Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-03-23

On Saturday night while returning
home from Wagram. Va, Lloyd Pur-
nell was met on the county road near
his home by Rufus Wells and Johnson
Timmons who cut him about the head
with horsewhip as they met. Lloyd
of course resented and the two men
leaping from their vehicles cried catch
that negro, kill him. Such threats
frightened Purnell and he made for
home across the field The men follow
ed in hot pursuit, but upon reaching the
house were warned by Purnell and his
father not to enter. With clubs they
entered the door whereupon Lloyd
shot down Wells, the ball taking effect
in his forehead and lodging in his brain.
The man fell backward out the door and
Timmons ran off. leaving his partner
lying at Purnell's door. Friends heard
of the affair and took Wells to his
home. where he was attended by phys
icians. hut never regained consciousness
until Monday. The ball was probed
for and located but cannot he reached.
Wells was reported dead here, but our
intormations is that he still lives, al
though his friends have little hope OF
his recovery. Lloyd Purnell started
TO Pocomoke to give himself up TO the
officers, but was met by constable and
arrested He was anxious to get to
Jail rs he feared lynching. rhe facts
in the case however would not Justify
such action; on the contrary the case
looks to us like a justiiiable defense of
ones life.
A runaway occurred on our
streets Tuesday afternoon which was
truely the result of carelessness. Mr..
Thomas Hearn had driven his young
and heretofore gentle driving mare in
town on that day. For some reason
the bride on the horse was to be
changed. The ,lored hustler at the
Washington Hotel stables took the
bride off which was on the horse with
out unhitching the animal from the
carriage. No sooner was this done
than the horse started off in run.
Getting away from the holster she ran
across Washington street and into the
electric light pole on the opposite corner
of Green street. Here the carriage was
upset. wheel crushed, the shaft and
cross bar broken and the carriage other
wise torn up. The animal, tearing
loose from the vehicle, which was pref
ty well demolished, ran down Washing
ton street toward home, but was caught
near the river bridge. The accident
should teach everyo how to change.
brides when horse is geared in har
ness. A minutes work in loosening the
horse would have saved considerable
expense in repairing carriage and har
ness to say nothing about the danger of
spelling a nice animal
Although Lent prevents many
from participating in social and other
pleasure entertainments, one of the
most pleasant receptions ever held here
was given by the members of the
Presbyterian Church to their pastor
and wife on Tuesday evening at the
parsonage. Over sixty persons were
present and the evening was spent in
social entertainment, each one there
being committee of one to entertain
all the friends present Visitors from
other towns and members of other
churches were made to feel just as much
at home as if they were doing the
honors at their own house and to their
own pastors. Refreshments were served
by the ladies at 10 o'clock, and con-
stituted very enjoyable feature of the
entertainment. Another, and the most
interesting feature of the evenings
proceedings was an exhibition of African
and other curiosities which have been
collected by Mr.. Swan in his travels
and were sent him by his wife's brother,
a missionary, in Africa. The drum,
spoons, knives, natural woods, pictures,
tortoise shells, African tomahawk,
elephants tooth and tusk, hair pins
made for ladies by the natives of Africa
out Of the tooth of hippopotomus, and
other curiosities which were exhibited
on table in the centre of one room,
were handled over and inspected with
much interest by everyone The enter
tainment was also much enjoyed by
Mr.. and Mrs. Swan. who we're as glad
Of an opportunity to meet the members
of the congregation as they were to
entertain their new pastor and wife.
"A branch of the Somerset Savings,
Building and Loan Association. Of
Crisfield, was recently organized at
Powellsville. this county, by special
agent A. B Gross. The officers for
1895 are /. S. Williams, President;
Claude Powell. Vice President; X. V.
White. Secretary and Treasurer. The
following members are directors X.
V. White. Claude Powell. Jacob b
Jones, A. II. Jones and VIM. G.. Den
mis-. This Association has branches in
Baltimore and Philadelphia cities and
in twenty towns. The president Of the
Association is Mr.. Clarence Hodson.
President of the Bank of Crisfield, and
President of the Maryland Mutual
Fire Insurance Co.. at Crisfeld and is
well known here as are some of the
other officers. The Association hand
les considerable money. and its reports
show it to be in prosperous condition.
+. G Polk, Esq, is the Local Treas
urer at Pocomoke City.
Real Estate and Other Sales.
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