The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-05-15
Shot in the Arm.

Thomas IL. D0nnelly, OF HOrG
Deposit, is at the City Hospital,
suffering from the effects of a load
of shot, which was fired into his
right arm on Thursday night, 9TH
inst. Although the charge made a
big hole in Donnelly's biceps,
Resident Physician Ruhrah thinks
the arm may be saved. Donnelly,
who is a young quarryman, was
brought to the hospital by DR.. A.
G. Crothers, of Port Deposit. Don
nelly states that on Thursday night
he was at the house of his father,
near Port Deposit, when he heard
voice in the yard, and went out
to investigate. While out there a
man, whose voice he says he recog
nized as that of Edward Rowland,
asked who he was. He replied
"Donnelly," and then the man
fired at him and ran away. Don
nelly was so near the gun that the
shot did not scatter, and almost
the entire load penetrated his flesh.
Donnelly says he had quarrel
with Rowland, who is said to be
wealthy. The physicians say it is
very hard matter to recognize a
mans voice in the dark, and they
are inclined to think there is an
other version Of the shooting.
A special despatch from Port
Deposit to the American last night
stated: Last night Thomas Don
nelly was badly shot in the right
arm, and was taken to Baltimore
by DR.. A. G. C1others to hospital
for treatment, but the place where
he was shot is not known. 1t has
been rumored through town this
morning that he was shot on the
farm of Mr.. E. III. Rowland, but
such is not the fact. Mr.. Row
lands family being absent from
home, he thought it best to employ
a Waterman. Last night Mr..
Rowland retired as usual about
1890, and this morning the watch
man reported everything quiet on
the place, and Mr.. Rowland did
not know of the shooting until he
came in town about 8 a. m.-Balto.
American.
Donnelly has told various stories
about the way he was shot, and the
above story differs from the others.
He bears a bad reputation for
gathering where he scattereth
not" and generally after night.
The most likely view of the case is
he was on somebody's premises
where he oughtn't have been and
the man fired at short range and is
keeping his own council.
Latest developments appear to connect
Donnelly pretty clearly with an attempted
blackmailing conspiracy against several
of the most prominent citizens of Port
Deposit and immediate vicinity, which
involved threats of arson, an attempt that
was made to burn Mr.. Rowland's barn OH
Tuesday night of last week. During the
past several weeks Mr.. Rowland R. E.
McClenahan, H. c. Nesbltt and Jacob
Tome have each received letters signed
BILLY Bowser," demanding $1,000,
specifying where the money should be
put, under penalty of being "burned out
or blown up by dynamite, in case of re-
fusal to comply with the demand. Mr..
Rowland received the first of these letters
which demanded that at certain time he
should place $1,000 i'll a box in Foxs mill.
Mr.. Rowland had box put there and
man to watch it. The letter received by
Mr.. McClenahan instructed him to put
$1,000 in the store of Geo. H. Stebbings'
upon certain night and that night the
store was broken into, but the $1,000 not
being there nothing was taken.
Messrs. Rowland and McClenahan
entered into correspondence with BILLY
Bowser." Mr.. McClenahan to draw him
on offered to compromise OH $500, to
which he received reply that he "Billy
Bowser," would not accept $1,000 but de-
manded $4,000, and stated that if the
money was not forthcoming at once his
entire establishment at the quarry would
be blown up by dynamite and told Mr.
McClenahan to ask his Waterman if the
powder-house had not been broken into
on certain night, and it had been.
On Tuesday night when the attempt
had been made to burn Mr.. Rowland's
barn, the corner of straw rick had been
fired and put out, and most threatening
letter was left pinned to a tree, ordering
Mr.. Rowland to put $1,000 in tin box in
a certain place by Thursday night last or
his whole place would be burned out
Five dollars was placed in the tin box
and was taken, A letter was received
after that, demanding the $oo5 should be
placed in the box to complete the $1,000.
The tin box misplaced so as to be reached
from the outside through a broken
window. and guard inside the mill, and
when the arm of Tom Donnelly was
thrust in to investigate he fired. This is
one story but the guard denies the shoot
ing part of it. The gang of conspirators
are known and with this evidence it is
fair to presume they will all be landed i'll