Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-28
SHOT ON THE BRIDGE.
wsTcHMAN WILLIAMS GIVES JOHN
OAKLEY A DANGEROUS WOUND.
Inherent Versions as to How the Trouble
occurred-The Injuries May
Prove Fatal

Soon after noon yesterday Mr.. Thomas
Williams. watchman on the Free bridge,
shot John Oakley with an old-fashioned
army pistol, and he may die from the effects
of his wound.
Oakley is q colored man about fifty years
NJ age and lives with his family on Mosby
street near Jay.
Ny. Williams is about eixty-six years OF
ace He j. "a native of Chesterfield and at
one time was n school-teacher near Mid
lothian. For about three years he has been
ereichman on the Free bridge. II Is his
iutv u see that the ordinance with regard
,o fast driving across the river is not vio-
lsfed He is sworn officer with authority
~ arrest persons for improper conduct on
tba structure of which he has charge. lie
ives with his wife in a small house at the
Manchester end Of the bridge.
Mr.. wrLLIAMs's STATEMENT.
Mr.. williams and the wounded man give
different versions OF the affair.
The former said he was at his post of
dntv. which Is on any part of the thor
opghfare. when the negro came along and
asked him who was boss OF the structure
Air. Williams replied that he was
Oakley retorted well. YOU are not at
tending TO your business, SIR. / saw some
hucgios trott NO across here" =,
The impudenco of the man made Nr.
Williams little angry and he replied with
some warmth: 1t Is none OF your business
what goes on here"
Inc watchman walked towards the ne
GRO and. AZ he SAYS. Oakley struck him.
Nr. Williams. thinking the negro was
letter man physically than L.nseit, ran 70
his house TO get his pistol, and when he
had secured IL he saw that the negro was
ptarly across the bridge.
TIfg TROUBLE CULMINATEs.
Ve met Oakley before the latter reached
tbo Manchester end and told him he was
onjcr arrest. Oakley saId he would not be
srrested. ard advised Mr.. Williams to go
avsv and let him alone. which the watch
nan declined 10 DO. He approached OAK
lev. who had piece OF wood III DIS nauu.
The watchmaD says he hsi ms plstol IA !il iils
ieft and his club IN his night hand, ana the
NEGRO struck him with the piece OF WOOD
ou his left. which caused the weapon To
Tbr blow from the wood left a bad Hook
inc skin-wOund on the watchmans 8 hand.
Williams SAYS he hated 10 snoOt the ne;
GRO. but after he had thrown the WOOD
al him he approached nearer, and ne VII
I,uns felt that he would have TO shoot IN
soiEdelence. and when Oakley had gotten
very. very near to him he fired.
several persons who witnessed the tfou-
he told the watchman to kill the negro.
WHAT THE MICRO SAYS
Oakley, who was suffering great pain;
was seen soon after the shooting anu tolu
bis story as follows: II was shot tor
nothing. was going across the bridge 70
Manchester TO DO some work, ana the
,vatchman asked me where ! was gong. l
repEed: None Of your business. Mhere-
upon he called me a black son OF D.
4Gf a
that and he asked: What are you gong
40 about it, We then had some words
and ha struck me on the head with his cluD
and ON INV finger. | followed him when ne
vent gfter his pistol. because ] was gong
over Tie bridge TO Manchester. l dld not
strike him at ALL"
Oakley explained further that he was ca
ro,fs 10 Manchester 20 get some tools De-
longing 60 the Southside company ny
which he was employed.
The negro in addition TO the wound ne
received from the pistol had an ugly gash
ON his hcnd. which was produced, he says,
by blow from the watchman's club
THE WIFE STATEMENT.
Mrs Williams was also seen toy NSpd'ch
reDorter and stated that she knew nothing
4 the difficulty until her husband came
ruuninp M to tbe door and asked her TO
look in the drawer for his pistol and nara
u To him. The negro was then following
right behind him and would have killed
him, she thinks. had ne not seen several
persons looking on. She handed her nus
band the weapon in great fright, Expecting
every minutetO see him brained by the ne
gro. Az soon as be procured the pistol Mr..
Williams walked mp to the negro and told
him 10 consider himself under arrest, to
which the negro replied. l VIII knock
gour id brains out and struck at the
~, WnD1
Several people standing by cried ohoot
Ilm o." When her husband was struck m
tre FIGHT with the piece OF timber the pistol
was discharged twice and then Mr.. WI,
hams fred at the negro. expected
every minute 10 see my husbands brains
fy," said Mrs Williams, "as heard the
negro tell him 20 60 back when he ad-
yanced or be would kill him."
THE WOUND.
The wound made by the pistol-shot is IN
the lower part Of the right side of the alb
1ofncp and ii is feared that the ball has
penetrated the bowels. As soon as the
.hootiup was over Oakley. with blood
streaming down his face and oozlng out OF
the opening IN his side, walked back TO
Richmond He was followed by a
large crowd. which greatly swelled
on the way over. lie was laid on some
timber IN a shed in the lower part Of
that between his groans he gave the news
rathcrcr his version OF the affair. lie was
soon recognized by several acquaintances,
one OF whom secured a cloth and buckle
OF water with which the blood was washed
from his feversh brow.
Several efforts were made 20 get the city
ambulance. but il could not be reached
lust at that time. and the wounded man
was placed in q furniture wagon and taken
% the Second police-statioD. Here he was
met by the almshouse physicians in charge
of the ambulance and an examination OF
nis injuries was made. The ball was
probed for, but not found. The man at
his request was taken 10 his home,
The almshOuse physicians said II might
be several days before the result OF the
wound could be told.
WILLIAMS UNDrB ARREST.
The watchman was at his post of duty
when shortly after the shooting Officer W.
g. wilkinson went over and arrested MN:
Sir. Williams was perfectly cool and
seemed TO think he had done nothing but
shat was justifable under the circum-
sauces. He was locked up at the Second
stGtiOn-house.
SIR Williams, II is said, has borne q good
reputation an1 the bridge commissioners
have been much pleased with his services
a. watchman. Mr. I. p. Campbell, one of
ihcm called at the station-house TO talk
vlth the prisoner and inquired whether
bail would be allowed. lie was answered
b. the negative.
So far as was known up 10 midnight the
prisoner had not retained any counsel. His
ease will come before the Police Court this
morning and will doubtless be continued
Tor ten days. II there is any examination
stall il will be on the question of bail.
Dr. franklin Is attending the wounded
man, who bears his injuries and suffering
With a great deal Of fortitude. Late IN the
day he was calm and talked in the most
connected matter about the occurrence.
The club with which the negro made wal
on the wsichman Is said TO have been q
piece Of bridge-hooring about loot and
half long. six inches wide. and two inches
thick.