The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1852-05-20
Evening, May Is, 1852
HoRRIBLE TRAGEDY The Pittsburgh pa

HoRRIBLE TRAGEDY The Pittsburgh pa
pers gives an account Of a most horrible trag-
edy committeda few days since in that city,
at the u. s. Arsenal. Walter Richardson,
lad aged about fourteen years, son of Mr..
John H. Richardson, a clerk in the Arsenal,
was mortally wounded by a shot fired from
a musket, in the hands of his step-mother,
under the following circumstances: The
boy was very obstinate and hard to govern,
causing great trouble to his parents, partic-
ularly to his step-mother. Owing to this
fact his father told the mother that he would
load musket with powder, and that she
might frighten the boy with it if he refused
to obey her. The father loaded the musket
with powder, and told her where he had
placed it, but subsequently with the inten-
ton of shooting dog, he placed in the mus
ket an additional heavy charge ofquail shot,
forgetting at the same time to inform Mrs.
r. of the change in the condition of the gun
On Thursday evening, a disagreement oc-
Cured between the mother and lad, during
which, the boy threw sharp piece of coal
ut his step-mother which cut her cheek bad
ly; she then put him out of doors. Mrs.
Richardson was very much enraged at him
when she put him out and made threatning
expression to him. He did not return to the
house until yesterday morning, and when
she saw him approaching, she took the mus
ket, and with the intention of intimidating
him, snapped the gun, which did not 60 off,
as it was not capped. She went into the
house, got cap, and returned, when she
rested the gun over fence and fired. The
lad dropped to the ground, and when Mrs.
Richardson saw this, she dropped the gun
and screamed for help, and ran to the boy.
His sister came out, and together they car
ried the lad into the house, when they ap-
piled restoratives to him, but without any
effect DR.. Shields was sent for, but the
boy was too far gone, and died about twenty
minutes after the doctors arrival.
The shot took effect in the bowels and
left side and one hundred and hirty-SeUen shots
entered the body. There were many wounds
in the thigh: the two shots that were the
immediate cause of his death, pierced the
left external lilac artery, from which he
bled to DEATH. Twenty-four shots were ex,
tracted from his bowels, and the hip and thigh
were mangled in a horrible manner.
At twelve O'Clock Mr.. Coroner Arthur'
was called upon to hold an inquest, and DR.
Shields held apost mortem examination
the body. After the examination of the faith
g. of the lad, his two sisters and the doctor
who were the principal witnesses, the jur!
returned verdict "that the said Waite
Richardson came to his death from the effect
of gun shot wound; and that the shot wa
fred by Hester Richardson, his step-moth
er."
Mrs. Richardson was committed to prisol
by Coroner Arthurs for further hearing.
CHILMcorHE.-The Scioto Gazette say
"things are assuming ship-shape in the Burn
District. In our eye, the symmetrical pile
ofbricks erected around the empty cellar
are great improvements upon the chaotl
ruins Many lot owners are rebuilding, an
some would follow the example, but Tor Tn
scarcity of workmen and the enhanced pr
ces of materals.-The draw-brdge at tn
canal-end of Paint street is to be complete
this week, and then look out for an early e.
tension of ofbuildings to the railroad ON tn
Island-soon to be an Island no longer"
NEWARK TIMEs.-This is the title OF
new paper recently established in Newa1
by MP. Brister, Esq, formerly of the Cad
RepuJlican. 1t is intended as continuatlt
of the old Gazette which has not been pu
lshed for some months. Mr.. Brister W
give the citizens of Licking good VIII
paper and should receive their warm a
cordial support. We wish him great su
SUNDAY LEADER.-This is the title OF
new Weekly recently established in CincI
natl by Messrs, Naudain & Co. 1t evinc
considerable tact and ability and promises
warm support to Western interests. 1t
receive as it merits liberal support.
CINCINNATI SUN.-This new and ent
prizing Daily has passed into the hands
J. w. Browne g. Co., the former having
considerable experience in newspaper P'
fishing. Success to them. -..H .....
AnvroE TO MARRIED LADIES. "A writer
the South gives the following advice
wives:
59"Should you find it necessary as you
doubtedly will, many ofyou, to chastIse
husbands, you should perform this afiectl
ate duty with the soft end OF the broom'
not with the handle" "'
o.. .s ----------
COMMON SCHOOLS IS KENTUcY.-lne
port of the Superintendent OF the Fu
Schools in Kentucky, estimates the Inc'
for school purposes in the year loo1,
S133,O0O, and states that in few yea
NAV reach Sl4O, 900. The actual incom
the fund for 1856 is set down at $l28,OOO,
the number Of children in the state, WI
the school age at 100000. '''A ~. ~.
II srH 9t'7ti-a 14s tL.--L--------- % 'I Oh
-uHow MANY PEOPLE occupy this world
question often asked and but seldom ansN
ed. There is difference among writer
to the inhabitants Of the globe: some
d mate the number to be zoo, ,OO0, 900, W
j others 10 as high as 900,00O,000. The