The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-06-28
CULP BOY GUILTY
MANSLAUCHTER
Jury Recommends Garrett School
boy to Mercy Of The Court.


county the case was removed from
Garrett county by the defense, the jury
in the case of the State OF Maryland VS..
Thomas Payne Culp. charged with the
murder of Thomas Wilson, of near Red
Oak school house, after an hours de-
liberation brought IN verdict finding
the traverser guilty of manslaughter,
but not guilty of murder in the first
degree and recommended the prisoner to
the mercy of the court"
The arguments on the part of the
State was opened by Attorney E. H.
Sincell. of Oakland. followed by Gilmor
S. Hamill and son for the defense, At
tornev A. A. Young. assisting the
State in the prosecution also argued the
case against the traverser. The clos
ing argument was by States Attorney
Jones of Garrett county. who reviewed
the testimony of the case from the
opening to its close, pointing out that
the alleged gang of children, calling
themselves a Jesse James gang,
was only childish society and that the
school was conducted in a decidedly
creditable manner. The testimony of
the principal of the school was to the
effect that there was no disorder what
ever among the children; that the state
ment that the children were permitted
to bring whisky and hard cider into the
school was incorrect and that the carry
ing of pistols was not known to him.
The defense claimed accidental shoot
ing as the reason for the killing. Ethel
Arnold, little school girl, who wit
messed it and who was not related to
either of the principals of the tragedy,
testified that the two boys were in a
struggle when she observed them. She
further testified that after the shoot
ing Culp came up to the school building
and said II shot him in selfdefense;
they cannot do anything with me. 4"
After the shooting the Arnold girl said
the Culp boy went to his home and an
other boy in the school took the Wilson
lad to the home of MIR. Baer nearby,
where the physician, DR.. Orinkwater,
was summoned to give the injured boy
attention.
1t is understood Judge Henderson will
sentence the Culp boy next Monday
morning.
The case created great deal of in
terest IN Garrett county where both
the Wilson and Culp family are well
known.
FACTS AS DISCLOSED AT THE TRIAL.
o. Friday. the 10th of March, at the
noon hour, young Culp who is Is years
of age, got into some difficulty with
Willie Cooper, a much younger and
smaller boy than himself, and was
cutting him around, when young Wilson
appeared upon the scene and immediate
ly took Culp to task, telling him that
ne was too big to fight a little fellow
like that, and if he wanted to fight to
fight some one of his size. One word
/ blObSii III Oll dllOIilCl, uIllll lludllN NulD
and.Wilson got into fight While Will
son was the youngest Of the two, being
but IA years old while Culp was Is;
| Wilson was larger and stronger than
Culp. A few blows were struck, and
Wilson had the latter under a promise
by Culp to let little Cooper alone,
Wilson and Culp parted, Wilson going
to the school house, and Culp went to
the closet.
Willie Bear, II year old witness,
stated that he had occasion to go to the
closet in just few moments after he
saw Culp enter it, and when he went in
found Culp in the act of transferring a
revolver from one pocket to another.
He had two pairs of trousers on and he
was in the act of transferring the re-
volver from the hip pocket of the under
pair to the hip pocket of the outer pair,
young Bear asked him what he was
going to do with the revolver, and
Culp replied you will see or you
will find out" While these two bows
were in the closet Wilson in company
with one or two other boys came down
to the closet, Cup came out and took
up position facing the closet, but
about twelve feet distant, with his
hand at his hip pocket. When Wilson
appeared he stopped on the steps, and
Culp said to him, IF you have any
thing to settle, settle it now" Wilson
replied, Eyes, you got that old revolver,
and nothing but towards would carry
revolvers. Culp replied that makes
no difference.
Several little boys were standing
around. and realizing that there was
going to be trouble, soma of them run,
and the others were more or less
excited, and as a result the evidence
was little conflicting at this point.
All of them agreed. however, that the
two boys came together, and the two
shots were fired in quick succession.
One little fellow stated that Wilson
was attempting to take the revolver
away from Culp, and a struggle ensued