Friday, April 27, 2007

Chief Deputy Sheriff J. S. Gingell

Al Gingell sent me this one from a newspaper extract in 1922...

MOXLEY, Alvie A., Sheriff, along with Chief Deputy Sheriff J.S. GINGELL and former Deputy Melvin ETCHINSON of Montgomery County, Maryland, went to the farm of James P. ELKINS at Martinsburg to attach the personal effects of ELKINS and were "routed by ELKINS' wife and two daughters. MOXLEY was knocked down by a blow from one of the women, Deputy GINGELL suffered a black eye and former Deputy ETCHINSON escaped punishment at the hands of the women by beating a hasty retreat to the road."
Headlines read — "Sheriff laid low by woman's fist," "One deputy's eye is blackened and another takes to flight during battle on farm," and "Mother and 2 daughters victors." Armed with attachment papers issued at Rockville, Maryland, the Sheriff and deputies arrived at the farm yesterday morning. When asked by Mrs. ELKINS what their business was and the officers responded by saying they had come to attach the personal property of her husband, Mrs. ELKINS summoned her two daughters from the rear of the house. Sheriff MOXLEY told the women he was only obeying the law and would have to enter the house. "However, the women thought differently. When the officers attempted to gain entrance, a blow to the jaw felled the Sheriff. Deputy GINGELL laughed aloud when the Sheriff 'hit the dirt.' Then he received a stinging right hand to the left eye." Former Deputy ETCHISON reached the roadside safely before he would be attacked by the women.
Meanwhile, the sheriff and deputy were pleading with the women to use a little judgment. "Nothing doing," one replied. "Call the boys from the fields," shouted Mrs. Elkins. That was a signal for MOXLEY and GINGELL to go before the ELKINS' three sons arrived. Running past the dwelling, MOSLEY succeeded in placing the attachment paper on it, satisfying the law. "Jumping into their machine, the sheriff and deputy departed, stopping long enough at the roadside to get ETCHINSON into the machine. GINGELL last night wore a black eye about the courthouse at Rockville, but sheepishly avoided explaining how he got it" — WP 18 Mar 1922.

Full story at -

http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvberkel/newspapers_m.html

Does anyone know this J. S. Gingell ?