Middletown transcript., 1907-01-19
4 TRAGIC FATE
Sarah G. Spali Accidentally Killed by
Georfe &. Harris

ueofge Z Harris
4 One u tile eatisirSs accidents hat la
shocked Cecil CeWpfs, It'd II late year
occurred sIanday afiAri.aon II Chesapt iii
Haven, the new resort thai il nos bein,
/ built mp At Gfaee PIint bs ille CIiess
peake Improvement Company. whr,
Sarah Catherine SpaIt vas Shot and IN
stantly killed BY > shot GIN III the hands
Of George E. Harris.
Two months ago Mrs. Ida Spatt was
employed b. John T. Warfeid, superin.
tendent Of Beach Haven. as housekeeper,
and Will. her three children, James, Annie
and Raymond, occupied one side Of tie
house Ten days ago her fifteen year old
daughter, Sarah Catherine, OF Katie, as
she vas better known, and who had been
living with Mrs. Nettie A. Fresz, on a
farm near ToMnsend, also came TO the
Point
Employed ii clearing up tile property
were George Savin. George b, Harris and
OtRtHtfsI 1s kltfuttfry NFf u " al " ICIKe HIIU
who with Superintendent Warfield had
quarters 1t the houses sariir and Harris
were to be laid of oil Tuesday and had
planned 70 80 70 Bald more that day in
search of empinsmen@ As Monday was
rainy, they had taxed some shoes TO be
repaired, and thinkil they might see
some game, had taken .Iong SIR. S.earns
double barreled ham ieriess gun. On
their return they saw squirrel, and after
dinner went out to Try and get a shot,
at it. One shell IN the gun had been
discharged, but tile other barrel was still
loaded when they returned 10 tile house,
and set tile weapon ID corner Of tie
living room occupied By Mrs Spall.
Later in the afternoon Harris left the
Others, who we're working On an addition
to the back part Of The house, to take tile
gun upstairs to its owhel room. AT the
foot of the stairs Katie intercepted him
and pla. fully attemlA Aed 10 prevent lis
ascent, when III some naccountabIe man.
per the gun was diIrharged, the load
striking the unfortunaIe girl in the right
side Of the face, tearing out her eye and
fracturing the skull. She fell back dying
with her head on tile doorsill. Harris
ran into the room with the cry My God,
/ have shot Katie, bit when tile others
reached her side theylfound her dead.
Harris, on the advice Of Mr. Warfeld,
immediately went to Earleville and sur
rendered himselfto Magistrate DnIiamelI,
who notified the authorities at Elkton
and called Constable 9Iilfigan from Cecil
ton, who took eliarKelof Harris for the
night. Tuesday nlora States Attor-
ney ]. Wilson Sqnier, Sheriff Cecil Kirk
and Coroner Ricketts, Nelson drove TO
Earleyille, where they were met BY Tn
dertaker John +. CopkaRe. and had the
body removed 10 his estabIishment at
Cecilton, where the roner empanelled
the felloaing jury Of nauest James 2.
Mccoy Thomas r. @nnes. Alexander
Wilson, F. Myers, orge w. Padley,
Noble P. Ferguson, hines "a. Cannon,
Thomas Pearee. j. Err lk Burton, George
6. Morgan, John F. bppage and John
Anderson Alter athY ongll investigation
Of the case they At zig IL o'clock last even
ing returned A verdi B that Sarah G,
Spatt came to her 9TH from an acei-
dental discharge Of shot gun in the
hands Of George E, Harris We. the
aid Jurors. exonefa' the said George
2. Harris from al criIh hinal intent"
Harris, who is tweaty-three years of
lge, had known Miss Spatt for some time
md the couple wished 10 be married
about Christmas, but Mrs. spatt object
ID on account of her daughters youth.