Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-16

FUNERAL OF JONATHAN MERSON
Young Man Who Was Shot by Officer
While Attempting Escape.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
LAUREL, Md, March 1G, 1903.
Funeral services were held this after
noon at O'Clock at Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church South over the remains
Of Jonathan Merson, the young man. who,
it was alleged. was shot by officer James
A. Scaggs the night of February IS last
and who died at the Maryland University
Hospital in Baltimore Friday night last
after lingering for two weeks. Rev. w. l..
Smith, pastor, officiating Interment was
made at this place.
The tragic circumstances attending the
death of the young man served to attract
an unusually large crowd to the ceremon-
les, and the church edifice was completely
l. filed.
The remains were received here yesterday
from Baltimore, and were prepared for
burial by Mr. William Mtlstead.
An inquest was ordered by Coroner Wilt
shire Of Baltimore to investigate the cir
cumstances attending the shooting of Mer
son. The jury viewed the remains of the
unfortunate young man, and will begin TAX
ing testimony this evening at $50 o clock
in that city.
Merson with his brother James, was ar
rested here the afternoon of February %
as the result of trouble which the brothers
had with several colored men. 1t is stated
that the parties had been drinking, and an
alteration was brought on in which one
of the colored men was struck on the head
with a beer bottle. receiving quite a bad
laceration of the scalp The brothers were
lodged In Jail here, pending their trial be-
fore Charles B. Tavenner, justice of the
peace at a later hour the same evening
An attempt was made by the brothers, to
escape from the jail, but information was
received by the authorities in time to frus-
trate 1t.
charged with being hahitually drunk and
disorderly and were sentenced to twelve
months at the house Of correction. The
men entered an appeal, and they We're com
mitted to Jail During their transfer to the
lookup, Jonathan made the attempt to es-
cape which ended in the loss OF his lie
Friday evening. The officer who did the
shooting fired several shots, 1t is stated
in the attempt to brighten the fugitive and
cause him to stop. One of the shots, how
ever, took effect in the back of the mans
head. He was given medical attention here
and late the same night was taken to the
hospital in Baltimore, where he died, as
stated.
Mr.. Scaggs was served with warrant,
charging him with murderous assault upon
Merson, and appeared before John F. Neal
Justice of the peace, the 9th of the present
month. He waived hearing, and bond in
the sum of $500 was filed for his appearance
before the grand jury MONDAY, April q
next at Upper Marlboro
"The Seven Ages Of Woman" were de-
picted at fair given Friday and Saturday
evenings at Odd Fellows Hall here, under
the auspices Oh ltle l4dulSS fad ooCietS VI
Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church.
The large hall was tastefully decorated with
booths and tables, which were presided
over by matrons and young ladies OF the
church. During the evenings excellent mu-
steal and literary programs were rendered
The seven steps in the LADDER of feminine
life were represented by the same number
of tables, and We're presided over in the fol-
lowing order: Infants table, Mrs Lu-
Their Brashears, Mrs. D. NJ. Fisher, Mrs. c.
D. Frost and Miss Fannie Tayman; school
girls table," Misses Jessie Reed, Gussie
Bond Julia Shaffer and Elsie Baldwin;
'sweethearts' table, Misses Mary Lee
Hammond and Molhe Armstrong; brides
table" Misses Helen Hill, Addie Willard
Lizzie Ayton. Nellie Martin, Maggie Pritch-
ard May Meyers and Xenia Haslup; wild
ows' table" Mrs. A. B. Bond. Mrs. A. Cole
Mrs. Annie Hearn and Miss Anna Hill;
mothers table" Mrs. G. B. Timanus Mrs
A. Conway, Mrs. c. Shaffer; "grandmoth-
ers' table, Miss C. Stewart, Mrs. A. Cos
nell and Mrs. Herman MiMard; Ice cream
table Misses Mile Burdette and Mabel
SirnoudS