The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23
A CoLD-BLooDED MURDER.
A Toll Gatekeeper Brutality Assaulted in
His Home-Robbery Thought to
Have Been the Obiact


Frederick T. Rinehart, aged about Ga years,
keeper of the tollgate ON the Duany's Valley
turnpike, about two miles northeast of Towson,
was brutality murdered in his home about II 80
o'clock on Thursday night, December 21st, by
some person or persons unknown.
Mr.. John c. Smith, who rents the Long
Quarter Farm and lives within 200 yards of
the gate house, passed through the gate at 10
minutes to II o'clock, Mr. Rinehart having
come out and unlocked the gate for him. They
exchanged few friendly words and Mr.. Smith
passed on. About threequarters of an hour
later, as related by Mrs. Rinehart, her husband,
who slept in room down stairs, was again
called out anG in a few minutes Mrs. Rinehart
heard several shots. She rushed down stairs
and found her husband lying upon the floor
in the small shop beside the gate He was I'M
able to speak and died in few minutes.
Mrs. Rinehart, who says she did not hear
a vehicle leaving the gate, screamed for help,
but her cries were not heard by anyone.
She then sent one of her children to Mr..
Smiths house and he responded to the alarm
as speedily as possible.
Patrolman German, of Towson was notified
and went to the house. He found Mr.. Rine-
hart's body lying on the floor OF the small
room with revolver beside it, two of the
chambers being empty. small amount of
money in notes and silver was also found on
the floor. On every hand there were evidences
of a struggle, the windows and chars being
smashed and everything in the utmost dis
order
The theory is that one or more men walked
to the gate with the intention of robbiDg the
keeper, first calling him out upon the pretense
OF opening the gate. Once outside they COM
menced an assault upon him, when he backed
into the house, secured his pistol and opened
fire upon his assailants. They returned it, one
nf the shots nQSeinO fhr0nOh Mr. Rinahort,o
body, with the result stated.
Justice Herbert was notified early on Friday
morning and summoned a jury of inquest.
After viewing the body they adjourned until
Tuesday, December 26th In the meantime
the body was taken in charge by John Burns
Sons and brought to their establishment in
Towson where 1t was prepared for burial.
Mr.. Rinehart, who was born in Germany,
was brought to this country by his parents
when child. He spent some years in Balti-
more and when be grew older lived 10 Hartford
county until the Civil War broke out, when he
enlisted in the artillery and was a pensoner
for injuries sustained in that service. He was
twice married, son and a daughter by the
first marriage surviving him. His second wife
and two children, aged about 10 and II years,
also survive him.
Mr. Rinehart had been in charge of the gate
on the Dulany's Valley pike seven years. He
was trusted employee of the company and
the directors speak in the highest terms of him,
prompt and reliable in all his dealings.
-O
Organized as New Board MIR. Mann
Succeeds Mr.. Yellott as President.-The
Board of County Commissioners composed of
Messrs. George W. Yellott John V. Slade and
Henry E. Mann, all of whom were reelected
last November recognized for the coming
two years on Wednesday. Mr.. Yellott having
declined re election as president of the Board
Mr.. Mann was chosen as his successor. Upon
knrs varw tAn 0l@nsu h slrw.t l.
brief address and among other things said
while am deeply grateful for the tribute
of confidence and respect in me by my brother
members of the Board l accept the position
with much reluctance and many misgiv-
iDgs. / accept it with reluctance because l
fully appreciate the difficulties of the position.
While in point of fact the Board is accustomed
to act as q unit il; almost all matters that come
before it, there is public conception of the
position of president which seems to make that
position of greater Importance and responsible
ity than it really is. This is especially the
case in those matters where it is necessary to
refuse requests or decide against one or two
contending parties.
II accept the position, moreover, with many
misgivings, fearing that my brief experience as
a member of the Board and in public matters
generally has not served to equip me fully to
perform properly the duties of the position.
