with
both became acquainted with Miss Moberly.
She was with Ginity and Berger In Court
Park and elsewhere until near noon on Fri
day, when they went to l.. A. Hager's res
taurant on Court street, and had lunch.
When they came out several who saw
them say they We're quarreling, but Ginity
Moberly left them, saying that she had an
engagement with her dressmaker. From
the tenor of her remarks they judged that
she was to be married soon. but declare
1t was not on their account that she shot
herself.
The funeral of the unfortunate young
woman took place this morning at O clock,
services being held at the home of her pa
rents, on South Market street. The body
was inferred in Mount Olivet cemetery,
followed by an immense concOurse of people.
Frederick lost by death last evening
shortly before o'clock one Of its most
venerable and respected citizens, George
NJ. Potts. member of an old and distin-
guished Maryland family. Mr.. Potts has
been Ill about a week with general debility
and was in the eighty-ninth year OF his
age. He died at the old family mansion,
corner of Church and Court streets. He
was a son of the late Richard Potts. who
died here in 1901 at the age of fifty-six
years, after a remarkable public career
George NJ Potts also studied law when
young man but never applied for adms-
sion TO the bar, having come into a for
tune about that time He has ever since
hved a quiet, retired life, devoting his at
i fentlon to , the care of his great
gold. daughter s marr of Mai Miss sa Ilns
Ringgold, who died in 1861 Mr. potts is
survived by three children and one grand
Potts and Mrs. Charles w. Ross, and the
latter Geo. Dunlop Potts a son of the late
Dr.. Richard Potts. A daughter. Mrs Ell
IGNORE TOlms, died some years ago.
Both the democratic and republican par
ties in Frederick county will begin the fall
campaign much earlier than usual and the
nghl Tor control OF the county offices gives
promise OF being very warm one. The
republicans held their primary meetings
throughout the county yesterday. all OF
which were well attended and harmonious
Their purpose was to elect delegates to
the county nominating convention TO be
held mere next Wednesday and 10 select
Tee. The meeting for Frederick district
was held in the basement of the court
house and was presided over by A. c. Nc
Bride. with Reno $. Harp as secretary A
the delegates use every honorable means
to have resident of Frederick district
chosen among the nominees on the county
commissioner ticket.
On next Saturday there will be a meet
ing or the democratic county central COM
mittee to select dates for the county pri-
mares and county nominating convention
Inc meeting will be held at the handsome
country home of the chairman Col L. Y
Baughman. and will be novelty in it's
way. as Col Baughnan proposes TO have
an old fashioned barbecue to lend interest
10 the meeting. The campaign in the coun-
~ is not liable to pass off this fall without
bitter contest. This will arise from the
attitude the republicans have assumed re-
garding the new law extending the Term of
county commissioners from two to six
years. They contend that as the law was
passed after the present democratic b, ard
was elected IL does not apply to them and
therefore their term expires this fall The
republicans have decided to nominate a f1lll
county commissioner ticket therefore and
trust to having IL placed on the official
ballot. The democrats will contest this
and endeavor to have the present board Of
commissioners hold over four years longer
This county has been without rain of any
consequence for about six weeks. owing to
which the corn crop has been practically
ruined and all vegetation has suffered
There was slight rain last night the first
one of any benefit since the first week in
July, and farmers are hoping that the
drouth may now be broken. The peach