Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-15
RELATIVES ASSAlLED WITH
HANDLE OF PlTCHFORK
Attack Made Following Dispute
Over Disposition of Property.
DEATH FROM CRUSHED SKULL
Mrs. Valeria A. Veirs Lives Only
Short Time After Assault-Others
in Serious Condition-In-
quest This Afternoon.

Special Di>pstch to The Star.
ROCKVILLE. Md. March 15.-F'rom be-
ing struck with the heavy handle of a
pitchfork i'm the hands of Richard w. All
mutt yesterday i'll the Allnutt homestead,
near Dawsonville his sister. Mrs Naleria
A. veirs, sixty years old. is dead: his
mother. Mrs. Margaret E Allnutt. eighty
years old. is suffering from painful in
iuries. and Miss Jane Rollins, their COM
panion. over sixty years of age is in
critical condition. Dick" as Alinutt Is
Familiarity known. is in the Rockville JAIL
and practically refuses TO discuss the
tragedy.
Near the scene of this tragedy. i'm the
home of one of the prominent families Of
Montgomery county. an inquest is TO be
conducted late this afternoon by Justice
of the Peace Reading.
states Attorney Waters. Sheriff Viett
and DEPUTY Sheriff Cissel left here. in
company with Justice Reading, about
noon for Jacksonville to take charge of
the investigation. The holding of an
inquest over the body of Mrs. Veirs was
decided upon at a conference between
these officials and County Judge Peter
AT Rockville this morning.
The tragedy is said to be the outgrowth
,.f dispute over family property, and
the sister who is dead was one member
Of the family who took the side of the
brother who is held responsible for her
Geath He thought. however, that she
was against him.
Reports that feeling among the resi-
dents in the county ran SO high that
there was talk OF lynching are resented
by Montgomery county citizens. They
say such q course was never suggested
by any oas.
ouarreled Over Property.
,llnutt went to the home of his
mother and sister, one of the finest
country places in the vicinity of Daw-
sonville. about 1890 o'clock yesterday
morning. He met his gray-haired
mother in the living room and renew
tu FORMER discussions OF the OlSpOoI-
ton of the family property.
As on former occasions. Allnutt and
his mother could not agree and the son
flung some angry words at her. Mrs.
Allnutt clung to her point OF view. A
quarrel. which is said to have been
bitter. developed and Allnutt became
more and more veXed
Allnutt procured the handle of a
pitchfork as he talked Of the differ
ences with the words of an infuriated
nd n hor
arguments upon him he raised the
stick and struck her.
Allnutt's sister. Mrs. Vtirs. ran to
The aid OF her mother. trying to pre-
vent further attack on the elderly
woman. Allnutt. however, turned on
his sister and rained blows on her
head. Mrs Veirs raised her right arm
70 ward off the blows. but Allnutt
made il useless for defense with a
blow that broke the arm between the
elbow and wrist
Unable to protect herself further Mrs.
Neirs was struck on the head again and
again until she sank TO the floor. Her
skull was fractured. and one of her ewes
was nearly Knocked out.
Tried to Protect Victims.
Miss Rollins heard the violent quarrel
and the screams of the mother and sister.
and ran into the room. She also tried to
ward off the attacks on the women and
was struck on the head.
Two coiored men employed about the
barns OF the Alinutt farm heard the
screams of the women and made haste to
the house. The noise OF their entrance is
thought to have given Allnutt a warning
and dropping the pitchfork. ne made a
quick departure.
Mrs Rollins while stunned by the blow
was conscious, and realized that both
Mrs Allnutt and Mrs. Viers were badly
injured. With the aid OF the colored
farInhands. she summoned DIR. Charles r.
Nourse of Darnestown. and DIR. Cptor
Nourse OF Jacksonville. Those in the
homestead tried 20 relieve the SUFFERING
OF all three Of the women. until the rhy.
sicians arrived. They found Mrs. Weir.
unconscious and In dying condition
Mrs. Allnutt was severely injured: heI
wounds were quickly dressed and she
was removed to her bedroom.
While the doctors endeavored TO saw,
the life of Mrs. Veirs, Sheriff William (,
viett was notified OF the attack and h,
reached the farmhouse within few min
utes after the violent scenes were ended
accompanied by Deputy Sheriff Richard
r. Cissel and Justice of the Peace Read
ing.
learning that Dick Allnutt was helt
responsible for infiicting the injuries OF
the three women. they started at once fo
the home OF a brother. Lawrence Allnutt
They found the man they wanted on tn
first floor of the house and informed hin
he would have to 20 to Rockville witt
them
Wife Prays for Him.
''AlI right" he remarked. as he pace,
the floor. Just as he was about to star
his bride OF few months called dowl
from an upper floor TO ask IL Allnut
would not have time TO change hi
clothes Sheriff Viett granted the reques
and Allnutt mounted the stairs. TIL
sheriff finally decided Alinutt was takin
longer time than was necessary I
make the change and went upstairs afte
him.
Ain tt and his wife were found, bot
in tears. and the wife was kneeiing b
the bed voicing a fervent but somewha
hystcricaI prayer Allnutt was place
under arrest and started for Rockville.
While Allnut was being taken TO tn
county jail he met his brother, Henry {
Ailnutt. register OF Wills for Montgomer
Continued on Thirteenth Page.l