TIME MACHINE ... August, 1884

Real Life Soap Opera Near Pocomoke City

(The Denton Journal)

SHOT DEAD IN THE ROAD

Murdering His Sweetheart's Father Because He Prohibited A Drive

Princess Anne, Md., July 27.

This county of Somerset and the adjoining of Worcester are in a tumult of excitement over the brutal shooting of Captain L.Q.C. Davis, a respectable and wealthy resident of Pocomoke City, in the last named county. For the past two years Mrs. Mary E. Ross, daughter of Captain Davis, a beautiful young widow, has been residing with him and receiving the attentions of Irving J. Mills, a drummer for the Baltimore firm of Williams G. Bansemer & Co. Mrs. Ross is about 28 years old, and both before and since her marriage has been quite a belle in the lower peninsula. Her father some time ago, finding that she continued to accept the attentions of young Mills despite his protests, forbade the latter to come to his house. The lovers, however, frequently met clandestinely and yesterday, Mrs. Ross, during the absence of her father, went out driving with Mr. Mills. As they were returning home and were about to cross a small bridge in Dublin district near Pocomoke City, they were seen by Captain Davis, who was standing talking to his niece, Mrs. Marcellus Dickerson, in the latters yard near the bridge. Captain Davis ran out into the road and called to Mrs. Ross to leave the carriage. Mills objected to this and when Mrs. Ross tried to get out he whipped up the horse. Captain Davis sprang forward and seized the animal by the rein. Mrs. Ross then jumped out, when Mills, in a frenzy of rage drew a pistol and fired. When the daughter's feet touched the ground she almost fell over her father's corpse lying in the road.

Mrs. Ross sprang toward Mills and began to wrestle with him for the possession of his weapon, for he was preparing for a second shot. Mrs. Dickerson went to her aid and the two finally succeeded in making Mills desist. Mrs. Ross then fell fainting on her father's body. Mills glanced at the body and turned away muttering, without offering any explanation. He left the scene and went to the residence of his uncle and requested to be sent to Princess Anne jail. Unable to get a conveyance and fearing that the community would take the law into its own hand he started to walk to jail. He proceeded this way eight miles and then got a friend to take him to his destination. When called upon in jail to-day he appeared perfectly cool and refused to make any statement.

Mrs. Ross, in speaking of the affair today, denounced Mills in bitter terms and cried and sobbed piteously. She states positively that she saw no attempt at violence on her father's part and that he never carried a pistol in his life. Mill's bullet passed directly through Captain Davis' heart. The son of Captain Davis married the sister of his father's murderer about eight months ago.

Footnote: When the case was being heard in court in October the sudden death of a juror resulted in postponement of proceedings until a new jury could be be seated. The case was concluded in November with Mills being sentenced to eight years in prison.