The morning times., 1895-08-13
HURT In AN ELECTION row
John l.. Husband May Have Been
the Victim Of a Political Plot.
Grave Doubts Entertained of His
Recovery ry-Murderously Assaulted
at the Wheaton Primaries.

John L. Husband. clerk serving under
the Sixth Auditor of the Postoffice Depart
ment, and local Republican leader in the
adjoining Maryland district, is lying crit
ically i'll as the result OF a murderous assault
provoked by the bitter factional fight which
has been raging for some time in Montgom-
cry County. Grave doubts are entertained
as to the patients ultimate recovery.
The Republicans have grown exceed
1ngly hopeful OF being able to carry the
State at the approaching gubernatorial
election, and as a consequence there has
been unusual activity among the members
of that party The selection of delegates
the Montgomery County convention origi-
mated partisan controversy which as
sumed aggravated proportions and Gre
ated much enmity and ilI-will among neigh
bors in the voting precinct Of Wheaton,
located twelve miles north OF this city on
the Seventh street road and formerly known
as Mitchelrs Crossroads
The rivalry between the two Republican
factions, one Of which was lead by MI
Husband, eliminated on Saturday, Au-
gust 3, when the primaries We're held
Mr.. Husband was present at the polls nd
actively engaged in promoting the inter-
ests Of his faction, when he became j u
volved IN a wordy controversy with Mr.
Fishbdck, Of Keusngtou, who represent
ed what is known as the Warner-Noyes
faction, and which anita gonized that sec
ton OF the party led by Mr.. Husband.
1t is alleged that Mr.. Husband was in
the act Of retreatiug from Mr.. Fishback,
10 order to terminate the discussion and
avoid trouble, when a negro named Wells,
who was a Fishhack partisan, without
provocatiou or warning, struck Mr.. Hus-
band terrible blow on the side Of the
head. holding a stone n his hand, ii is said,
at the time Of striking him.
Mr.. Husband was knocked insensibe
and fell TO the ground The negro attempted
TO follow up his advantage by springing
upon the PROSTATE man and doing him still
further bodily injury, when c. o. B. Cissel
postmaster at Wheaton, placed one of his
feet on either side OF the unconscious man
and declared his intention of killing the
first man that touched him. He was sup
ported in this determination by several
OF those present. and the victim of the negro's
unwarrranted assault was removed to his
home
Mr. Husband remained unconscious all
st the next day, after which he partially
revived, and on last Wednesday he was
able to sit up a portion OF the time Sub
sequently he suffered relapse, and since
that time his condition has been OF the most
serious character, and his friends are ap-
prehensive that death may result at any
moment
To-day Mr. Husbands condition has not
improved. No one is permitted to see him,
and his chances of recovery are gradually
being decreased
great excitement In the vicinity OF Wheaton,
where the allegation has been repeatedly
made that previous understanding existed
that some member of the opposltiCS faction
should provoke a quarrel with Mr. Husband
and that Wells would then interfere and
give him such punishment q s to take him
away from the polls. But it is also de-
cIared by those who witnes sed the assault
that the negro intended to follow up his
advantage, and if allowed to have his own
way would have murdered Mr.. Husband
in cold blood and while he was uncon-
scious This Is denied by the friends CT MIR.
FiShbaCk.
After committing the attack Wells ef
fected his escape, but has since been cap
tured, and the matter will be brought be-
fore the grand jury for full investigation
whether Mr.. Husband dies or recoyers.