The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-07-08
TRAGEDY NEAR FLNKSBURG.
J. Wesley Zepp Killed While On the Way
to Church.

Last Sunday morning, about 10 o clock, j.
Wesley Z-pp, farmer and prominent citizen,
near Einksburg. was shot and instantly killed
while on his way to the Methodist Protestant
Church, at Fnksburg. He was riding in a
buggy, accompanied by his son, Wilbur. The
fatal ball was fred from rife belonging to
Lothian Heinrich, aged Is years, a German,
living in Baltimore, and draug htsman IN the
| employ of Bartlett. Hayward 4 Co.
Heinrich had been granted vacation. and
be intended spendingit in the mountains, near
Penmar, He proposed to camp out, and had
supplied himself with tent and camp utensils.
He arraved himself in a suit similar to the
Khaki uniform of the army and carried a
Winchester repeating rifle, 81 calibre. He
left Baltimore by trolley last Saturday, and
camped out that night near Glyndon. After
pitching tent he loaded his rife, as a matter
POT protection. On Sunday he resumed his
tramp toward PenMar After coming through
Fnksburg a short distance he sat down on a
bank beside the pike, placing his rifle on the
ground and prepared to eat something. He
was in the act of squeezing lemon as Mr..
Zepp drove by. Mr.. Wilbur Zepp observed
Heinrich, being attracted by his unusual garb.
but did not notice the rifle. He remarked to
his father that the stranger was eating his
breakfast. to which the elder Zepp replied
yes, and said it was rather late for breakfast.
These we're Mr.. Zepp's last words, for in the
next instant ball crashed into his head, kill
ing him instantly. Mr. Wilbur Zepp did not
know his father was shot. He noticed the
lines we're slackened and .he speed of the
horse was accelerated. Looking at his father
he discovered he was dead, with his head bent
forward
Heinrich ran up to the carriage, which had
been stopped by Thomas Ireland. opposite the
l,t.n HaS aaf,al liSfraaSaH md
offered to go with Mr.. Ireland and young
Zepp Word of the tragedy was telephoned
to Westminster, and States Attorney Steele
directed that Heinrich be brought to Jail, which
was done. Marion j. Lester, Justice of
the Peace. was on his way to church, accom-
panied by his daughters Grace and Blanche.
They were walking. and not far away from
Heinrich when the rife was discharged. he
said be thought he saw the rife on Henrc's
lap, but that Henrici did not have his hands
upon it, and appeared To be using his hands
fixing something, and reached sideways Just
AS the rife was discharged. He regarded the
shooting purely accidental and the holding OF
an inquest unnecessary.
PRISONER DISCHARGED
Heinrich was given hearing before Justice
William Moore on Thursday morning, in the
court room at the Court House. The atteu.
dance was quite large, including number of
ladies. States Attorney Steele appeared for
the State aud Charles +. Fink for the prisoner.
Thomas Ireland wife and daughter, Marion
J. Lester aud daughters Grace and Blanche
aud Wilbur Zepp we're witnesses for the State.
Their evidence was to the effect that Mr.. Zepp
was shot aud killed, and that Henrici was
near by with rifle across his lap, on the side
Of the road Henrici told Of the discharge Of
his rife, and illustrated how he was sitting and
the position of the rife. Before laying the
rife down he said he thought he had placed
the hammer in the safety position, aud did
not know how the weapon was discharged
E. w. Sieinmuller aud H. Keekel, fellow em.
ployes At Bartlett, Hayward 4 Cos, and Rev.
Hugo Eickelbery. pastor of ST. Johns Ger.
man Reform Church, Calyer, street, near Sar.
atoga, Baltimore, of which Henrici j. mem
Der, testified to the sohriety, industry aud
good character of the prisoner.
The States Attorney stated the law "a The
case and said that II the Court believed from
the evidence that The shooting was purely
accidental The prisoner should be discharged.
ifthe Court believed there was gross negligence
the prisoner should be held Tor the action of
the grand jury. For the defense Mr.. Fink
said the States evidence was conflicting ami
doubls must 90 ia favor Of the prisoner from
the testimony il was evident the shooting was
NhnAiN ANciaehtAts win upihAhA 80 N't'f" ~
leSsneSs. much less gross cArelesSaess. waich
would have 10 be proven TO bold the prisoner:
thai 20 jury would convict upon the evidence
adduced npOn the part ut The state, and Il
would be- "A useless expense % the county -
hold the prisoner The Court held the ~.
deuce did not show gross negligence. and that
the shooting was purely accidental. and ID.
recied the prisoner be discharged.
Mr. zEPF's FUNERAL
The funeral Of Mr.. Zepp was held on Tues.
day morning at The Methods, Protestant
Church al Fiuksburg. The attendance vas
the largest at any funeral AT that church, Rev.
$ f. Cassen. the pastor. conducted The ser
vice. aud was assisted by Revs. ;. W. Love
aud j. +. Nicholson, former pastors The
pallbearers were Messrs. Murray Sbreere,
Marion Lester. Frank p. Frnbf. Wm. 6jst.
Tobias Slocksdale and William Hall.