Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-07
SHOT HIS LADY-L0VE
uNREouITED LOVE, A PISTOL, AND
THE PENlTeNTlARY.
A Virginia Drama-wiliinm Kicks Sem
fenced 20 Ten Years for Shooting Neiiie
Muilins--History OF the Case.
Correspondence Of tho Richmond Dlspatch.l
Cs,p1orrrsvr1LE, Va, Sept. G, 1889.


Tho inrv in the case Of the Common
wealth rs. William Kicks for the shooting
Of his sweetheart. Miss Nellie Mullins,
brought in a verdict of guilty and the
prisoner was sentenced to ten years IN the
penitentiary. which was the extreme limit
allowed by the law in such a case.
This has been one of the most interest
inc aud romantic cases that mas ever Oeon
tired in the County Court.
The tragedy occurred on the afternoon
Of April ~. 1899. in the southeastern psIJ
OF this county IN section known as buch-
eveland. Both the defendant and plalnuh
are residents az this county. ana nad Dcen
acquainted with each other Tor some eignb
or ten years. They had lived IN the same
house for about eighteen months anu
Kicks. the defendant. had fallen IN love
with the plaintiff, Miss Mullins, and had
proposed marriage 90 her. but she claims
that she never gave him any encourage
ment Miss Mullins was q close attendant
upon the trial. She Is young, lauy Vi
about seventeen and is very good LOOKING.
Sire was on the witness-st0ndf orthe prose
cution and gave very straightforward evil
dcnce.
She said Kicks had been Whiting upon
her for about twelve months but that she
had never given him any encouragement.
but had rather stunned his company.
Kicks had threatened to shoot her II she
did not marry him. and on this account
she had NOT positively refused TO marry
him. fearing that he might shoot her upon
her refusal. In January last Kicks LETT the
| county and went To Low Moor, Va; where
he got work. While Mt this place; III
March. he wrote "a letter 20 Miss AulllhS
asking her if she would not marry hln
within the next two months. Miss Null
Inns answered the letter. and told HIM she
Would have no further correspondence
with him. nor did she desire his attentions,
although she wished hum success III his
new field.
Kicks was not satisfied. however, and
started back TO Miss Mulllnss nome
reaching the neighborhood four or hye
DAYS before the shooting, and had sought
an interview with her several times WITH
ont success.
The particulars of the shooting seem TO
be as follows: On the morning OF April
22d Miss Mullins, the plaintiff accomppa-
MED by two lady friends, went over 10 the
store of Mr. }. W. Bishop. who lives about
one and half miles from the home OF
Miss Mullins. The young ladies spent the
day with blr. Bishops family, returning 10
the store-room about 4o'clock IL the aller-
noon. -,-.,,. nj,
About u o'clock that day William Kicks;
the accused. came into the store and asked
Mr.. Bishop several times If II would Dc
convenient for him (Ricks) to see Miss
Mullins. Mr. Bishop then went INTO the
house, which is in the same building as the
store, and asked Miss Mullins II she was
willing TO meet Kicks, Dut she refused 10
do so: and when this was reported to
Kicks he said he would see her in spite of
everything In the afternoon. when the
ladies returned to the stOre-room, klcks
was there sitting upon the counter, and ne
entered into a general conversation, hut
did not have any interview with Miss Null
Inns. except 10 ask her why she did not
come out TO see him when he had asked Tor
her. About ) o'clock the three young Ia
dies. accompanied by ,Niessrs' a 'cr IN
Bishop. two young gentlemen of the neigh
bOrhoOl, started for their home. lucks
left the store about this time but went
down the road in another direction. Inc
party had proceeded up the road some dis
fance when they were Overtaken by ldchS,
who was somewhat intoxicated. hicks
then began % use abusive language 10 me
crowd. and asked Miss Mullins AGAIN why
she did not come out to SEQ him when ne
had called for her. By this time, having come
within four or five feet of Miss Mullins,
he drew pistol and shot her in the mead
lust above the eye. Miss Mullins tell at
The first shot. and while PROSTATE Kicks
fred Il second shot. the ball entering her
side lust beneath the arm. Pace then en-
deayorcd TO take the pistol uom me nc
cused but was not able 10 do SO. Edward
Mullins. brother of the wounded lady,
who had heard the shot. had mean. while
arrived on the scene and tried 70 take the
pistol from the accused. Mr.. Mullins had
quite an encounter with Kicks before he
secured the pistol from him, and displayed
considerable bravery in the act, as ho w.
entirely uuarmed. Kicks fired one shot ht
Mullins during the struggle, but the ball
passed through his coat without any m
iury to him. The pistol was aiterward
| taken from Kicks and he was taken IN
charge by two men and carried back to
Bishop's store. He was confined here al
night. and on the next day he was taken
! into the custody of two officers ana
| brought TO this city, where he has since
| been confined in jail.
The friends Of Miss Mullins conveyed
! her 10 her home in q one-horse. wagon,
where she was confined 10 her bedf0r some
| five or six weeks. The wound in her face
has caused the loss Of one Of her eyes,
thereby disfguring an otherwise beautiful
| face.
The accused seems TO realize the enormi-
| tv Of his crime and acknowledges that the
| sentence was Just in his case. Great int.
rest was taken in the trial by the people Of
the neighborhOod where the AFFAIR Oc-
cured.