Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-02
A BAD MISTAKE.
A Doctor Shoots His Nurse, SupposfDg
Her 10 be n Thief.

A bad accident occurred yesterday morn
ing between l and 2 o'clock at the residence
of DR.. H. L. Williford, 275 Manassas street,
which up to the time of writing had not
ended fatally, but was expected to. In DIR.
Williford's employ has been a little colored
girl named Clara Ramsey, acting in the ca
pacity of a nurse. 1t has been her habit to
sleep in the room of DIR. Williford and his
wife, she occupying a cot upon the floor. At
the time mentioned she wished to go to the
water-closet. She accordingly arose noise
lessly and went to the door, bu. could not
open it. In her attempts to open it she, of
course, made some noise, which the doctor
hearing imagined to be a thief trying to
get in. He told his wife to remain quiet,
and he reached for his pistol Clara, find
ing she could not get out, was coming back
to awake the doctor and get him to open the
door. As che passed the window the doctor
thought it was the shadow of the thief on the
inside, and he accordingly fired. He and
his wife were very much startled when the
body fell in the room, and the little girl
cried oct; doctor, you have shot me-"
Going to her side, the doctor found that
he had shot her in the side. Consequent in
vestigstion revealed the fact that the bullet
had penetrated her body entirely. Drs.
Mitchell, Maury and Donohue were sent for,
and all pronounced it a hopeless case. Yes
terday morning DIR. Williford called upon
Esquire Qdigley and said he wanted the
fullest investigation made of the matter The
esquire suggested that the matter be laid
before the attorney general. Mr.. Sam Weak
ley, the assistant of General Turner, visited
the wounded girl and took her statement,
which Tailed fully with that of DIR. Wilt
ford. The doctor has not been arrested, as,
according to the law, man has a perfect
right to shoot anybody on his premises after
dark, and he thought he was perforating a
thief. Naturally, he feels very badly over
the affair.
Since the above was written Clara Ramsey
died. At the inquest her mother testified
that Clara was very much attached to Mrs.
Williford, and brought her school-books from
home yesterday because Mrs. Williford had
promised TO teach her.
DIR. Williford has made all the arrange
ments and intends to have the body respecta-
bly, inferred. The following ia the inquest:
State of Tennessee, Shelby county:
An inquisition this day holden at Men,
phis, in said county, in this State, before P.
]. Quigley, justice of the peace for said
county, on the body of Clara Ramsey, there
lying dead, by the jurors whose names are
hereto subscribed, who upon there oaths do
say that the said Clara Ramsey came to
her death in the following manner, to-wit: By
fred by II. L. Williford in his house on March
l, 1882. he at the time being under the i'm
preston that robber was then in the act of
breaking into his house; and the jury hold
the said HI. L. Williford entirely blameless
in said matter. This March l, 1882. Where
unto the jury hereunto set their hands, the
day and date above.
A. M. BRYAN,
T. A FISHER,
H. N. TOwNER,
J. G. WEST,
C. A. DAMMAN,
L, V. DIXON
His
HORACE x OWENS colored.
mark
Attest: p. J. oUIGLEY. J. P.