Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-19
GIVE ME THE PISTOL"
NO, SIR; WILL DO IT MYSELF" BE
SAID.
Il Know Rhods Has Told You ALL
Ross Tells How He Shot
Hughes
IspecIAl .sIerram o tno pIspa.ch.l

GLOUCESTER COURTHOUSE. VA. February
16.-The examination OF Ross did not begin
until 2:l5 this evening. The prisoner, In
charge Of Deputy.sheriff J. N. Shackleiord,
came into court. He was well dressed add
looked well. lie was composed and took
chew OF tobacco while awaiting the begin.
ming OF the proceedings. w. 5. Ware, ). b.
Chapman, w. S. Chapman. Charles II.
Bridges, +. G. Cooke, Miss Maggie Thofp-
son. Mrs. Frances Robinson. and Frederick
smith we're called as witnesses Tor the Com
monwealth. The examination OF these wit"
nesses developed nothing new.
ROSS STATEMENT.
The prisoner made long statement. lie
said that last Wednesday night between IL
and 2 O'Clock bis wife told him something
a. Hughes's improper conduct toward her.
Nexl morning, after Hughes had breakflsted
add left the house. Ross and his wife break
tasted. Ross then went 10 HUghes's room.
got his (Ilughes's) pistol Uhe only enc In the
house, and four cartridges, one chamber
being loaded. He intended 20 give his wife
the pistol to protect herself, but she accOm~
panied him. and so be put the pistol in his
OyercOat pocket. lie and biz vile spent The
day at his (Ross's) Office, and went up 10
dinner. After having seen Hughes 20 away
be left his wife, add later she came down to
walk home with him.
HUGHEs's PROPOSALS.
Walking back she told him more fully OF
Hugnes's proposals and attempts. When
they got to the house Hughes had returned.
They went to their room. The following l.
his exact statement regarding tue tragedy:
i Immediately left my wife before she had
taken her wraps OF and walked uto fIughes's
room, having taken the pistol out OF my
OvercOat pocket. The whole time from my
getting into the house snd entering lIughes's
room vas not over thirty or forty seconds.
He was lying In bed smoking his pipe, and
] have the impression no was holding IN bis
right hand a small volume. | closed one OF
the iOlding-dOOrs 10 the room that was open.
He asked me q holding the pistol all the
time what | wanted.
THE EXPLANATION.
I told him / wanted an explanation OF this
thing.
Die told Ire he dld not understand what !
wanted
said: ayes you do"
lie then rose IN a sitting posture IN the
bed and said: " 1 know Rhoda has told you
all and told her what | would do" He
then said: 'Giye me the pistol, [ Will shoot
myself" or words TO that effect.
| told bin: "No, sir; ! will do It Myself"
Then ] shot him.
lie was sitting when shot him. He re-
laxed himself at once, his hand coming down
on bis chest with DIS pipe in il.
VERY COOL.
think | went up to him first to see
whether he was Bit, aud then / went and
lsld the pistol on the commode. at the foot OF
the bed. and came bsck and found be was
evidently hurt. / noticed first, living under
the side OF his head on the pillow the least
little speck OF blood. | then went out to
notify nv wife. ! imagined every body
would have heard It and that they would
rush IN.
no BAIL ASKED.
Ross counsel did not AK for bail. He
was committed for the next term OF the
County Court.
There was crowd IN the courtroom. 4
majority OF whom were colored people.
Hughes was buried yesterday in the Pres
byterian church-yird. Rev. William b.
Lee. Of the Episcopal church, read the
burial service. Quite number Of white and
cOlored people were out IN spite OF tae disa-
gIeeaOe weather.