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Description: A Fratricide and Suicide
Newspaper published in: Washington, DC
Page/Column: Page 4
A Fratricide and Suicide
[Transcriber's Note: The shooting occurred on May 15, 1879.]
About three miles east of Severn, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, there lies a farm of twenty-four acres. On this farm, until Wednesday last, two brothers, named John and Lewis STINCHCOMB, have lived for the last 66 and 55 years, respectively, with three sisters. The latter are now the sole occupants of this farm. For, on the day named, John STINCHCOMB, taking down an old Enfield rifle, went out and shot his brother in the back while working in a coal pit, instantly killing him. He then returned to the house, and under an apple tree took off his shoes and stockings, and placing the muzzle of the gun against his side, pushed the trigger with his toe, excavating a large hole in his body, and, in consequence, died. A coroner’s jury found a verdict in accordance with these facts, and they were yesterday buried. John was afraid Lewis would sell the farm and took this way of preventing him.