Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1894-04-28
A BRUTAL MURDER.
4 Queen AmIe's County
Farmer Shot and Beat
tn Death by a Negro.

| AuIic : COUNTY, WIS hitltu Ou ucSttiN
night of last week shortly after [
O'Clock, and his l4-years old stepson
Nathan b. Crossley. probably fatal,
shot hy William jackson. a negr,
farm hand on the place. The mos
intense feeling prevailed. and it wa,
with difficulty that the cooler hea.let
farmers among the large number q
men who collected at the scene Of th.
killing prevented the negro from being
lynchcd To tree within few feet 81
the spot upon which his victim had
fallen. shot Ia death
jackson is - negro who came from
Virginia and had lived with Mr.
Lcagcr since the first of the present
year He is about 40 years Of age
weighs about 100 pounds and ha,
become VIGOROUSLY impertinent.
The first Of the trouble which re-
suited in the death of the farmer and
probably fatal shooting Of his stepson
occurred at noon Wednesday. Mrs
Leager asked Jackson To bring her Il
tub Of water from "A pump near by
This he refused To do, and commenced
10 curse her. Mrs. l.eagcr picked up
Il small stick To protect herself II
necessary. The negro said il she
struck him he would have her soul in
hell before sun down. Mr.. L.eager
was away at the time. having gone Ia
meet the train. When he returned
Mrs. leagcr told him of the affair
Her husband at once started oil 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 q
o'clock Mr.. Leager and his son were
unloading fo.ller cutter and putting
it in the loft of Il barn, when jackson
came in from his work. He was
called 10 assist with the cutter Mhich
he did. and Immediately walked of
from the barn 10 the pump about 81
feet distant Not word had been
said OF the difficulty between Mr..
I.eager and the negro.
jackson called to Mr.. Leager Ia
come down from the lott that he
wanted him. Mr. Leager came down
having in his band hatchet which
he had been using in the barn. With.
out Il word jackson dealt the un.
fortunate man blow with his fist
which staggered but did not knock
MIN to the ground. Lcager recovered
himself and struck at the man with his
fist. Young Samuel Crossley, who
had witnessed the affair from point
only few yards away. said: II dc
not think my father struck him. u
The negro drew a pistol and shot
Leager, who fell The next instant
another shot was fired, which missed
its mark. Nathan Crossley. the Il,
ycars-old stepson of Leager, ran from
the barn toward his father CARRYING a
pitchfork in his haLd, and when
within few feet of his father jackson
fired at the boy. Samuel, the boy S
l1-years-old brother. ran behind the
barn for safety. the negro trying to
head him of. Nathan made his escape
10 Il neighbors and gave the alarm.
The injured man struggled to his
feet and walked about twenty yards
towards his house, but when within a
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. and, with desperate blow.
nearly severed the hand from the arm
nj the wrist.
jackson at once left the farm and
went Ia the store at KILLERS Corner
about "a mile distant, and asked for Il
piece Of tobacco. Mr.. kibler's son
waited ON the man and remarked (,
him that he had lots of money!
Whereupon jackson said. Yes. but
had Ia kill 4 man Ia get it. lie then
showed the Ratchet, still covered with
blood. and said, That's Leager'.
blood on there now" He then Went
10 the negro settlement about tw,
miles from the scene Of the tragedy.
La the meantime excitement ran
high. and searching party of citizen.
were in pursuit of the negro will
officers from Chestertown and Chnrcl
Hill. Jackson was found in bed in .
negro hut with the pistol with which
he had done the shooting in the bet
with him, and the blood staiEed hat
chet in bundle of clothes in the
corner of the room. The house wa.
surrounded and the negro was bount
and taken to the scene of his crime
for Identification. He was theme,
hurried off to Centreville Jail. Hi
manner was sullen and insolent, anc
upon reaching Centreville he announ
ced that This is not the first man
have ever shot" He added that h.
had shot man before coming Il
Maryland.
Young Crossley's wound, while mo-
necessary fatal. is pronounced to be %
II most dangerous character and th.
chances of recovery largely agains
him. The pistol used by .Iackso,
was Il fve-shooter 81 calibre. Tn,
wound is in the upper portion OF tn,
breast
\ post moriem was held and th,
verdict Of the jury was that George J
Leager had come 10 his death by
pistol wound, the fatal shot havin.
been fired by William Jackson. Tn,
bail entered the left breast SEVERN:
the aorta. The only words spokel
by the dying man were To ask for .
drink of water and an inquiry as I,