The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-01-20

Pickett was shot
and kil1ed by
Delaware Thomas Brown, %, who
was tried and acquitted by jury.
Pickett, the man killed, said Mr..
Ridenour in his address, was at one
time a member of the Hagerstown
Police Force. He lived and con-
Quoted a saloon in a small two-story
frame building, No. 1856, on the east
side of the second block of North
Jonathan street, later occupied by
the Barnum Pawn Shop. Pickett's
place was a resort frequented by
the sporting fraternity of Hagers-
town and vicinity.
Pickett, AZ, and unmarried, was
described as a man of fine physique
and genteel appearance, and was
said to be skillful card player. He
was classed as a professional gam
bier. From the life he led it was
often predicted that he would die
an unnatural death, or, in other
words, 'get it, some day.
One of the card playing places
that Pickett frequented was the
old Antietam House, tavern that
stood on West Washington street,
occupying a portion of the site of
the present Hotel Hamilton. For
years, it is recalled by old residents,
the tavern was painted alternately
red and black, like checker board.
Shortly after / o'clock on We'd
nesday, Jan. 5, 1887, Pickett was
shot down in John Curran's saloon,
the site of the present Beck's Res
taurant.
The man who ended Pickett's ca
reer of crime was not an officer of
the law. Brown, who shot Pickett
to death, claimed that he had been
drugged and robbed of SIPS the
night before by Pickett in Pickett's
place. The next morning Brown
purchased a revolver at local
hardware store and started out to
look for Pickett. He visited his
saloon but met with cold recep-
ton. He also claimed Pickett had
threatened his life. Around noon,
Brown, after wandering about town,
wound up at the Curran saloon.
While Brown was standing at the
bar, engaged in conversation with
another man, Pickett entered the
saloon.
Apparently not noticing Brown,
Pickett walked to the door leading
to the ten-pin alley adjoining and
asked Curran to mix him drink.
Brown had his back to Pickett at
the time, but seeing his face in a
mirror back of the bar he turned
and confronted him. Brown claimed
afterwards (Which was corrobo-.
rated by others) that Pickett, when
he faced Brown, put his hand quick
ly toward his pocket as if reaching
for a revolver.
Brown Immediately drew his own
gun and began firing. Pickett
rushed at Brown, but the latter con-
tinued shooting, even after Pickett
fell to the floor, stopping only when
his revolver was empty. DR.. E. A.
Wareham was summoned but Pick
EFT was dead when he arrived. Five
bullets had entered Pickett's body,
three of which were recovered by
the physician.
It was by the merest chance that
Pickett met his death. He had been
invited to take sleigh ride behind
a high stopper. While waiting for
the horse and sleigh to be brought
around from the stable, Pickett
stepped into Curran's saloon to get
a drink, not knowing Brown was
there.
j When the shots rang out Mr.. Refs
ner was eating his dinner in the
dining room of the City Hotel,
northwest corner Of Washington and
Jonathan streets. At the time he
was matchmaker for Milton Koh-
Ter. Mr.. Reisner not only heard the
shots and witnessed the excitement,
J but also saw Brown escorted by
John Curran and Policeman Johnny
(Biggy) Peltz from the scene to the
, Office of Justice of the Peace J. r.
, vim Bitner, on West Washington
street. Brown was committed to
Jail for a preliminary hearing and
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