The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-05-10
Murder at Elkton.

Last July the Arizona Bob show ex-
hibited at Elkton; after the performance
was over the show tent and other fixtures
were moved to the wharf and put aboard
a vessel which carried the company and
their goods to Baltimore. After the show
one of the parties named Franklin w.
Knapp, while asleep in his cot was struck
in the head with a club by Arizona Bob
and choIled till life was extinct. The
body was then placed in box and taken
with the other effects of the party to the
wharf where the vessel lay, the night
watchman of the mills helping to lift the
box into the cart which was employed i'll
moving the show. When the vessel was
off Turkey Point the captains attention
was engaged by two of the party while
Bob took the body from the box, fastened
weights to it and tumb1ed it overheard.
The boat landed the party in Baltimore
the next day
Knapp had friend Dr. Ross, living at
Cheuango Falls, N. Y, with whom he
kept up regular correspondence. This
correspondence suddenly ceased, but
prior to that Knapp had told the doctor
in his letters that he was apprehensive of
danger from the other parties of the
show. This aroused the doctors sus-
picion and he commenced investigation
Mr., and Mrs Robins who were per-
formers, were left behind When the show
left Elkton in the night, they being at
the Fulton House. DR.. Ross located Mr..
and Mrs. Robins in Philadelphia, and
they told the names of all the people who
were with the show. He afterward found
that the show had broken up and located
Edward Wertley at Mount Winans, Balti-
more county, Md, and Arizona Bob at
Marion, Somerset county, Md. He made
a visit to Marion and interviewed Bob,
who stated that the last he knew or heard
of Knapp was that he left to bill another
town and never returned, and that he
had financial trouble and the show got
stranded near Baltimore
Last Saturday Dr. Ross and States
Attorney Crothers went to Mount Winans,
where Edward Wertley was located, and
had him brought before the magistrate
and accused him of being implicated in
the murder of Franklin Knapp He
denied having any knowledge of it, but
was told that they were going to take him
anyhow, as they already had evidence
that he was implicated in it. Then he
broke down and afterward related the
following story: Bob and 1 met Mr..
Knapp at Manchester, Md and we told
him about the show that he could pur-
chase half interest in for 500 Knapp
paid $40 to bind the bargain; said he
would go South to make some more
money and would meet us and pay the
balance. Knapp joined us ina week or so,
the show going from town to town. Mr..
and Mrs. Robins, stage performers, de-
manded their salaries at Cecil county and
attached the show, and we being unable
to pay the money Mr.. Knapp said it
NOultl DC dill IlSul, dll(l thereafter lie WOULD
take charge of the money Bob before
then had been planning to kill Knapp and
told me had the negro with us, and while
in Elkton there was dispute between
Robins, Bob and Knapp. The trouble
was that Robins and Knapp wanted to
get their share of the show, SO Bob had
spoken to George, whose last name is not
known, and suggested to him to hire a
boat to carry us down the bay. He came
back and Bob said what he was going to
do. He got me to buy some ether at the
drug store, and also sent me to hire team
to take the show to the boat, as the
evening entertainment was over"
Arizona Bob has not as yet been arrested, |
but officers all over the state have been
telegraphed to, and two Pinkerton detec-
tives are on his trail. It is believed that
he will be captured soon, as he is unaware
that they are after him
Wertley is now in Elkton Jail. Knapp
was about IS years of age, and is said to
have been a sober, industrious man, and
the people who met him while there
spoke well of him. Arizona Bob claimed
to be from Arizona, and the champion
pistol and rifle shot of the world. He is |
about 40 years of age, and about six feet
i'll height, dressed in the Western style,
wore long hair, and was of dark COM
plexion.
The news ofthe murder created a great
excitement in Elkton.