The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-19
Probably Fatal Shooting ARRAY.

Shortly after o'clock last night, MIR.
| Thomas Conner, residing at No. 637 north
Gay street, shot land it is thought fatally
wounded) his son-in-laW, Samuel West. 1t
appears that West married the daughter OF
| Conner about four years ago, and shortly
| after he became harsh to his wife through
intemperance, and she WAS obliged to seek
an asylum in her fathers house. West was
subsequently thought by his friends to be
insane, and was sent to Mount Hope Hos
pital. After leaving the hospital he re-
turned to the house OF MIR. Conner, and
demanded that his wife should again live
with him, but she declined through fear.
The parties state the further facts as fol-
lows:
On the last Sunday in October he gained
admission to the house, and remained until
after supper, when he asked his wife to go
to the front door with him. When there he
knocked her down, and her father and
mother went and found West standing over
her with Il dagger, but before he could ac-
complish his purpose the father dragged her
out of the room. A policeman was then
sent for, but before he reached The house
West had made his escape. A warrant was
then issued for his arrest, but he avoided
the police until Thursday last, when police
man Gibson arrested him near Mr.. Con-
nor's house. He had, however, frequently
disturbed the peace of the family and
threatened the life of his wife. lie was sent
to iail on Friday morning, but by some
| means was released, and yesterday evening
returned to the house OF Mr.. Conner and
attempted to force the front door. Police
man Gibson was again sent for, but when
| he got there West had disappeared. Glib
son went in and locked up the house, and
| as he lett by the front door told Mrs. West
| to lock it after him. When he went out he
| found West on the steps, who demanded
| what he wanted. Gibson replied that he
| was there to protect the family, and again
stepped into the house for few moments,
and rs he again went out West had left,
| and he heard the report of gun short
distance of. He ran towards Biddle street,
| when he saw Mr.. Connor with gun in
his hand and West running from him.
| Conner at once told the policeman that
| he had shot West, and surrendered himself.
| On going to the corner of Biddle street West
| was found sitting on pile of dirt with his
hands pressing his left breast. The charge
had entered just below the collar-bone, and
the wound was OF such character as to
give very little hope for his recovery. Mr..
Conner alleges that he was coming home
from his work at Mount Clare station,
where he has been employed for fifteen
years, and that he was met by his little
son, who told him Of Vests presence,
and handed him double-barrelled gun,
which he had borrowed. Mr. C. passed
on towards his house and met West, whom
he asked to keep away from his house, and
cease the annoyance to bis family. West
replied that he would not, when Connor
told him that if he came again to the house
he would shoot him. West made several
steps towards his father-in. law, and lodged
and made an effort to catch Connor by the
legs and throw him, but the latter backed,
and, tripping over the curbstone, fell. AS
he was falling he fired, with the result above
stated. West did not cease his pursuit un-
til Connor's son told the father to fire the
other barrel of the gun, and then he ran.
West was taken to his home, on the York
road, near the toll-gate, and Conner was
taken to the middle district police station,
where he was locked up to await an eXami-
nation.-Balt. Sun, 18th.