The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-08-08
]. A. MARSHALL SHOT
Former Fredericksburg Man KILL
ed in Maryland.
CORONER JURY ExoNERATEs SLAYER

J. Allen Marshall, 40 years old, form
erly of this city. was shot and instantly
killed Friday afternoon by Albert j.
Triplett at Alberton, Md.
The killing was one OF the most eX-
citing ever brought TO the attention OF
the county authorities.
According to the authorities at Eli
colt City, Triplett visited the county
seat in search of information relative
to the procuring of a marriage license
by J. Allen Marshall last Saturday for
the marriage of Miss Ethel Triplett to
Joseph Marshall. his son. Young Mar
shall and Miss Triplett were both under
age, he being Is years old and she IL.
The clerk. W. N. Mahon, said he issued
the marriage license after Marshall had
taken oath that the consent of the
parents of the young girl had been
given.
Marshall received the license and
gave il to his son. The couple then
went to the manse Of Ellicott Clty
Presbyterian church, where the mar
rage was performed. Mr.. and Mrs.
Marshall. Jr., then went 10 the home
of the Marshall family at Alberton.
The facts of the marriage leaked out
the next day, and Triplett said that he
was going to make an investigation.
He was opposed to the marriage.
Triplett left his home in Alberton
Friday morning and went to Elllcott
CITY. After calling on Clerk Mahon he
went to see States Attorney Burke
Triplett wanted to know If Marshall
had the right to give false ages TO
the marriage license bureau. lie was
answered in the negative.
BY a strange coincidence Iripiett
came face to face with Marshall while
ON his way to the station To board the
train for Alberton. Triplett walked TO
the station and while standing on the
platform Marshall appeared. Irlplett
and another witness said Marshall be
came quarrelsome and threatened TO
whip Triplett. nm.
MIR. Arthur Mckenzie, Of Ellicott
CITY. was standing on the station plat
form, and says he heard Marshall say
some pretty hard things about Trlplett.
Marshall was evidently looking for
fight" said Mr.. Mckenzie, "fOr be
/ followed Triplett wherever he went.
/ His language became so profane that
walked up to Marshall and told him that
/ he was on railroad property and that he
would have to stop swearing. In "A
few minutes the train came along and
both men boarded it. ! remember that
Triplett tried to avoid Marshall when
the latter walked up to him. Triplett
was being bullied on the platform.
Triplett gave the following statement
in regard to the shooting:
"l was not looking for trouble. ie
said, land am very sorry that bull
let from my gun killed Marshall. did
not mean to kill him. never had such
thought. Today | went down to Eli
colt City to make some inquiries about
nv daughters marriage, and while go
ing to the station Marshall came up
and started to goad me.
81 told him that il was all over, mean
ing the wedding, and that he had better
leave me alone. He kept after me I'M
ill boarded the train. lie cursed me
and threatened to whip me. am not
a well man and did not want any trou-
BILE.
after leaving the train ] started for
my home and suddenly, without any
warning, Marshall walked up behind me
and banged me on the side Of the head
with his first. He struck me second
time before half recovered from the
first blow.
This. together with the other trou.
BILE. was more than ! could stand, ana
when he came at me the third time, /
simply pulled the pistol and fired at him.
When fired did so in self-defense,
but God knows | did not want to Kill
him.
81 saw him fall in the road and stood
and looked at him for second or two,
then | turned and started for my home:
When saw the blood on the front OF
his shirt | thought that he was badly
injured and | told the crowd that met
me that they had better get doctor.
did not want my daughter to marry
Joe Marshall, for they are mere chi
dren. | did not like the way that they
we're married, but that did not cause
me to shoot Al.
A few minutes after the shooting the
authorities at Ellicott City were notified
and they went to the scene.
Coroner Edward A. ROdey summoned
a iury of inquest, Of which Thomas
Brown was foreman. There were no
witnesses to the shooting. Triplett
went before the inquest, told his story,
answered all questions and showed the
iurymen his bruised head. After de-
liberating for 20 minutes the jury ex-
Generated him.
Marshall is survived by his widow,
who before her marriage was Mlss
MolIie Groves; five sons, three broth
lers. VIM. Marshall, Of Maryland; Ham
and Luther, of this city, and two SIS
tiers. Mrs. J. b. billiard and Mrs. Jen-
80 Ta,,ior of fhia citV