Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1922-09-16
WORCESTER FARMER KILLS
MAN TO AVENGE DAUGHTER
Edward Jones Empties Pistol
Into Body OF Lawrence
Smack AT Ironshire
SLAYER GIVES HIMSELF UP;
NOW In SNOW HILL JAIL

Another murder occurred in Wor-
cester county this week when Edward
Jones, a farmer of Queponco, shot
and killed Lawrence Smack, age 25,
a farmer at Ironshire Tuesday morn
ing. 1t is said that Jones was brood
ing over an alleged insult to his
daughter by Smack that caused him
to commit the act.
Shortly before IL o'clock Jones
came up to Vests store at Ironshire,
on the front porch of which Smack
was sitting. He approached with a
gruff greeting, according to witnesses
and went into the store. Smack arose
and started in the direction of Quill
lens store, less than 100 feet. away.
Jones came out and called to Smack,
who returned. AS the two drew near,
Jones drew revolver and fired.
Smack turned and ran to the porch
of the CULLEN store and. fell with his
head against the doorway. Jones fol-
lowed and emptied his revolver into
the PROSTATE form.
He then got into his automobile and
drove to his garage at Berlin. There
he found Chief of Police Birmingham
and surrendered his weapon and him
self.
The shooting was the elimination
of a quarrel of several weeks stand
ing between the two men, and Jones,
it is alleged, has been threatening to
kill Smack for more than a month.
The quarrel arose when Sallie, the
17-year-old daughter of Jones, took
poison on July 20. Smack was accus-
ed of poisoning the girl and was held
under $1,000 bail for the October
court. According to Mrs. Elsie Smack,
wife of the slain man, the girl had
been absent from home all the day
previous to taking the poison. Her
husband, Mrs. Smack said, had been
away in the afternoon playing base
ball. Gossip among the farm hands
coupled the names of the two. The
Smacks were at that time working at
the Jones place. The girl returned
home and after a quarrel with her
family swallowed the poison. Mrs.
Smack said Sallie had told her where
she was going and had asked her to
accompany her, but she had not told
her family.
That night Mrs. Smack was warned
| by her mother, who is sister of Mrs.
Jones, to tell Lawrence to make HIM
self safe and do it quick. Mrs. Smack
said that she delivered the message to
her husband who had retired, but that
he professed ignorance of any cause
as to why he should hide. About IL
o'clock Jones drove up to the Smack
house, which is about mile from his
residence, with a shotgun. Mrs.
Smack, her father and brother went
down to Jones, she said. He asked
where Smack was, saying he had come
to kill him. Mrs. Smack said Jones
went away only when he was told that
Smack was not at home. Mrs. Smack
said that she pleaded with her uncle
to remember her and her little son,
and that he had replied: "If l skip
the gallows, you will never want for
anything"
Since then it is said that Jones ana
Smack have met, the last time prevl-
Gus to Tuesday being Sunday, when
both attended colored campmeeting
nearby and spent considerable time
within short distance of each other.
Smack lived for about Is minutes
after the last shot was fired, but died
before medical assistance could be
summoned. William A. McAllen,
magistrate at Snow Hill. empanelled
coroner's jury which rendered the
verdict that Jones feloniously, volun-
tarily, and with malice aforethought
shot Smack in cold blood.
Jones was known as prosperous
farmer. He owned a garage in Berlin
and sold farm machinery there. He
was a candidate for county commits
sioner on the Peoples party ticket in
the last general election.
Miss Jones has made various affi-
davits to the effect that she has had
no illicit relations with Smack and
that he did not give her the poison
which she took.
Jones is being held in the Snow Hill
iail without bail awaiting the conven-
ing of the October court. Smacks
body was taken to the home of his
brother Hamilton Smack, after the in
quest.