"A Young Lady Shoots her Seducer in Maryland"

Here's some background on the Cairnes-McComas affair, portrayed in Cornelia Nixon's new novel "Jarrettsville." (No spoilers included.) (New York Times, April 13, 1869) On Saturday evening at Jarrettsville, Harford County. Md., Miss CAIRNES shot and killed NICHOLAS McCOMAS. About twenty persons were seated on the porch of the village hotel, when Miss CAIRNES suddenly appeared and drew a pistol and fired three shots at McCOMAS. The alleged cause of the murder was seduction. (NYTimes May 9, 1869) THE MARYLAND HOMICIDE; Trial of Miss Cairnes for the Murder of Her Alleged Betrayer. Sympathy for the Prisoner--She is Furnished Rooms at a Hotel--Her Appearance and Demeanor. The trial of Miss MARTHA J. CAIRNES for the murder of NICHOLAS McCOMAS, her alleged seducer, on the 10th of April last, at Jarrettsville, commenced here yesterday. From the large number of talesmen summoned and the regular jurors, (after the rejection of a good many on account of having formed all opinion. Continued

Photo: Grave of Nicholas McComas reads : "In the memory of our murdered friend; who was murdered April 10, 1869 in the 36th year of his age." Courtesy of Donna Jones at Find A Grave.