Richmond planet., 1890-08-30
A WANT0N CRIME.
Shot Down on a Public Highway The
wounded Mans Statement.

O'Clock y. NJ, one of the most unfor-
tunate shooting scrapes occurred. /
Thomas Williams, the white bridge
watehman shot and dangerously
wounded John Oakley with an old /
fashioned army pistol, 3S calibre.
WILLIAMS STATEMENT.
The published statements of the !
accused's side of the question is as
follows: Williams says he was at his |
post of duty, which is on any part of
the thoronghfare, when the colored |
man came along and asked him who |
i. was boss of the structure. Williams
replied that he was.
Oakley retorted: "Well, you are
not attending to your business, sir.
saw some buggies trotting across
r here"
The impudence of the man made
Williams little angry and he repli-
ed with some warmth " 1t is none of
your business what goes on here"
The watchman walked towards the
Negro and ,as he says, Oakley struck
him. Williams, thinking the Negro
was a better man physically than
himself, ran to his house to get his
pistol, and when he had secured it he
saw that the Negro was nearly
across the bridge.
He met Oakley before the latter
reached the Manchester end and told
him he was under arrest. Oakley
said he would not be arrested, and
advised Williams TO go away and let
him alone, which the watchman de
clined TO do. He approached Oak
ley, who had piece of wood in his
hand. The watchman says he had
his pistol in his left and his club in
his right hand, and the Negro struck
him with the piece OF wood on his
left, which caused the weapon to dis
charge twice.
The blow from the wood left a bad
looking skin-wound on the watch
mans hand.
Williams SAYS he hated TO shoot the
the Negro, but after he had thrown
the wood at him he approached near
er, and he (Williams) felt that he
would have TO shoot In self-Sleience
and when Oakley had gotten very
very near to him he fired.
Learning of the affair we proceeded
TO the Police Court When the cas-,
W0c C<itiCus O0lDS W tuC etDcCAtCC "
important witnesses the case wa
continued until the next day wheI
the question of bail would be argued
The accused is a spare built whit
man about five feet in height. Hi
face has dirty appearance, and hi
hair apparently matted reaches near
ly to his coat collar and lays loosel.
about his face He walks with
slight stoop.
He is said to be over sixty years O
age.
THE WOUNDED MANS AGONY.
In company with lawyer Giles T
jackson, we went to the residence {
the injured man. He resides on ia
Street near Mechanicsville turnpik
[Church HILL The house in whic
he lives belongs to him. The parlC
is handsomely furnished, and every
thing betokened a hard workin
man. His children-two of them ow
houses adjoining his.
AS we entered the house DR.. r.
Tancil the attending physician can
down stairs. We were ushered in IL
sick room. There on the bed in gres
agony lay John Oakley.
He is of a light gingerbread cello
with slight mustache and goatee an
apparently about so years of ag
He observed us as we entered. b
tween his gasps as the agonizin
pain racked him he gave the folio,
ing account: "Was going across tt
Free bridge to the Manchester siC
tG pick up my tools. Saw hi
2Qking, passed him, and he askt
ne where r We gong l told hi
was going to attend to my bul
ness. He called me damn black
of Ale then came up to me wi
his hands rolled up for fight
pushed him off and said, GIVE !
time to bother with you. He stru
me on the head and arm. start
to the Manchester side of the bride
The white man called to his W
to bring him his pistol. She did 4
and he shot at me three times, tV
of them missed me-"
The wound was uncovered. The
near the groin, but in the left side
the abdomen was the bullet-hO
On top of his head is a cash t.
inches long. 1t extends to the boz
Williams says that he was afrs
Oakley would kill him but shows
signs of any serious injury.
Oakley's left wrist was also bat
injured.
1t seems that this white man !
only feloniously struck him but
forwards shot him, and, from
fact that it was done with intent
kill there can be no doubt. Oak
is tool-boss in the employ OF
Electric Railway Co.
Charley Meredith, Esq,
appear for Williams. Comm
wealth's Attorney Smith was
hand.
Counsel to assist the prosecut
will nrOhahlv he emnloved