Telegram-herald., 1889-10-03
A BLOODY TRAGEDY
A Young Married Couple Are the
Principals.
ARTHUR RICHARD lyD ISWIfE SHOT
a nysssrfoas Anair That IL Is Hard q
solFs-Ihs Frleads 0f ths Victims " IA
Aet Talk-Thers Is Hope of Mrs.
Hlckzrd Recovering

Al a yesterday % ming nnessen-
ger bg0ugli the sLaEtA : intell gence ~
police headquarters that a terrible trag-
ely had Occugred-Arthur Rickard
had been shot dead and h.s y lie fatal y
injured AT 254 south l0n.a-st. Two or
three officers, the coroner, and TILE
GaAa-HERALD reporter, immediately
repaired % the scene Of the dreadful
tragedy.
Dr. Charles Shepherd, the uncle Of
R.czard, vas 10 attendance, and he
ana the other occupants OF the house
Wls disposed % bar the entrance Of any
one into the house, bat the officers and
reporter entered and found the follow
iug state OF affairs: IN a neatly fur
ulshed room On the second floor OF the
house, lying On the front side of the
led, was Arthur Rickard, apparently iE
deep sleep, but the blood-stained pill
lows and a large pool OF blood on the
floor Ia front of the bed, showed too
plainly that 10 was the sleep of death.
No one bat the doctors were allowed
70 see Mrs. RicKard, but it was learned
that she had been shot in the left
cheek. just Ia front and slightly below
the ear. She was n critical condi-
ton. but said that Arthur did the shoot
ing. Frank Rlckard. the brother of the
dead man; Mrs. Rick2rd, ms mother,
and Mr. and Mrs. Crooks, who are
visitors At the house, all refused to talk
about the tragedy, and, by their ac-
tons, indicated that there was some
thing connected with the affair that
they did not care 70 nave known bY the
public. IL was learned, however, that
Rckard, who has been employed az
Foster, Stevens & Co. as a night watch
for the past two years, was married at
Bavenna, Ohio, May 81 last, to Miss
Eelya l.. Kneeland, of Freedom, Ohio.
They immediately went 10 live IN the
house at 294 lOma-st., with Richard :
widowed mother. and as near as can be
learned, have lived happily during
their short term of married life.
4lr tffAUtltI AOUllu ktiAb tic UNitrs
which ended Ricksrd's life was fired
from a 32-cahber revolver, and had en-
tered the head in front OF the ear, Just
a, the edge OF the hair, caus-
ing instant death. Ii was evident
from tnc position of Richards body
that ne could not have shot himself
His hands lay crossed upon ms breast,
his legs were crossed, and his ewes were
30. 4 a. !, IL
IA a sound sleep. The closed condition
of the eyes would indicate this, a;
those who die violent deaths almost
universally have the eyes staring wide
open.
kickard was lying near the front OF
the bed with MS face slightly turned to-
ward the back side of the bed. HI:
pillow was drenched in blood, while
the.pllOw on the back side of the bed
which was doubled up and lying very
close % his pillow. had little or nc
blood upon il. The clothes at the
back edge of the bed were not
disturbed, a If they had been slept
ON, but the covers were turned back Al
the corners. There was also some
blood on the front edge of the bed neal
the middle. The revolver laid on tht
floor about two feet from the bed. A
large pool of blood had formed and
spread ont on the floor as far a pail
OF drawers, which lay on the floor. The
pistol Lard beyond the drawers. The
coroner imp1neled as a jury COrnehu:
Van tIOldercn. Wilber +. DickersOn
Michael Highland, ThOs. Harty, Ira Y
Burnham and John Quinn. He eX
amincd the room the couple occupied
and commenced the inquest. The
writing desk was open and on the leaf
were found several letters addressed
and stamped ready for mailing. CpOr
opening them one was found 70 be
written by the wife. II was addressed
% relative at her old home, was long
and loving and hopeful. telling OF mel
own happiness ana was dated last sun
day. The other letters were written by
him and were purely business affairs
Tie and ms brother had been interested
,n m extension ladder and ne was
sending out accounts for amounts due
la the closet vas small iron box oil
safe with combination lock, lt wa
locked and has not vet been opened
Coroner Locher summoned Franz
R'c>3rd brother of the dead man. a.
Size FIRST witness. Frank was awakeneC
bv che tv1 shots and when he opened
Ls room door saw his mother and Elva
n s'ster-iu-lsw. in rne ball. Elva wa
iean.ug against the wall bleeding. an,
s1t Arthur had shot her Witness SAFE
the couple retired o their room Tues
day night 7tS o'clock. Arthur feeln.
weary, they then and always ht'
seemed cheerful. conteDted and happy
and never word bad he heard ot AM
iutCngOrs or desire 20 die. there had
been no qu7rreIs or unpleasantness tina
he knew of and u0 trouble. but no
only Arthur and his wife. bat the res
Of the fam Iv. we've harmonious. Ar
thur was 31 wears old, employed IN Fos
ter. stevens q Coz store. and was o
good habits. he had a revolver las
Fourth of July. but witness bad ueve
seen it since. he was not hasty or qulcl
tempered and was always very kin,
and accommodating.
Mrs. Crook. the aunt who arrive
Yesterday morning. was aroused 10y to'
shots. the room she and her hushan,
occupied was almost direCtiO across tn
hall. She heard no conversation O
noise in the fatal room. she was at DIN
ner With the family Tuesday ans
Arthur was nm good spirits. and at sup
Der he vas socisble and pleasant, en-
couple retired early. while Mr.. an,
Mrs. Crook remained up to see the firN
works until after 2 o'clock. Mrs
Crooks husband test fed the same a
h's wife. Ralph Crook. their ll-year
cd s0n, sad he woke ND about
o'clock I'M the morning. heard some
body walking IN Arthur's room sut
tnen heard The shooting he hear-
only one shot and frightened he puIleg
tne qui.t over his head and I'D no
hear The second.
The aged mother II the dead mar