Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-24
DISCARDED LOVER.
"Hcre Is Where VIII End Your Life "
The Shot at Miss shaw Missed.
Special ,elesramto tho Dispatch. !


PrrErsBUgG. Va, June 23.-That the
course of true love does not always run
smoothly was instanced by a rather sensa-
tional occurrence on West street IN this
CITY this afternoon. and one which caused
n great deal OF excitement in the neighbor-
hood. Mr.. Richard f. Owen, aged about
twenty-five years. harness-maker by
trade, had for some time been visiting
Miss Mamie Shaw. a very prepossesslng
Young lady residing with her parents
on West street. On Saturday evening he
was gwen TO understand by the young lady
that their friendly relations were ended
and that his visits must cease. lhls morn
ing he called at the young lady's house,
but she refused 10 see HIM. He called
again this afternoon and was admitted.
SHE DECLINED.
During the visit he proposed TO Miss
Shaw that they should take walk. Not
wishing to GO with him she declined on the
ground that the weather was too
Owen subsequently asked for drink
of water which the young lady
brought after refusing to allow him
to accompany her for It. He was
standing Mt the time in the hallway and
she in the door opening into the parlor.
When he had finished drinking the water
he asked Miss Shaw if her decision not, TO
walk with him was final. She replied that
il was.
ATTFMpTED TO KILL HER.
Then said Owen: Here is where | will
end your life" and suiting his action to his
words he drew his pistol and aimed at her
head. the muzZle almost touching her face.
Before the weapon could be discharged,
however. Miss Shaw jumped quickly aside
and the bali lodged in the wall on the OPP
posite side of the room. The young lady
was greatly frightened, but she had
presence of mind to close and fasten the
door between herself and her assallant.
TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF.
She had hardly done this when she heard
second discharge of the pistol. blr.
Owen had shot himself and fallen upon the
passage floor. Mrs. Shaw, the mother of
the young lady. who was sitting IN an adj
Joining room. heard the two pistol-shOts in
quick succession and ran into the passage
to ascertain the cause. Seeing Owen lying
on the floor. but not knowing that he had
shot himself. she ordered him TO leave the
house.
WILL KILL HER YET.
He obeyed but as he went away be re-
marked to Mrs. Shaw " will kill your
daughter vet" Police-Ofcer Northcross,
who was in the vicinity, was sent for and
went IN pursuit Of Owen. lie was arrested
about half an hour after the shooting by
Officers Moody and Eanes IN store Oh
Old street.
WANTED LAUDANUM
While in the store Owen asked some one
10 buy ten cents worth of laudanum for
him. He said he wanted the laudanum 70
qulet his nerves, though some suppose he
wished il for more serious pur-
pose. Owen was taken 10 the station
house, where a casual examination By Drs
Claiborne and Budd showed a pistol-shot
wound in the left breast just above the
nipple He was so weak that he tainted.
BY advice of the physicians he was placed
in a carriage and sent home, where more
careful examination could be made and the
ball probed for. He was put under bond
for his appearance In court.
A RIGHT TO SHOOT HIMSELF.
Owens pistol was twenty y-eight-calibre
weapon The only statement made by the
Young man was "A denial that he shot at
Miss Shaw. and n declaration that he
thought that man had a right TO shoot
himself Appearances indicate that Owen
had been drinking during the day. Miss
Shaw. whose statement Is gwen substan-
TALLY above. swOre out warrant tor the
arrest Of Owen. She expressed the belief
that had she gone with Owen to take the
walk as he proposed he would have GER
tainly killed her. This was probably his
iptoutiou