Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-02-27
EASTERN Shore HOMICIDE
A Tragedy Near Whaleyville
Last Saturday Night.
MURDER OF WILLIAM HAMBLIN
Fatally Cut While Protecting an
Acquaintance.
A Quarrel Resulting From Van Bakers At
tenttons to Young Woman-Petcr L.
Davis and John CULLEN, Jr., Held to
Await the Action of the Grand Jury.

Snow Hill, Md, Feb. 81. Peter L.
Davis and John CULLEN, Jr., two Of tho
men charged with being concerned in
the killing of young William Hamblin,
near Whaleyville, last Saturday night
have been arrested by Deputy Sheriff
Henry T. Bell and are in Jail here to
await the action of the grand jury at
the coming May term. John CULLEN,
Sr., is also charged with the same
offence, but is SO badly wounded that
the officers were compelled to leave
him at his home for tho present. He
is cut and bruised severely about tho
head and face and at times is deliri-
Gus. Hamblin, the murdered man,
was buried yesterday and lies within
20 yards Of the scene of the killing.
He was nephew of Peter l.. Davis,
one of the men in jail.
A hearing was had before Justice
Brimer yesterday. States Attorney
Jones conducted the case. DIR. John
W. Pitts of Berlin, testified as to the
cause of Hamhlin's death. His body
was bruised terribly with black jack,
but the fatal wound was cash across
the arm, which severed an artery.
Death ensued within 15 minutes after
the cutting.
The particulars of the homicide are
as follows Van Baker, one of those in.
volved in the trouble, had been paying
attention TO daughter of John Quill
len, ST., in opposition to the wishes Of
Mr.. CULLEN. Threats had been made
by both Baker and Quillen, ST., and
CULLEN. Jr. Early Saturday night
Baker called at house where young
CULLEN was and they had some words,
but finally parted in friendly way.
Baker went to the house of Mrs Bow
den, not far away. Between 10 and 70
O'Clock CULLEN, ST., and CULLEN, Jr. !,
went to the house and called Baker
out, inviting him TO fight. just at this
time Hamblin came up and Baker
called on him for help. One of the
Quillens, it is said, struck Baker, and
then knives and pistols commenced to
flash in the moonlight. 1t was testified
that three shots were fired during the
scrimmage. Hamblin, in acting in
Bakers behalf, received the wound in
his arm. He walked into the house
and fell on the floor. The mating
produced at the trial was saturated
with blood and presented terrible
sight.
Peter L. Davis claims that he was
acting as peacemaker, He has been
accused once before of causing man g
death, but was acquitted. The other
wounded men went to Whaleyville and
their wounds were dressed by DIR.
Benton II. Whaley. A black jack was
found on the ground after the fight.
1t was finally admitted that two of
the party had knives, but the ones
produced are very mild looking
weapons. One of the women testified
that Baker had no knife. Baker pro-
duced small ona on the stand, how
ever. John CULLEN, Jr., has several
gashes ON his face The testimony on
all sides seemed to be trifle mixed,
and in some points was conflicting.
TIE prisoners both disclaim any
knowledge whatever of who did the
cutting and both state positively that
they had no knives.