In matters of this kind / must rely wholly
upon the kind indulgence of my colleagues
and the public, assuring both in advance that
any mistakes may make as president will not
be from any design to misuse the power of
my position"
THE APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED.
After the Board had been recognized the
annual appointments were announced. The
list remains almost the same as heretofore and
as now published on the fourth page of The
UNION.
An old Naval Officer Dead-Born in
Baltimore County.-C William
H. Shock Chief Engineer in the U. s. Navy,
retired died in Washington last Monday, aged
81 years. He was appointed to the navy in
1845. He was in the Mexican War, taking
part in the capture of Tampico and other places
on the Mexican coast He also served in the
Civil War. He was made Chief Engineer in
1851 and in 1888 was retired with the rank of
commodore. He is survived by son, who
lives in California. The body was brought to
Baltimore and inferred in Greenmount Gene
terry Wednesday.
Commodore Shock was a first cousin of the
late John s. Biddison, who was well known
citizen of old 18th district of this county, and
was born in the house now occupied by Mr..
Thomas c. Biddison, short distance west OF
the Belair road at Gardenville. His father
and mother are buried in the family burial
ground on the Biddison farm. Within two
months Commodore Shock paid visit to this
old homestead and stood in the room in which
he was born. State Senator John S. Biddison,
of Baltimore county, is third cousin of the
dead Commodore.
Death of Physician.-Dr. John ]. Cald-
well, former resident of Baltimore county,
died at his home at Summit, N. j., on Satur-
day last, after lingering illness from heart
disease, aged "a years. He was native OF
New York State but spent the greater part of
life in Baltimore city and county. His wife,
who was daughter of the late r. Horace Love-
survives him. He also leaves two sons and a
daughter-Messrs. L. L. and Edgar CALDWELL
of Summit, and Mrs. Berreda Turner, of Balti-
more. DR.. Caldwell, who was a surgeon in
the Union army during the Civil War, was
highly educated man and a successful physi-
clan until bis sight became seriously impaired.
DR.. Caldwell and his wife made big legal
contest over the will of the late John FOLLY
Johns, of Baltimore county, Mrs. Caldwell
being niece of MIR. Johns. They finally sue.
ceeded in their efforts to break the will and
by so doing came into possession of Dover
Farms, which was part of the estate. Mr..
Johns was wealthy bachelor Mrs. Cald-
well is a niece of the late Capt. Thomas Love,
of "Loveton, near Cockeysville. who was
large land owner and highly esteemed gen.
tleman.
AFTER Many Days."-A well known con-
tractor and builder who lives in the eastern
section of Baltimore county, was in Towson
Thursday and met several friends to whom lac
narrated few incidents in his life, some tf
which were very interesting to his hearers as
well IS to himself. The latest of his expert
ences he related about as follows: Fourteen
years ago he loaned friend $3.50, without TAX
ing note or other evidence of debt, and ON
Thursday, December 21st 1905, before coming
to Towson. be met this man in Baltimore and
he was paid the long standing debt and Sl00in
addition for his forbearance. There was much
gold in the lot of cash and TO say the recipient
was we'll pleased with his good luck is but \
mild way of expressing it.
Former Resident of Hartford Dies in To 81
son.-Mrs Eliza X. Amoss, a native and life
long resident of Hartford county. died at The
home of her daughter, Mrs. William M. Ris
teau, in Towson, at an early hour on Thurs
day morning, 2lst inst. aged 81 years. De
ceased was the widow of James A. Amoss, who
was prominent farmer of Hartford, and who
served several terms as Commissioner of that
county. Mrs. Amoss is survived by two
daughters and two sons-Mrs. Risteau, Mrs.
james B. Luckey and Messrs. James and
Charles w. Amoss. The funeral will take
place today Saturday and the interment will
be at Waters Church, Hartford county.
Eleventh District Farms Sold. Mr.:
Henry G. Schultz has purchased the farm Of
Mr.. Moses Nafzinger, on the east side OF the