Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-09-22
JOSEPH M. POPE KILLED.

| anu the son OF the late George rope, VINO IN
his life was prominent both in social and
political circles in this county. He was a
prosperous farmer and a reputable and law
abiding citizen. He leaves a wife and
four sons and daughter
Mr.. Thompson is % years of age. He is
married, the period of his married life
numbering two years. He is son of Mr..
M. F. Thompson, and also bears good
reputation for peace and order, and that
of prosperous farmer. While he fingers
in jail, he leaves at home young wife
Both he and his victim were born in this
county.
lntoxicatiOn with cider is responsible for
the death of Mr.. Pope. 1t was from this
condition that quarrel arose between
John Pope son of j. M. Pope. and Archie
Thompson and was followed by duel be-
tween them with shotguns. The father of
young Pope standing nearby received a
load of shot in his face from one of the
guns.
The scene of the duel between young
Pope and Thompson was laid in front of
Thompson's home, about one mile from
Laytonsville. The firing came after the two
men had fought with stones. fists. and
sticks on the lawn. Throughout the fight
the elder Pope stood by. near him stood
Mrs. Thompson. Time and again she urged
him to interfere and stop the fight, but
each time he smiled and shook his head.
Let them fight it out, he said.
Then, after rapid exchange of threats,
young Pope picked up his shotgun, which
had been leaning against a tree nearby.
and Thompson dashed into his home for
his shotgun. Before the aged father of
Pope could realize the fight was serious.
and while the Mortified wife of Thompson
stood paralyzed with fright. both men fired.
When the smoke of the discharges cleared
away the two duelists and Mrs. Thompson
saw the elder Pope writhing in agony on
the ground A full charge had struck him
in the face.
Self-defense, it is said, will be the plea
of Archie Thompson when brought to trial.
Broken hearted over the death of Mr.. Pope,
he has done little since the shooting but
repeat over and over again that he had no
intention Of shooting the father, but had
intended his shot for the son. He admits
shooting at young Pope.
Thompson and John Pope were arrested
by Sheriff VIM. f. Welt late Saturday
night, and brought to the jail here. The
sheriff impaneled jury at midnight Satur
day night and took them to view the body
With Justice of the Peace Edward C. Brown
acting as coroner, the inquest was held
Sunday afternoon in Mobley's hall in Lay
louisville. The hall was crowded with
relatives and friends of the two families.
After hearing the testimony, the jury
held that Joseph Pope had come to his
death from wound in the head caused
by a shotgun in the hands of Thompson
Sheriff Welt and Deputy Sheriff Whalen
Immediately hurried him back to jail.
Before the automobile bearing the sheriff's
party left Laytonsville, M F. Thompson,
father of the prisoner, and score of other
relatives and friends gathered about and
assured him of their sympathy and sup
port. Young Pope was released under
bond of 500 as a material witness.
Mrs. Ida Thompson, wife of the prisoner
"Fess' Nelson, a negro boy; DIR. V. II. Dy-
son, who examined the body, and John
Pope were the only witnesses called before
the coroner's jury All agreed that Popes
death had been almost instantaneous. DIR.
Dyson stated the man was dead when he
arrived EsEa- E.Eags asfTEskt
Joseph Pope and his son were out hunt
ing Saturday afternoon. and both carried
shotguns. On the way home they stopped
at the shanty of Nelson to get some apple
cider. While they were drinking ThOmp-
son came up and the three men talked
and drank together for a time. The two
Popes then left for home, but before they
arrived they were overtaken by Thompson.
The two young men renewed quarrel
started last April, it is said. They con
tinued quarreling until they reached the
Thompson front yard Thompson rents
the farm of Mrs. Thomas Benson. adjoin-
ing the Pope farm. AS the quarrel con-
tinued the two Popes rested their shotguns
against fence.
The quarrel was started by Thompson.
tnlt ha iur
day. but this is denied by Thompson.
According to Pope's story. the trouble grew
serious when Thompson threw stone.
which struck his father on the head. An
gered by this, he said. he picked up long
board and struck Thompson. The two then
clinched. and for several minutes fought
on the ground. sometimes one being on
top and then the other.
Mrs. Thompson told the jury that during
the fight on the ground. young Pope sud
denly called out that he would kill Thomp
son, and reached for his gun
I'm as good at that as you are. replied
Thompson. according to the testimony of
his own wife.
Thompson then ran into the house and
appeared at the doorway a moment later
with his gun in his hand. In the mean
time. young Pope had reached for his shot
gun. The elder Pope stood looking on,
apparently bewildered. lie did not pick
up his gun Pope insists that Thompson
fired first shot and he shot moment later.
Just to scare Thompson" The negro
boy and Mrs Thompson agree that the
reports came almost together.
Nelson's attention was drawn to the fight
by Mrs. Thompson's call for help. Nelson
heard two guns fired almost simultane-
ously, he said. He saw Mr. Pope. ST.. fall
TO the ground At the time the shots were
fired, Mr.. Pope, Sr.. was facing his son, the
boy testified.
Mrs ThomDsOn made "A very favorable