Democratic messenger., 1908-05-30
TRAGEDY NEAR
POCOMOKE CITY
Charles Birmingham Shot To
Death And His Brother Ed.
ward Badly Wounded.

One of the most serious shooting af-
fairs one of the most deplored and
regretted by the entire county OF
anything of the kind in its history, oc-
CURED in Pitts Creek neighborhood near
Pocomoke City on Thursday Of last
week, when Lennie Parks shot and
killed Charles W. Birmingham, and
John II. Parks shot and seriously wound
ed Edward j. Birmingham, as result
of which two good respectable families
are thrown in mourning and distress.
The participants in the sad affair were
Messrs John II. Parks and Lennie
Parks on the one hand, and Charles
and Edward Birmingham on the other.
There had been bad feeling between
the two families for the last six months.
II was started by Carroll Parks taking
one of Mr.. Brittingham's farm hands
to town one night. Birmingham said
the man stayed out so late that he was
unable to do his work satisfactorily the
next day, so he (Brittingham) went
over to Parks farm to demonstrate
with him about the matter Hot words
followed and Birmingham was driven
off the farm by the Parks boys. Since
then the families have been at odds and
the i'll feeling developed into fight
between Charles Birmingham and Len
ME Parks over line fence.
Messrs. Groaton and Lamden were
running fence for Mr. Parks between
his and Birmingham farms, when
Charles Birmingham came up and claim
ed that the fence was over the line
Angry words followed and the men
came to blows, Parks being severely
beaten After Birmingham had thrown
him to the ground and smashed him a
few times in the face he released him
Parks jumped to his feet, drew his
pistol and shot Birmingham through
the lung
Ned Birmingham was summoned to
go for physician. He was in rage
over the shooting of his brother, and
instead of going for a physician he
went to look for Parks. pistol in hand.
J. II. Parks and his sons, Lennic and
Carroll Parks. were crossing their field
when they saw Birmingham coming.
j. H. Parks drew his pistol and ad-
vanced to meet Birmingham. Miss
Birmingham. sister of the injured
man, had followed her brother. and
just as the men were advancing toward
each other she rushed in between them
and begged them not to shoot.
Birmingham slipped his pistol into
his pocket, but Parks handed his to his
son More hot words followed and J.
H. Parks. slipping by the girl. kicked
Birmingham and Brttingham struck
at Parks, but missed him.
Again Miss Birmingham tried to in
tervene. but one of the Parks boys
pushed her aside. Parks grabbed the
pistol from his son and fired three shots
at Birmingham, one going through his
lung. Birmingham had in the mean
time drawn his gun and fired one shot
at Parks, but without effect.
All the parties implicated are promi-
nent and well-known residents of the
county and the affair has caused more
excitement in Pocomoke City than any
thing that has happened for a number
of years.
Mr. Charles W. Birmingham died of
his wounds on Friday and funeral ser
vices were held at the house of the de-
ceased and interment made in the
family burying ground. on the old Brit
tingham homestead But little hope is
entertained of the recovery of Edward
j Birmingham. Mr.. John II. Parks
has been arrested and put on bail await
ing the result of his injuries. Mr..
Lennie Parks. who killed Charles Brit
tingham. now lies in the county Jail to
await the action of the Grand Jury
next October term.