Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-14
SHOT ON THE STREET.
YOUNG cssaRLlE RuNoe KILLED WITH
kPARLoR-RlflE.
Ferguson. Who Did the shooting, Claims
that II Was Acciientai-In-
quest To-day.


"Ithink you have shot boy out here on
the street."
The speaker was Tim Doyle and his re-
marks were addressed TO James II. Fergu-
son, the proprietor of the shooting-gallery
at 7I2k east Broad street.
Ferguson was in his place Of business.
and was placing the weapon, which had
just been fred. upon the shelf. He walked
20 the door as Doyle spoke, and was evil
IDENTIFY much distressed when heesw Char
lie Runce. a hftceD-year-old white boy,
living upon the sidewalk suffering the
agonies of death.
DOCTORS ARRIVE.
The city ambulance was Immediately
eummoped, and Drs. Davis and Henderson
responded. Before they arrived Dr. Whit
Geld appeared, aud the three physiclans
msdc an examination of the wounded boy,
who was found to be beyond the aid OF hui
man skill.
The tall. which had entered. Just below
the heart was prObed for but not found,
and Runge died about o'clOck--in an
hour after the bullet entered his body.
THE CORONER.
Coroner TAYLOR was summoned and heard
tho statement of Ferguson and other wit
nesS,es and decided 10 hold an inquest over
the DOdy al ~ O'CLOCK tn4S blViHihS az W."
Second station-hOuse.
Fercrfson was arrested and carried to the
police-station, accompanied by number
OF his friends. He did not ask for bail and
was placed in q cell after he had been
searched by Officer Harmon. who was one
of the policemen that took the prisoner to
the station.
FrRGUsoN's STATEMENT.
Tho only account of the whole affair
Il A ~
cuspd himself. who seemed anxious 10 tell
all he knew. His statement IN substance
was as follows:
"A number of BOYS, among them young
Runge, had been playing around and IN
my shooting-g gallery nearly all the after
noon. had been throwing an old basket
at them and teasing one OF them about ms
scareface They would run in and out OF
the building. and jocularly remarked to
Young Stanley, who seemed 10 be one OF
the foremost in the fun, that If he did not
mind he would get shot. Stanley sat
down on the doorsill after awhile and
the other boys went out on the street.
picked up an old gun which had not been
used for some time and which ! did not
think was loaded. and placing II 10 my
shoulder pointed il toward the wall on the
opposite side of the door from where Stan
lev was sitting and pulled down on the
trirper Much 10 my surprise the gun was
had passed into the wall, and was Mortified
and completely unnerved when Doyle came
10 the door and told me boy was shot on
the outside"
MUCH GBIEyED.
Ferguson made n very plain and straight
forward statement, and was evidently
greatly distressed at the result OF his
carelesSneSs.
He said he had no malice whatever to-
ward young Rungc. On the contrary. he
thought a great deal of the boy. who played
around his place almost every day. lie
had no idea the gun was loaded or that
deceased was standing out against the side
of the house toward where the gun was
pointed.
The accused said he felt deeply for the
family Of the boy he had shot, and though
il was all an accident the matter would al
ways be upon his mind and he would
grieve with the sorrow-stricken parents.
oIRER WITNESSES
There are some six or seven witnesses
summoned to appear before the Coroners
jury, but none OF them can testify 10 the
affair as regards all of its details
Most of the boys were on the outside
of the building and heard the weapon ex-
plode and saw deceased tOtter and fall.
They all believe it was an accident, as
Ferguson had been playing with them aud
was in the best humOr.
what he said about Stanley being shot
and Ferguson's then picking uD the gun
and pointing II to the opposite side OF the
door from where he Stanley was sitting
when the weapon exploded.
THRoUGH AN INCH PLANK.
The weapon used was one of the guns
kept in the gallery, though 1t had not been
used for some time. The cartridge with
which 10 was loaded was "a % cali bre (short).
The ball passed through a plank an inch III
thickness and about IA foot from the edge
of the door.
The front of the building is of brick and
boarded on the inside with these thick
planks. The bricks have tumbled from
their places for distance of about eighteen
inches ON the side OF the house next TO the
door. and it was through this opening that
the ball passed
THEIR POSITIONS.
Charlie Smith, small boy says he and
Eunge were standing 10y the side OF the
house. and when the report of the weapon
sounded Runge tottered outinto the street
and fell without uttering a word.
II would have been impossible for Fer
euson 10 have seen deceased from their re-
spectyVe positions when the gun was fired
IL seemed to be the unanimous opinion
that the shooting was accidental, but the
Coroner thought under the circumstances
it was proper 10 have jury pass upon the
case.
THE DECEASED.
Young Runge was son of Dir. Charles
G.. Runge, who Keeps a barber-shop at No.
sos north Seventh street, and had several
sisters and brothers.
The sad news was a great shock to the
family, and their grief was indie, 4 painful
when the dead body was borne home.
THE ACCUSED.
AR. Ferguson is thirty-two years of age.
Hecame to Richmond eleven years ago, and
until recently worked as stationary engi-
nesr. While engaged in this position for
the Transparent Ice Company be lost his
left leg by its being so badly lacerated IN
the machinery as 10 neceSsItate anputa-
ton. This was four years ago, and since
then accused has had HIM wooden leg
made IN place of the lost member.
Mr. Ferguson has awifeand five children,
the Youngest Of which is only few days
old He lives on Cary street between Sixth
and Seventh, and has owned the shooting
gallery only few months.
AS soon IA he was arrested Mr.. Ferguson
gent q friend to confer with G. V. Meredith,
ESQ, in regard To employing him as coun sci