Telegram-herald., 1889-10-03

continued unt1. THIS afternoon a.
o'clock Al the coroners Ofmce-
Ohcer We0b ssys that DR.. shepherd
Nas ~ much affected over tne Occur
renee that be cried Ike a cnild snd aas
unable tO do anything but moan and
weep t0r some tine alter be entered
the house.
There are any number Of theories
about the sl00Ing some tnlnk
tlaJ Arthur and some think tnsI
klv4 -lstle shooting. IL 4 evident
nom ali the circumstances, and the
behavior Of Lhe family, that there Is
something that they are keeping back.
Or. Shepherd sald last ght 70 a IELE-
6EAM-HERALD reporter that ne thought
% very wrong Tor the paper, % east any
Suspicion on ElFa until there was sOuae
proof that she dld the shooting. 1T IS
a great mystery, and no one Viii evbr
know how 70 happened" SAID he. He
expressed u as ms opinion that Mrs.
kcSard would recover.
Arthur Rlckard for three years past
worked a, night watchman Al Foster,
Stevens & Co. store, and was cOnsld-
cred au honest, TNtutul and trukJ-
worthy emplOye. When he was marr4d,
sixteen wees, ago, ne slgnted hls in-
tentlOu o. seeS other employment, 80
that Le could be ~ nome in tne eydn-
lug lie was Wtll liked by MS employ
ers, and they, desiring % retain hlm,
made an effort 10 provide new pds-
ton for him uutil something better
should develop. He was put 10 work
ln the basement, having charge or the
stock. until there should be chaRce
Tor promotion. His salary was the
same as before, but the work was IN
the day, and he had the evenings 10
himself. lie worked Tuesday, and
seemed 10 be cheerful and happy, and
came in contact with most of has tel
low clerks during the day. He left the
store at night AT the usual hour, and 10
al appearances was very highly salts
hed with his new position, aud the an
nOuncement of ms death IS a great sur
prise and shock To the boys IN the store.
His employers speak IN the highest
terms OF his integrity and fidelity, and
can not understand the affair.
sidney Stevens stated 10 a reporter
that Arthur was a good steady man
and one that he did not want 10 lose
from the store. He had promised to
give him better position as soon as
there was vacancy. Ii was not as
good a place as Arthur VAS capable of
filing, but It was the only place VACANT
at the time the change was made.
Upon close examination of Rlckard's 5
body and of ms wife not the slightest
traces of powder burns can be found.
The shooting must have been at close
range if Rickard did L, and this absence
OF burns or trace OF powder is con-
sldercd peculiar. On his left arm be-
tween the wrist and elbow is what looks
like 4 burn. while the wound in his
head Is sharp and perfectly clean. 1t
true the latest improved cartridges do
not flash forth Ike the Old-fashiOned
! powder cartridges, but still it IS
| thought there would have been some
trace left. 1t Is hardly possible, how
ever, that any third party could have
had a hand in the transaction. The
! chamber window is high above the
ground and the door leading into the
hall was locked. The marks are
plainly visible on the door
and adjacent wall near the
lock where the unfortunate woman
| fumbled for the key TO open the door,
and there is even a place visible where
| apparently she rested her head for
moment.
There is also another theory. The
couple were very quietly married. She
was country girl and her home was
in Freedom, although they were mar
ried in Ravenna. They came here and
| he took her TO his mothers house,
| where she was taken IN as one of the
| family and was treated as such. They
| lived happily together and all was har-
| mOnious. Tuesday the Crooks came.
| They lived in Ravenna near the girl S
| former home. 1t is limited that the
| girl had reason to believe they might
make trouble for herself and husband
| and perhaps she and not her husband
did tue shooting. This would explain
why ms face was not burned and also
the burn on his arm. II would also ex-
| plain why there is so little blood
on the sheets and clothing
where she laid in the bed
| by his side and which were al
! most unstained when the family arrived.
\ reporter called at the Rickard
home yesterday afternoon, thinking
| that perhaps the excitement had worn
| off slightly so that the brother would
| talk about the matter but he opened
| the door only about an inch and asked
what was wanted. When informed, Re
| closed and locked the door, thus shut
J ting Oft all hopes of an interview.