Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-06-26
The Shooting OF Ambrose Wilson.

Frank L Thomas, of Linkwood, Md,
shot and killed Ambrose Wilson on Sat
urday last. Wilson was half brother to
] acob c. Wilson of this town.
Washington Trego, who was the only
witness OF the tragedy. tells the following
story of the shooting of Ambrose Wilson,
a school teacher, by Frank L Thomas,
sewing machine agent, on Saturday
The shooting occurred IN this way,
said Mr. Trego II was sitting on a box
at the corner of the store waiting for the
o'clock train to pass. Just as the train
was drawing up to the station Ambrose
Wilson came up 10 the box on which
was sitting aud sat down. He was smok-
ing a pipe. We spoke. III few mo-
ments I raised my eyes and l saw Mr..
Thomas walk past us as if he intended to
90 to the station. He did not speak Hor
did Mr.. Wilson nor myself. When
Thomas had walked on a distance Of
about ten or fifteen yards he turned
around aud walked up to Mr.. Wilson and
drew a revolver from his pocket. Thomas
said You - At the same time
he fred. was dumbfounded, aud for a
moment I,could not move Finally got
up and looked at Wilson, who was still
sitting up and then ran toward the
rear of the store. Here l told Mr.. Vim
cent what had happened. Mr.. Thomas
was standing looking at Wilson, who had
bv this time fallen back against the side
of the store. l was told that he was
dead "
The probable motive for the shooting
is furnished by i'll feeling which existed
between Thomas and Wilson, both OF
whom are Republican leaders III the dis
trict in which they live. The ill-teeling
was first occasioned by the recent con-
test for delegates TO the county conven-
ton At the convention wilson, II Is
charged got the better of the Thomas fac
ton. On his return home from the con-
vention Thomas. who did not attend,
called Wilson to account for having placed
certain man on the list of delegates.
Wilson admitted he had done so, and
Thomas replied: 81 will find by what
rule you do it.
Several weeks later Wilson asked
Thomas to indOrse his application Tor
register of voters Thomas declined aud
hard words passed. Thomas is report ed
as saying on parting with Wilson i 40
not want YOU to speak to me again
Since that time both men have met, but
have not been on speaking terms
Mrs Wilson, the wife OF the dead man,
said her husband had not seen Thomas
on the day of the tragedy until he was
shot As they lived side by side. It was
suggested that the two men had quar-
relied before the shooting but this is most
positively denied by both Mrs. Wilson
and Miss Iona Windsor, who IS house
keeper for Thomas.
Mr. Thomas the prisoner, was seen at
s..F IN, all me Ct1OnG he
said /: Il decline to talk about the matter
as have been instructed not to do so. p"
Thomas is about 81 years of age, IS sin
gle. stands about six feet and weighs over
200 pounds. Wilson was 81 years OF age
and weighed about 40 pounds. He leaves
wife and five daughters.
There is considerable feeling maniles-
ted among the people, aud the majority
seem 10 he of the opinion that Thomas
was physically able to punish Wilson
without shooting him, as Wilson was SO
much the smaller OF the two. When the
dead man was examined nothing was
found in his pockets save piece OF to-
bacco' No knife nor pistol was found on
him.
FUNERAL OF AMBROSE WILSON
The body of Ambrose Wilson. the VIC
! tim of Frank l. Ihomas pistol shOt' a.
| Linkwood, Saturday morning. was IN
TERED at East Newmarket on MONDAY,
Rev. lanes L Bryan officiating. AT
| Linkwood a very large congregation had
assembled, evidently sympathizine with
the distressed family Of the deceased
seemed to be interested in the circnm'
stances Of the homicide, examining the
scene at Vincents store. After the ser
vice, including a short address by the
minister the hody.with large attendance
Of relatives and friends accompanying
the family, proceeded to East New Mar
ket. where the body was inferred in the
family lot in the cemetery. The attend
ance from New Market and its immedi'
ate neighborhood was even greater than
from Linkwood. There was one senti
ment of sorrow and indignation in regard
to the unhappy event.