The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-27

| A 40UNG Man Shetland INSTANTLY KILL
/ ED BY A. FRIEzD Samuel e. Hatcher, q
young man residing on Nicholson street,
Rockets, was shot and killed by q youth
named Martin Falls yesterday morning.
Samuel Hatcher and his brother Edgar.
iwho was the younger, between 10 and il
O'Clock, left their home with their guns,
intending to go into the country q short dis
Itanee to shoot birds. On the River road, a
little way below the old dissilIery, they met
Falls and some companions, and the two
parties stopped and engaged in friendly
conversation. iEt4 4
Fails had o. gun with him, too. His
hands becoming cold, he stuck them into
his breeches-pock placing the gun under
one arm. From that loose position the gun
slipped TO the ground, exploding the cap
and discharging the load, which latter took
effect upon Samuel Hatcher's left ear, pene-
trating to the brain. f,.l
Falls, greatly alarmed and distressed by
what he had done, ran to the city for a doc
tor. DR.. Sterling was found by him and
carried to the spot where Hatcher had
fallen. Hatcher was, however, dead. He
did not live FIVE minutes, and did not speak
after the shot struck him.
The body of deceased was removed TO
| the residence OF his mother (now Mrs.
Thomas McCauley), on Nicholson street
near the Methodist church.
Falls, having been foolishly told by some
boys that he would be hung for murder,
ran off and could not be found yesterday
evening. his friends and relatives were
apprehensive that in his disturbed .condl-
ton Of mind he would do himself bodily
injury.
Deceased was twenty years and five
| - oh OF hyyf oIo
| He was heir to considerable property, it
is stated. Falls is about fifteen years Of age.
There had been none but the friendliest
feelings between him and deceased, and all
present at the time, including Hatcher's
brother EDGAR, say there can be no doubt
the gun was fired by accident.
Coroner Taylor viewed the body and
heard the statements OF several parties,
from which he concluded that the death was
certainly accidental, and that there was no
occasion for holding an inquest.
Falls was brought to the First station
house by his father last night shortly before
II O'Clock. He had been all day ut the
house OF Mr.. Slatterry, about a mile below
the city. His object in fleeing, he stated,
was to escape castigation he expected
would come from his father on account OF
the accident. The account OF the shooting
as given by him is corroborated, in all i'm
portant particulars, by that given by the
other boys.
Falls will be taken before the Police JUS
rice this morning for examination. 1t Is
supposed that he will be atonce discharged
POLICE COURT, YEsTERDAY.-JuStice Jo
Seph j. White preSiding.-A large number
of young men and not few boys, overcome
with the felicities Of the season, founC
themselves lodged in the station-houses on
Monday. They were released as soon as
their friends called and claimed them, OF
when they became sober enough to pilot
themselves home over the slippery pave
ments. In few instances the Justices I'M
posed moderate fines. Due allowance was
made for the temptations thrown in the patti
Of the unwary, and consequently some who
at any other time would have found them
selves confronted with rather serious charges
were allowed to 60 free. The worst cases
were sent before the Police Justice yester
day morning, and he, too, exercised grea
leniency.
The youngsters who had gotten them
selves into trouble-not to say disgrace
after running the gauntlet OF the police au
thorities, found themselves in danger iron
the reporters. Fines and costs were fe
garded as nothing compared to fear OF pub
licity, and the entreaties they made not Il
be published were eloquent and so effective
that except in peculiarly aggravated in
stances they were tenderlv dealt with ant
their names omitted from the immortality o
print. Each one would come up and say
substantially, f.Please leave my name out
I got on q little Christmas spree. dom
care myself, but it would .gricve my poor
old mother So"
They rarely. think of their poor OLE
mothers except when they get in trouble
but still such appeals are generally effective
The following were fined for being drunk
disorderly, and resisting the police: Will
liam Haffy $5, and William Gray (colored
$3.50; James 81. Gibbs was fined $40, ant
w. II. Clarkson $40, for assaulting Fran
Lange; N. Robert was fined $3.50 for as
saulting Mr.. Gibbs.
Robert Coleman (colored) and John II
Gregory were charged with fighting on tn
public street. Coleman was fined %. Rob
, horse and buggy of the value Of 5000, tn
property of A. Q. Holiday. Case continues
J till the 18th.
The following were sent to jail: William
Henry (colored), charged with being q va
, grant; Charles johnson, same.
David j. Childrey was sent on to tn
, grand jury to answer for biting the fngel
of William Murphy in fight, which tool
nlace in Sadler's old bar-room. Murph,
was fined $3.50 for disorderly conduct.
Joseph Cavati was fined So and required
to give security in the sum Of $3.50 for cru
ely beating his wife.
4 number of other cases Of trifing char
acter were disposed OF.