Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-04-26

CENTREvILLE, MD, April 10. 0..-Georgo
j. Leager, a successful farmer on Ches-
ter river, in Queen Anne's county, on
the Round Top estate of w. Irving
Walker of Baltimore, was killed last
night, shortly after o'clock, and his
14.years-old stepson, Nathan B. Cross
ley, probably fatally shot by William
jackson, q negro farm hand on tho
place. The most intense feeling pre-
vailed, and it was with difficulty that
the cooler headed farmers among the
large number of men who collected at
the scene of the killing prevented the
negro from being lynched TO tree
within n few feet of the spot upon
which his victim had fallen, shot to
| death.
The particulars obtained at an early
hour this morning are from eye wit
nesses of the affair, and those who par
ticipated in the pursuit and capture of
Jackson. Jackson is a negro who came
from Virginia and had lived with Mr..
Leager since the first of the present
year. He is about 40 years of age, weighs
about $50 pounds and has become no.
toriously impertinent.
The first Of the trouble which resulted
in the death of the farmer and proba-
bly, fatal shooting of his stepson oc-
Cured at noon Wednesday. Mrs.
Leager asked Jackson to bring her a
| tub of water from a pump near by.
This he refuse to do, and commenced to
| curse her. Mrs. Leager picked up a
small stick to protect herself if neces-
sary. The negro said if she struck him
he would have her soul in hell before
sun down. Mr.. Leager was away at
the time, having gone to meet the train.
When he returned Mrs. Leager told
him of the affair. Her husband at once
started off for an officer to have the man
arrested, but was advised by friend
whom he saw on the road to avoid any
trouble, pay the negro off and discharge
him, which he said he would do and
returned home for that purpose. About
9 O'Clock Mr.. Leager and his son were
unloading a fodder.cutter and putting
1t in the loft of a barn, when jackson
came in from his work. He was called
TO assist with the cutter, which he did, !,
and Immediately walked off from the
barn to q pump about 30 feet distant.
Not,a word had been said of the diff.
Guilty between Mr.. Leagor and the
negro.
Jackson called to Mr.. Leager to come
down from the loft that he wanted him.
MIR. Leager came down, having in his
hand q hatchet which he had been using
in the barn. Without word Jackson
dealt the unfortunate man blow with
his fist, which staggered but did not
knock him to the ground. Leager re.
covered himself and struck at the man
with his fist. Young Samuel Crossley,
who had witnessed the affair from a
point only few yards away, said, al
do not think my father struck him."
The negro drew a pistol and shot
Leager, who fell. The next instant
another shot was fired, which missed its
mark. Nathan Crossley, the 14-years-
old stepson of Leager, ran from the barn
toward his father, carrying a pitchfork
in his hand, and when within few feet
of his father Jackson fired at the boy.
Samuel, the boys 17-years.old brother,
ran behind the barn for safety, the
negro trying to head him off. Nathan
made his escape to neighbor's and
gave the alarm.
The injured man struggled to his feet
and walked about twenty yards toward
his house, but when within few feet of
the door fell in pool of blood. While
the dying man was on the ground after
first being shot the negro grabbed the
hatchet which lay near, sand, with
desperate-biow, nearly severed the hand
from the arm at the wrist.
Jackson at once left the farm and
went to store at Kibler's Corner, about
a milo distant, and asked for piece of
tnhopPn Mr. IL i1,l,pis
tho man and remarked 10 him that he
had slots of money" Whereupon
Jackson SAID, Eyes, but had to kill
man to get it," lie then showed the
hatchet, still covered with blood, and
said, "That's Leager's blood on there
now." He then went to negro settle
ment about two miles from the scene of
the tragedy.
In the meantime excitement ran high,
and searching party of citizens were
in pursuit of the negro with officers
from Chestertown and Church Hill. |
jackson was found in bed in a negro
hut with the pistol with which he had
done the shooting in the bed with him,
and the blood-stained hatchet in q
bundle of clothes in the corner Of the |
room. The house was surrounded and !
the negro was bound and taken to the
scene OF his crime for Identification. lie |
was thence hurried Off to Centreyille |
Jail. Ills manner was sullen and inso- |
lent, and upon reaching Centrevile he
announced that "This is not the first |
man have ever shot" He added that
he had shot man before coming to
Maryland.
Young Crossley's wound, while not
necessarily fatal, is pronounced to be of |
a most dangerous character and the |
chances of recovery largely against him.
The pistol used by jackson was a five
shooter 3S-calibre. The wound is in the
upper portion of the breast.
A post mortem was held and the YER |
dict of the jury was that George ]. |
Leager had come to his death from |
pistol wound, the fatal shot having been
fired by William jackson. The ball en-.
tered the left breast, severing the aorta.
The only words spoken by the dying
man were to ask for drink of water
and an inquiry as to where jackson had
gone.
States Attorney Hopper, who lnvesti-
gated the case, learned that jackson
was originally from Arkansas; that the
negro first knocked MIR. Loager down,
wrested the hatchet from him and then
shot him while he was PROSTATE. MIR.
Leager attempted to rise, and received
bullet IN the right breast below the third
rib, which, glancing, severed the aorta,
causing death. The stepson, Nathan,
was shot in the fleshy part of the breast.
The wound is painful, but not neces-
sarily fatal. Round Top dwelling is