The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1914-08-22

So many reports have been plac-
ed in circulation as the result OF
street gossip, that this paper has
made a careful and exhaustive in
quiry into the real facts surround
ing the shooting of c. Hazeltne
Basshor, who died at his home, Al
gonQuin" Manor, near Cambridge,
early this morning. After a most
painstaking investigation, includ-
ing a personal examination of the
hall where the shooting took place,
and where Mr.. Basshor was found,
the facts were found to be as
follows:
Wednesday evening Mr.. and Mrs.
Basshor and Mrs. Clark, who is
staying with them, started to see
Col. and Mrs. Thomas j. EWell,
whom Mr.. and Mrs. Basshor had
known for many years, the Colonel
having been intimately acquainted
with Mr.. Basshor for about thirty
years, they having worked in ad-
Joining places on Light street, Bal
timore, for a number of years. Mr..
Basshor had taken several drinks,
and said to the Ladies' that he did
not believe he would continue with
them, as the ladies at the EWells
might object to his calling While
partially under the Influence OF
liquor. They told him that they
felt certain that no objection would
be made, as he was not notioeabiy
so, but he hesitated about going,
and finally got out of the machine,
stating that he would drive back
home. They continued on to the
Ewells', and when they got there,
explained why he did not come.
Mr.. Basshor went home, and af-
ter reading sometime, picked up
the rifle, with which he was accus-
toned tc shooting guineas, spar
rows, black-birds, hawks, etc, with
the intention of taking it into
another room. In this connection
there seems to have been spread
the rumor that there were no gum
cas- at algonquin" Manor; this,
like many of the other rumors that
have been started in connection
with the unfortunate affair, is abso-
lutely without foundation, for it is
well known that Mr.. Basshor was
very fond of guineas, and that
there were considerable number
of them, as there are yet, at the
place. On account of their wild
ness, shooting them after they went
| to roost was found to be the easiest
way of getting them, and on the
night the accident occurred, it IS
said that he shot one to be eaten
the next day. After reading a lit
tie while, he started with the rifle,
which was loaded with mustard
shot, and evidently either received
a call or gave one, with the rifle
laying across his knees.
Apparently, he either got up
from the telephone and stepped on
rug which was on the floor along
side of the table, upon which was
the te'ephH else, while at
tsmpfing to talk, the rifle slipped
off of mis- knees and went off, a
portion of the load of shot striking
him in the neck, while others shat
tered the telephone receiver. This
view is borne out by the fact that
about ter minutes before Mrs. Bas-
shor was called up at the Ewells'
Col. EweM had been talking with
Mr.. Basshor, having called him to
ask him to change his mind about
coming down, and to come down in
the milk wagon. Col. Ewell sue
ceeded in getting Mr.. Basshor ov-
er the phone, but on account of
| the fact that a number of parties
| were attempting to talk at the
same time, the line down to Lloyds
| being a party line, was unable to
get to talk with him, and it was
probably this call which he was at
tempting to answer at the time CT