Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-06-27
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

This community was tremendously
shocked Tuesday evening about dark
by the news of terrible tragedy that
had Just been enacted in Hagerstown,
the chief participant in which was
John William Grant, a former resi-
dent of Shepherdstown, and who is
well-known in this place. For the
past fifteen years Mr.. Grant has been
freight engineer on the Cumberland
Valley Railroad, his run being be-
tween Hagerstown and Winchester.
Saturday night, June 18th. he had
a difficulty with William Hose, ma
chinist in the round-house at Hagers-
town. 1t is said that he drew knife
on Hose, and for this he was reported
The report was forwarded to head
quarters, and Grants discharge re-
suited. He blamed Agent Samuel Fl
Long and Yardmaster Jacob ]. Fuller
for his dismissal from the company s
service, and brooded over the matter
until he became desperate.
Tuesday evening just before SUM-
down he sought Fuller, and together
they went to Long and began to talk
about the affair. Grant upbraided the
two men for his discharge, and then
suddenly stepping back he said he
would settle with them. He whipped
out a revolver and sent bullet crash
ing into Fuller's brain. Fuller dropped
and then the frenzied man turned to
Long. Mr.. Long, however, had start,
ed to run, and managed to get into
the freighthouse and thence to make
his escape, though he narrowly escaped
several shots that were fired after him
Seeming to realize what he had done,
and rendered still more desperate
Grant turned the pistol and shot him
self in the head, inhicting slight
wound. Just at this time Policeman
Murphy E. Flory ran up to arrest
him, when the half-crazed man turned
on the officer. He warned him not tc
come near him, but Flory, rushed in
and as he did so Grant sent a bullet
through his heart. AS the policeman
fell he drew his own revolver and shot
Grant, making a serloua wound in the
stomach. By this time a crowd had
gathered, and they closed in on Grant
and disarmed him, though he strug.
gled desperately against arrest. He
was hurried to prison and his wounds
were dressed. The indications are
that he will recover, though he is said
to have expressed desire to die and
asked for poison with which he might
end his existence. Flory lived only
a few moments, and an hour or two
after he was shot Fuller also expired
Coroner's inquests were held yes.
terday in Hagerstown. The inquisi-
ton in the Flory case resulted in the
following verdict That "a certain
J. William Grant feloniously, volun.
tarily and ofmalice aforethought, shot
the said Murphy E. Flory in the right
breast with leaden bullet from a re-
volver then and there in his right hand
inAicting mortal would, Of which NOR,
tai wound the said Murphy E. Flory
then and there feloniously killed and
murdered the said Murphy E. Flory
against the peace and good govern
ment and dignity Of the State Of
Maryland. An almost Identical YER
dict was rendered in the Fuller case,
As before stated, the news Of the
tragedy created profound sensation
in Shepherdstown, where Mr.. Grant
parents and sister reside. 1t could
scarcely be believed that viii Grant,
who has always been known as a mild
and genial man, and who was so gen
orally liked, could have committed
such a deed, and he must have been
demented over what he considered his
wrongs to have gotten into such a
frenzy. He is about fifty years old,
and besides his wife, who was Miss
Julia Smooth, of Shepherdstown, his
family is composed of a lovely daugh-
ter, Miss Edith, and two sons, Law
renee and Guy, who are both most ex-
cellent boys. Mrs. Grant had been
visiting in Shepherdstown, and re-
turned to her home about noon on the
day of the tragedy. Our people here
extend every sympathy to the rela-
tives who are so sorely distressed over
the occurrence.
The news from Hagerstown this
morning is to the effect that Mr.
Grant will probably recover from his
wounds, unless some unforeseen COM
plication ensues.