Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1890-03-12
TO KILL. "
DIR. H. A. SIMS NARROW ES-
CAPE FROM DEATH.
HISS WOoFBN, The ASSsILANr.
A Ball From 32.CaIibre Pistol
Grazcs the Doctors Check-The
Deed Committee at DIR. Sims House.
Mis-. wooten Arrested.

DR.. H. A. Sims, a prominent physi-
clan OF this city, narrowly escaped be-
ing killed last night by Miss Nora
Wooton, pretty young lady, with
flashing black eyes and long curly
hair.
About o'clock the telephone bell
in DIR. Sims comfortable residence, on
Campbell street, tinkled merrily, and
he answered it. A ladys voice en-
quired whether or not he would be at
the office again that evening, and the
doctor replied that he would not, IN,
less in case Of an emergency. The
voice came back with the reply that
the speaker wouldn't trouble him.
The doctor turned to go into the par
lor, where he was entertaining guests,
but just then u knock sounded on the
front door and when it was opened q
woman was seen on the further end OF
the long porch. She had shawl
wrapped around l.er shoulders and
head, and both OF hel qnds were up
to her face as il she ,re suffering
great pain. DR.. Sims moved towards
her and at the same time she walked
to meet him. When within two feet
of the woman before he saw that she
had q pistol in her hand, he sprang
towards her to wrest 1t from her
grasp, but before he could reach her
she lowered the weapon to level
with his head and fired. AS she did
so the doctor struck her arm up and
the bullet sped upward and buried
itself in the ceiling of the porch. The
physicians face was considerably
burned by powder.
Dr. Sims caught the woman as she
was about TO again fire and held her
arms and took the pistol from her
She fell to the floor and not until then
did he recognize her. The noise of
the shot aroused the people in the
parlors and they rushed out on the
porch. All was confusion in an IN
slant, but Mr.. R. U. Derr and Mr..
Frank Caldwell, who were present, had
presence Of mind enough to seize the
assailant before she could escape.
They escorted her to police head
quarters where she was locked up in
the front room.
II have no idea," said the doctor to
a TIMES reporter, "why the woman
should attempt to kill me. know
something of her, and believe that she
is crazy. She has called at my office
number OF times, claiming to be sui
fering from various complaints, but
upon examination found that it was
nothing but an hallucination. She
has annoyed number of prominent
citizens in various ways during the
past few weeks and about two weeks
ago she was adjudged a lunatic by
commission composed of Justices S.
w. Howerton, Samuel g. Williams
and E. w. Donnelly. This commits
sion met at the residence Of her father
SO as to avoid any undue publicity
and a number OF witnesses were
examined. No, bave not the slight
est idea why she should select me as a
target on which to practice. All
know is that had very narrow
escape and firmly believe that the
woman intended to kill me-
The career OF Miss Wooton has
been quite cratic. She is a rather
pretty girl and came to this city with |
her family some years ago from |
Henry county, where she is well con-
nected. She has two brothers, one of
whom, Nathaniel Wooton, is a letter
carrier, and the other, William, is an
employee in the Roanoke Machine
Works. During the past week she
has several times assaulted her broth
ers, and they have complained to the
and asked that she be
confined in an asylum. But this was
neglected by them, though. 1t was
intended that she be sent away
in few days.
Some time before she was adjudged
a lunatic, her parents thought that
they would send her to the house of
an aunt in Augusta county, but she
did not get off at her station, but |
went to Baltimore. Here she claims |
that she tried hard to get position
but did not succeed, aud |
then she attempted to get into a
convent. Father Broderick wrote to
Father Lynch about the matter, say
ing that the young woman had better
be sent to a lunatic asylum. He then
placed her on the train and sent her
back to this city where she has resided
since. Last night her brothers, after
the shooting occurred, called at the
house and expressed their regrets at
the occurrence.
The young woman spent the night at
headquarters. She did not say at any
time that she regretted the shooting
in the least. She did say, however,
that she was sorry that she had not
succeeded in injuring the doctor in
some way. II didn't want to kill
him." she exclaimed, "but would
have liked to knock his eye out"
The case will be called in the police
court today.
The Minstrel Show.
The Guy Bros. gave good minstrel
L ID