The New York herald., 1878-03-13
INEXPLICABLE FOLLY.
lIcHABD SHAW WOUNDS HIMsELr WITH A
PIsroL-No SATISFACTORY CAUSE FOR THE

sIcHARD SHAW WOUNDS HIMSELF WITH
rIsroL-No SATISFACTORY CAUSE FOR THE
ACI.
Shortly after midnight yesterday morning q young
man OF twenty y-two the member OF wealthy family
performed act which is construed by somo into an
attempt at suicide and by others deemed only wild
hssk conceived in folly and by accident terminated
yomewhat seriously. No 100 West Thriy-hrst street
vas the scene OF this peculiar exhibition Of shooting
rhe house 10 patronized by numbers OF the youth
pi the city, and Richard Shaw has been for some time
IN occasional caller there The fascination which last
life In New YORK for so many seemed 10
epgross him, aud during the past few monlhs no
has cvinoed a prediction for the gayeties oi the
metropolis which family influence could not over
come or friendly advice divert He resided with his
mother Al No. 100 Fifth avenue, but Of late he has
eschewed domestic associations and spent much Of
bis time in company with young men ike himself to
whom pleasure was paramount On several occa-
sious he called upon young woman, L,bbic Os-
born by name, at the house In West Thirty-hrst
street. and 1t with tho intention OF seeing
bcr he rang the bell at midnight on Monday
There was gay party inside Drink and joity ruled
The hour, but young Shaw seemed In no humor for
Joining In the mcrrment and he soon left the parlor
In company with MISS Osborn That young woman
was standing In room arranging some ornaments
moodlIy in a corner, arose and said to her, ~ am
going 10 shoot myself"
A STRANGE ACT
This sudden and startling proposition did alarm
the giri at. first, but whom she turned and tho
young man standing there with revolver pointed at
his forehead she uttered q scream and rushed from
the ROOM She heard sharp report as she fled down
stairs and after II dull thud, when Richard Shaw
fell the floor. Then she sent the cry ringing
through the house OF '.Hurry up, Dick has snot
ekio ehA
ing into the hallway In a twinkling For
moment there was an excited scene where.
nsursa largely, ana i was only when some cool
headed person summoned an officer and the ascent of
realized In the room the third story the door Of
which Was wido open, Richard Shaw was lying with
:ns O'Se Ssd a. IN 0V'h MS 3. Ssd
Smith L. wesson's revolver. which he had
Just discharged. The young man was raised ed
injury but slight The ball had grazed bis fore.
head, pIoughed groove through his hair and passed
into she ceiling above. He was moody and silent
wnen be arose. To the questions showerod upon HIM
he vouchsaied NO aoswsr, and. hurrediy pushing his
way through the swarm ut the door, whose scrutiny
seemed annoy him, he went with the officer the
Twenty-nintn precinct station house. There Dr. Sat
trrfipg character and dressed II.
Yesterday morning yopak SHAW was broushtte the
Jefferson Market Police Court and nrraianed before
Judge Kllbreth. He is a gentsei looking young man
p dark complexion, and face smooth and youthful
m s srs saa dscas ana 6s po ali.
Icatures yesterday showed that, between his wound
manner OF life, he is not in the best possible
condition. He was tashionably attired, and
bore himself before the Court in an easy.
oan.nd way .ha. indicated sofposssssiUn
was reticent land reference to it evidently
worried him.. He seemed indisposed to an.
out as II 10 put end them, 'Ob attempted sui
eide. Of course" Tho evident insincsrity oil the
embarrassment, caused II TO be disresarded, and only
charge OF violating the corporation ordinance In
carrying pistol was preferred against him.
His wound, though slight, required attendance,
and at the instance Of some OF his friends he was
saken TO Bellevue Hospital 0nicer M'chels, who ac-
companied him in a coach, engaged IN conversation
with him ON the way, but Shaw mad little TO say. liz
seemed tired and worried, aud eager to rest himself
rood humorsd vein. ''dldn'tI,"
After while no complained OF drowsiness and OK
pressed his regret that he mad pillow place
head upon. Al the hospital he was consigned TO the
pre OF tho physicians who are hopeful Of avortng any
serious trouble.
The motive that prompted Richard Shaw 70 make
bis .SSidsl a.s%p. II be really INTENDED seems
come prolific q cause Tor self-destruction
Of iais. wa. a!tributed 20 hum At first. but
such supposltion and the story that he
was driven to his rash attempt by Libbo Osborn's
fouDded. The young woman herself seems as myst
ned about the affair as one else and is apparently at
loss 10 account for It. That sne had ever received
any other proposition from him than such as
her position admitted OF she positively denies,
asserting
ienoranceioi any motive that could affect him wherein
she herself concerned. She says that IL her
belief that young Shaw only raised the pistol and
spoke he did TO frighton her. and that went OF
BY chance. Nevertheless II seems pretty certain from
The accounts ol her associates that Lboie exercised
certain acnations over the young man OF which per-
baps she herself was unaware and rumor had n
vested her with somewhat romantic history, which
have had its share in gaining the youths fancy
Lbbie II . girl oi about twcnty-two, with fresh
complexion, blue eyes ana face which the habils
OF her class yet left traces. OF genleel
bearing, quiet, retiring ways and lair accomplish
ments, she was just such person as could attract
gay reckless youth, who had passed from boyhood 10
mans estate, and in time inlatuate him. II in
last November that young Shaw met first and
she then invested with the charm OF
nance in which a Southern city, female college,
an elderly husband and gallant but depravod lover,
figured. Wbcsher the girl did gain mastery
Shaw's Affections 1t IS hard to say but he ire
went the house and made rather lengthy sojourn
Ihere A day two later he came again 10 see Lbbie
but this time she mad some other engagement which
prevented her meeting him. since that he did not
appear TIL Monday ngnt when he performed the
which SO nearly resulted fatally.
Richard Shaw IS a young man who received most
careful training and educated at 1rst class edu-
cational establishment When he was fifteen years
Old went 10 Europe and spent much time in travel
years ago, he became intimate with set Of young
men, the sons OF wealthy families, VINO gave
their time to enjoyment, and II was through them
that he came 10 form such associations and acquire
such habits as led him into such questionable mode
OF living as he has lately been pursuing
RASH BOY.