Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-10-22
Serious Shooting ARRAY
Beorge Hudson and Gilbert Fening in fail Under Charge of
Shooting Turner and Ben Dsharoon Sunday S[igbt

Considerable excitement was occasion
ed at Stockton Sunday night by a
shooting affray which took place at
Georges Island Landing, shortly after
sunset AS consequence. Mr.. Turner
QishaHeeil is lying in the Peninsula
General Hospital, Salisbury, in pre-
carious condition from rifle shot. Mr..
BENJAMIN Disharoon is confined to his
home at Portersville. and George
Hudson and Albert Flemming are in
Snow Hill Jail, charged with the shoot
jung.
For several years.it is claimed, thieves
have been operating on the oyster beds
at Georges Island Landing. their
depredations extending even to Taylor
Landing and Box Iron. 1t is said that
suspicion has pointed strongly to
Hudson as being the perpretrator of the
thefts, and there are a number of
reputable persons who have voiced their
suspicious in no uncertain terms.
About three weeks ago the thieves are
said to have begun their winter opera
tions 1t was noticed that Hudson was
shipping an unusually larg, number OF
CLAIMS from Franklin City. for, while he
is changed with taking his toll from the
beds at Georges Island Landing. he
always shipped from the Virginia
station, while Flemming was shipping a
large quantity from Stockton. As
neither Hudson nor Flemming had anv
CLANS planted. the question began to be
asked where they could have gotten
them in such large quantities. Investi-
gators were begun, aud while Flem-
ming was known TO have purchased a
81, IL 2 nj n
that he could not have bought aud
caught enough to aggregate $4,000,
which is the approximate number he is
said to have shipped. Hudson is known
to have shipped even larger quantity.
Up to this time no charges had been
whispered against Flemming. and he
had borne good reputation, but, as he
had been frequently seen i'll company
with Hudson, who was almost universal.
ly suspected, suspicion began to fasten
k6n him also
The three Disharoons. Turner, Ben
and Tom. are large oyster and clam
planters and dealers, planting their
oysters in the spring and fall. and after
wards transferring them TO beds Of
floats where they will fatten and bring
more OH the market Recently, they
have been greatly annoyed by depreda-
tions OIL their beds. They all live at
Porterviile within a few yards of one
another, while Hudson's home is be-
tween them and the bay, and directly
on the road leading to Georges Island
Landing.
Late Sunday afternoon. they de-
termined TO make an effort to surprise
the trespassers, and for that purpose
followed creek that led to the bay i'll
an opposite direction from Hudson s
house, and crept along the marshes I'M
til they reached their oyster house. They
concealed themselves inside. and fasten-
the door securely. From their hiding
place, they kept lookout on the road
leading to the bay, and also Hudson S
house. In a short while. they assert,
their vigilanc: was rewarded by seeing
Flemming come out of Hudson's house.
He was followed i'll a few minu,es by
Hudson. Both went to Hudson's oyster
house, and securing scows, began to
pole out to the beds. where the clans
were planted 1t is said that Flemming
began to tong only short distance
from the shore, but that Hudson went
ashore and tried to open the oyster
house where the Disharoon boys were
concealed. Il is not known why Hud-
son came ashore, but it is supposed that
he WAS suspicious. and wanted to satisfy