Middletown transcript., 1898-01-01
MURDER AT sAssAFRAs.

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John T. Davis lies dead, and his brother
in-law. Joseph B. Wallace languishes in
jail charged with his murder, is the story
of an encounter at Sassafras. Md, on Mon.
day night. This is the fourth murder in
Cecil county since the first of August nd
the third within the past two months, the
three former cases having been among the
colored population.
Wallace when seen in Jail shortly after his
incarceration. by Transcript" reporter,
was comparatively calm and made out
clear case of self-defence. He stated in
| substance, that he had been assisting Mr.. ].
Frank Ernest in his store at Sassafras dur
| ing busy seasons, and was in the store at
7.30 O'Clock on Tuesday evening when
David entered and came back to where he
was in the grocery room, and said: Joe
you don't like me.n Wallace answered
that he did not Hike his coming to his house
and acting in a disorderly manner. This
reference was to an occurrence of seyera
weeks ago when Wallace claims that
came to his house drunk late at night and
were disorderly greater portion of the
night, or until he was forced to go down
and order them away.
This occurrance it is thought by some
was the starting of the trouble which end
ed in the death of David. No trouble of a
serious nature seemed brewing and. several
parties who were present, together with
the two principals of the late trouble took
several drinks of whiskey in the store. Af-
ter this the trouble commenced and young
Hartley, clerk in the store, ordered. the
men out and closed the door. They then
went into the road in front of the store. and
it is claimed by Wallace that no serious
trouble would have taken place but for the
persistence of Downes in urging David on
to fight. David struck and kicked him
and then drew pistol and snapped it in
his face three or four times but only one
ball exploded and this missed him. Wal
lace then drew pocket knife and struck
David in the breast and his victim fell
mortally wounded. He was arrested by
Saml Mallalieu at an early hour on Tues
day morning and bro ught to Chestertown
and lodged in jail.
David, the dead man, has a wife living
in Cecil county, and child about year
old. He was farm laborer and had been sep
arated from his wife about year, and was
addicted to drink. Wallace ran the thresh-
ino on0;na for Mr uarp,on Maezaxv Jrr;rc
threshing season, and during the canning
season operated the engine in the canning
factory of Register of Wills G. s. Hurlock.
He has wife and six children, his wife
being sister of the man whom he killed.
Wallace bears an excellent reputation
among those who know him.
An inquest was held on Tuesday result
ing in the following verdict: Zone John B. |
Wallace did feloniously murder the said
John David by stabbing him in the left
breast with knife, thereby inhicting a
wound of which the said John David then
and there instantly died."
DR.. W. 81. Jacobs conducted the postmor-
tenn examination and found that the wound |
which produced death had penetrated the |
heart. There were five other ugly wounds |
on the body one of which severed the car
otid artery.
The pistol was found about two feet |
from the body and gave evidence Of three |
cartridges having failed to fire when struck |
by the hammer of the pistol. One bqrrel |
was empty.-Chest ertown Transcript