The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-08-18
KILLS SELF AND TWO
OTHERS,
ANDREW FRITZ WAS THE MURDERER
TWO OTHERS MAKE THEIR ESCAPE.

Fritztown, a hamlet along the Fred
erick and Carroll county border. was
the scene of a triple tragedy Saturday
night when Andrew Fritz. rs, shot and
instantly killed Samuel Bradford, 80,
and Robert Shepherd, 32
On his way to the home of John
! Shane, his intended third victim, Fritz
fired bullet in his own brain and
died instantly. The murderer and
| Bradford were single men. while
Shepherd was married.
/ No motive whatever can. be ascrihed
| to the shooting except that Fritz and
Shepherd had fight about a week
ago. Apparently Fritz and Bradford
were friends.
! Fritz who was a laborer. had been
drinking a homemade concoction, sold
in the npighborhoOd. during the after
noon and evening. Shortly before 7.3O
O'Clock he armed himself with revOl-
yer and in company with Bradford,
Lee Boone and Richard Glass started
out in an automobile.
After going a short distance he
stopped the car and got out. He then
whipped out his revolver and fired at
close range at Bradford, the bullet
taking effect in his left cheek. He fell
and expired in a few minutes. Fright
ened at the unexpected attack, Fritz 5
companions left him. After gazing al
his victim for a minute, Fritz continu-
ed down the road.
Arriving at the home of Shepherd.
Fritz walked up half a dozen steps to
the porch. where Shepherd and y
friend were seated, holding conver-
sation. Approaching Shepherd. Fritz
exclaimed:
Il have already killed one man. and
I am going to kill two more: you had
better go upstairs and get in bed"
Observing the man excited manner.
Shepherd arose and started across the
porch in the direction of an open door.
Just as he was about to pass. Fritz
drew his revolver and fired twice,
one ball taking effect in Shep-
herds arm and the other striking HIM
directly over the heart Shepherd
reeled into the door. called to his wife
and fell dead.
In the meantime Fritz left the house
and started in the direction of the
home of Shane. On the way. however
he stopped and fired bullet into his
temple. The ball passed through his
head. killing him instantly.
Soon after Bradford had been shot
word was sent to Sheriff Jones that
Fritz had killed two men and was on
his wav to the home of his third VIC
tim. The Sheriff and Deputy Smith left
for the home of Shane in an autOmo-
bile. intending. if possible. to arrive
in advance of the murderer to prevent
the third crime. After quick run the
officers arrived at the home OF Shane
and found him asleep. He was arouS-
ed and was informed that Fritz was
on his way to kill him. He then armed
himself and joined in the search for
Fritz.
In A meadow. however. about half
way between the homes of Shepherd
and Shane. the dead body of Fritz was
found.
After Fritz had shot Shepherd. the
latters wife hurried to the home of a
neighbor and called a physician.
DR.. Albert Nice. Rdgeville. re
spouded and found Shepherds body
lying on the porch in pool of blood.
where it had fallen. still warm. Life,
however. was extinct.
Rradfod. whose BODY Law alongside
the road. had been shot in the lett
cheek. the ball coming out on the
right side.
Both bodies were turned over to I'm
dertaker Bowman. Mount airy. who
took them to the latter place and pre-
pared them for burial Fritz's body
was turned over to an undertaken and
was buried Wednesday at Pine Grove
Cemetery. near Mount Airy. His sister
Mrs Rrashears, Sykesvllle. and
brother-in-law. Mr.. Stttely. near
Fritztown. identified the body but
neither claimed it. The county paid
his burial expenses.
The tragedy stirred the community.
One version of the shooting was that
Fritz had become jealous of Bradford $
attention to a woman in the nelghbor-
hood and that he wanted to get even
with Shepherd because of fight with
the latter last week. It is not known
why he wanted to kill Shane.
Frequent disorder has prevailed in
the neighborhOd of the shooting,
caused primarily by the sale of home
brew intoxlcants. 1t is said that since
the drv law went into effect moon
shine" and various brands of home
brew have been sold in open violation
os the law Recently the law has been
so flagrantly violated that the neigh
borhood has been considered unsafe
after dark.
bradford came to Fritztown recent
" from Laurel and was regarded as 4
l, ,nI
ing from time to time at the I'm on
Bridge cement plant. He had no home
and was ShiftleS and unpopular in the
ne ghbOrhood.