The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-01-14
Constable Murder Case


which he stood BY and others of which
he said he would have modified after
hearing the evidence of Drs. Bl0odgood
and kicrle. DR.. Ellis previous state
ment was taken by Detective Alulhl-
land whom he recognized in Court, and
said Mr.. Mulholland had been trying to
test by witness the theory that Mr.. Con
stable was the victim of Il political con-
Spiracy. The detective, witness said,
wrote no notes of their talk and must
have written it out from memory and
witness wished to know if it was sign
ed but WAS told it was Il copy of the
original.
Frank q. Ellis. Was on the launch
party with Dr.. Ellis and DR.. Mitchell
and others. Remembered the remark
about the rail.
w. Arthur Mitchell. Saw the rail
probably ut 7.30 Judging from their ar
rival at the boat house
Miss Katharine Budd. Rev. Mr.. Ket-
tell was visiting Mrs. George Biddle last
August. Mr.. Kettell and witness met
Mr. Constable at Mr.. Biddlc's gate next
to the Methodist Church, on the evening
of the shooting on his way to Red Hill.
They followed him out along Main street
as far rs the race bridge. where they
turned and came back to Mr.. Biddle's.
Mr.. Kettell had not been out walking
that afternoon. He was lying down or
engaged with callers until witness and
he took their walk. He wore straw
hart during his stay in Elkton. Wit
ness did not know whether he had a
derby with him. Witness looked at her
watch by the light at Mr.. Anthonys on
her return with Mr.. Kettell. 1t was
then about 100. He had formerly worn
side whiskers. He was at Mrs. Biddle's
II week before and about two weeks af-
ter the shooting. Mr.. Kettell had been
in poor health. He was worried some
what over private troubles. His hands
were long and slender but muscular and
we'll shaped. Mr.. Kcttell, so witness I'M
dcrstoGh. walked often toward and on
Red Hill. Mr. Kettclfs hair was of "a
medium brown shade. \ newspaper
photograph of him printed at the time Of
his death last fall was shown to witness
who said it was Il GOOD likeness.
Mis- Bertha Wilson. formerly If Elk
ton Is Il trained nurse and accompanied
Mr.. Constable to the infrmary. He ask
ed witness there to read him Il ncwsPa-
per account of the shooting. Witness
did so. He noticed that she had omitted
something and asked if they suspected
or had ARE >tcd anybody She replied
Hops and Holland. He said it was not
they but he thought it was a white man,
a tramp, who shot him, but it was too
dark to sec.
Arabella Cottman. Was living at Mr..
Charles II. Foard'S on North street, Elk
ton, on August Is. Went to her sons,
John Hollands on Red Hill as was her
custom. that evening. Walked part of
the way and was picked up by William
Irons. Found John and Hops and the
family there. Saw Mr.. Constable on the
way, near the bridge. He overlook her
after she got in Irons wagon and walk
ed within reach of it aS far as Hollands
He walked on past the house. Saw Mr..
Robert Hopkins just above Whitrman'S
iLnc. Alice. Hollands wife, was getting
supper. Stella and the two children and
Il child of witu, - were there Witness
at Oh the porch while her little girl
took her SHOES IF. Mr.. Constable pass
ed the house on his return. Hops and
Holland We're 1T the stump when he
passed. Witness shortly afterwards
h, ard two shots. and soon after that "a
man came along and said "Ilrllo. Jack.
here's Il man sick down the road Wit
ness told John to AK if he wa'> Hack or
whtc. He said IAN old white man, Il
middle aged man" John said. "Oh. the
devil. I'm not going" Witmc.> said,
"loud better 20. John. it may be Mr..
Constable, he just went l~wn the road.
lie started 10 go and Alice his wife.
said she was going too. The man said.
You better take your wife along" They
went. and presently Alice hTllocd to
bring Il pillow down. Vixen witness cot
there she found Mr.. Constable with his
head in Alicr'S hap. She asked him what
made him sick He said he had been
shot. Witness asked him if he had shot
himself. He said 10 he didn't, but Il
white man had shot him. He said the
man rose up in the bushes and told him
to throw up his hands. He refused. and
the man fired. He started tu run. and
The man fired again. and he fell. The
man told him to throw him his money nd
watch. Witness said Il man told them nj
the house there was Il sick man down the
road. He said that's the fellow that
shot me-" He did not tell her that he
told the Iran tn stop, but said he stood
thcr" by that big tree ANA took the
shells ont of his pistol. and that. if she
would look. she would find them. He
WAS lying on his back and said he was
going to die and wanted to sec Mrs.
Constable. He asked witness to look in
his pocket for his handkerchief. which
she did. and wipe the blood off his face.
Stella came along and witness sent her
to town for brandy as Mr. Constable
wanted some. \ carriage came along
(Alrs. Clnrk'SI. She told the people %
the trouble and wanted them to 90 back
to town. Pretty soon Mr.. Tucker came,
and after him Mrs. Constable. the doe
tors and others. The children had
brought another pillow. after Mrs. Clark
told them to DO so. Mr.. Constable. be
fore the people came from town. spoke
to witness of his hard fate and his hard
bed and seemed to think it was all up
with him. Neither Holland nor Hops
had left the house, after she got home,
before the shooting. Holland went into
town early next morning. Witness was
shown the mask rag. She had seen it
lying on the road near II thorn tree the
Monday or Tuesday before the shooting.
1t had not 50 many holes in it then as
now. 1t was wrapped around some
bread and was stained with preserves of