Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-25
THE STUART SHOOTING.
A Full Statement and Explanation of the
Affair.
STUART, Va, May 10, 1890.
To nc Editor OF tie Dispatch D.:


To ne Editor OF tie Dispatch
Believing as do that you would not will
hngly give publicity to any tragedy or the
happening of any event through the col
umns of your widely-circulated paper that
might create unjust censure or cause in
justice TO be done the innocent, am en-
cOuraged to give you a statement of facts
concerning the unfortunate affair that oc-
Cured here the eve of the l4th instant that
as far as possible error may be corrected
and Justice have her perfect sway. This
affair occurred and resulted about as fol-
lows:
A youth-not a grown-up man of TWEEN
ty-one, but a boy of eighteen summers
Joe Staples, was on visit to his father,
who resides near Stuart, concluded TO at
tend a trial of some trivial matters in said
town on the 14th instant, and while there
n fight took place between one Thomas
Bowman and Jack Pack. Young Staples
demanded fair fight. The Justice order
ed the parties arrested. Young Staples was
the first one taken hold OF. For this he
demonstrated. declaring that he had done
nothing TO call for his arrest. About this
time the town police came up and ordered
Staples's arrest. He again protested, and
defying the policeman began TO retreat to-
wards his home, some half mile distant,
outside of the limits of the town. After
going some one hundred wards he halted and
became greatly exasperated. The policeman
ordered several persons to aid him IN the
arrest of Staples, who warned them not TO
put their hands on him. he again retreat
ed till he reached his fathers enclosure.
Here he warned his pursuers not to follow
him. He then ran for his home and seized
his gun. Up to that time he was totally
unarmed. He then advanced to meet his
pursuers and when about fifty yards from
his fathers house he halted and called
upon the party after him-with guns and
pistols, some on horseback-to stop or he
would shoot them. The party pressed for
ward-H. G. Woolwine In the van. sta
pies shot and Woolwine was hit. BY this
time the father and mother of young Sta
pies had reached the scene and got hold of
their boys gun, when the crowd ran up
and overpowered the enraged boy. Only
one shot was fred, and Mayor Martin was
not even in sight up TO this time.
There is no bitterness whatever between
the friends of Woolwine and young Staples
so far as known. They (even the wounded
mani have behaved with much more pro-
priety and discretion than some would-be
stirrers-up of i'll feeling and strife between
parties heretofore friends. i cannot see
the reason for or propriety Of stating that
IA. Woolwine was United States de-
putty marshal l did no. know that
United States officer was entitled 10 any
special immunity certainly It was not his
intention TO make public the fact that such
an official had no right as such-to execute
civil process. and il would have been fair
and Just it ne had added that the civil
officer. the constable, refused to pursue
young Staples without legal process for
his arrest.
Then let the poor erring boy alone--let
his peers decide for him-but remember
that ii is the highest work of civilization,
of refinement, of chivalry, of Christianity,
TO deal gently with the fallen-not to taunt
man in bonds. The boy is suffering
IN solitary confinement. while his victim
is rapidly convalescing and in the full en-
ioyment of life and Liberty. JUsTIoE.