Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-18
URGESSELF-DEFENSE
Thompson's Plea for Shooting
of Joseph N. Pope.
FIRED AT LATTER'S SON
Accused Committed to Jail to Await
the Action of the Grand
Jury.

According to the verdict of the cor
oners jury, rendered late yesterday aft
ernoon, the death of Joseph NJ Pope, a
well known farmer of Laytonsyille dis
trict. Md. who was shot and killed about
half-past q o'clock Saturday evening, was
caused by gunshot wound inflicted by
Archie R. Thompson, employed as man.
ager of a farm adjoining the Pope place.
Thompson was Immediately taken to
Rockville, Md. and committed to jail
to await the action of the November
grand jury.
Although the charge against young
Thompson is murder States Attorney
Waters intimated after the inquest that
he would not oppose the release OF the
prisoner on reasonable bail.
II developed at the inquest that the
defense will probably be that, inasmuch
as both Mr.. and Mrs. Thompson say they
repeatedly ordered the Popes to leave
their premises, which they refused 10
do. and that as young Pope afterward
threatened to shoot Thompson, the latter
was justified in using his gun.
Immediately upon learning of the tras-
edy Sheriff Welt Chief deputy Peyton
Whalen and special Deputy george
Mou,den fastened to the scene IN an au-
tomobile. After placing thompson unocr
arrest they summoned jury of Inquest.
AT an early hour yesterday morning the
jury viewed the remains of the deceased
Four Witnesses Heard.
The inquest was held in Moblcy's Hall
at Laytonsville and was attended by a
large number of relatives and friends of
the two families. Justice of the Peace
Edward .. Brown acted as coroner.
But four witnesses were heard-John
Thompson. wife of Archie Thompson; DR..
Vernon H. Dyson and ''Fcss' Nelson.
colored. Thompson declined to take the
stand remariiing that his wife had told
every thing Just as 1t occurred.
According 10 the testimony Joseph M.
Pope and his son had been squirrel hunt
Ing Saturday afternoon and on their
way back home stopped at the home OF
were there young Thompson dropped in
and the three men had several glasses
of cider together. The two Popes left
for home but before they reached the
home of Thompson. which was in the
dir ection OF the Pope home, they were
ovcrtaken by Thompson.
John Pope Tells of Shooting.
The testimony differed as to what
happened Immediately preceding the
shooting. John Pope testified that
Thompson began quarreling. but what
a bout the witness said he did not
know. and that Thompson finally at
tackled the elder Pope. Young Pope
said he took no part in the trouble
until Thompson hit his father on the
back of the head with stone, Knock
ing him down. and that he and Thomp-
son then clinched and fought, first one
PODe
.wore that he struck Thompson on the
head with a board and that the latter
started for the house.
asking as he neared the house:
Where's my gum
Pope testified that when Thompson
went into the house he, Pope, picked
up his gun, which he had left resting
against fence alongside of that of
his father. and started off and that he
was thirty yards away from where his
father stood when Thompson reap
peared with his gun. He said he did
not see Thompson when the shot was
fired. but could see the barrel of the
gun leveled toward his father. He adj
mitted that he fired his gun, too, but
explained that it was pointed at no one
and that he discharged it in the hope
of frightening Thompson and deterring
him from shooting again. He said,
however, that he did not fire until
minute or two after Thompson shot.
Mrs. Thompson's Story.
Mrs Thompson said she did not see
her husband strike the elder Pope.
neither did she see him throw a stone.
She did, however. see John Pope throw
a big stone in the direction of where
his father stood. she said, but could
not say that it struck the elder Pope.
no har cI>o nd
and young Pope fought for several min
utes and that she attempted to separate
them and appealed to Mr.. Pope, ST., to
interfere.
Just before my husband went into the
house for his gum said Mrs. Thomp-
son, John Pope threatened to shoot him.
When he came out with his gun John
Pope and his father were standing side
by side, John with his gun In his hands.
Both my husband and John Pope in
stantly raised their guns and fired, both
guns going off at the same time
She frankly said that she thought
there was no doubt that it was her hus-
bands gun that had caused the old
mans death, but added, 4 know he did
not mean to hurt old Mr.. Pope"
She said her husband was very much
under the influence of the cider he had
drunk, but seemed heartbroken over
what he had done and lay upon the
ground and cried.
Thompson Pleads Self-Defense.
Although Thompson did not testify at
the inquest, the story told by Mrs
Thompson tailed in almost every detail
with what Thompson said to a Star re-
porter in jail at Rockville yesterday
morning. He admitted shooting Mr.
Pope. but said the shot was not intended
for him, and that he used the gun in
self-defense.
Thompson said that he had ordered both
of the Popes off his place during the
quarrel. something Mrs Thompson also
testified to. Thompson said that both lie
and young Pope fired at the same time
and the testimony of both Mrs. Thomp-
son and Nelson agreed with that state
ment Nelson did not see the shooting
but was only a short distance away
DIR. Vernon H. Dyson testified that the
gunshot wound was the immediate cause
of death and that MIR. Pope was dead
when he arrived.
Funeral Tomorrow Afternoon.
Joseph NJ. Pope was seventy-two years
old and was a lifelong resident Of Mont
gomery county. He leaves nine grown
children-four sons and five daughters