Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-08
STILL UNSOLvED.
sTAuNToN AUTHORITIES At WORN
ON THE CONNELL MYSTERY.
Tho Victim Thought ut First . friono ""'
Joking Him-The Open
Door.
Especial telegram to the Dispatch.l

SrAuSroN, Va. August THE mystery
surrounding the killing OF d. u. Conner,
on a Pullman car on the Chesapeake anu
Ohio railway is still unsolved 80 far ms inc
authorities hero are concerned. and its So
linton is awaited by the public with the
deepcst interest. Numerous theories nave
bcen advanced and countless rumors are
aeoat ne 10 the motive which prompted the
assassin and the mode he pursued 10 nc.
compl;sh bis dastardly crime. but none OK
tbe rumorx can be substantiated. ana the
facts already made known to the pubic ny
Tho DrspATcu are about all that are au-
tbentic. . .ho foot
of q man having been seen with pistol IN
his hand and apparently looking tor s9lne
one boarding the tram as II was puning
out OF the station at this plac,, aituou9n
Conductor O'Neill Of, the Pullman car,
boots NJ the idea and says that he himself
cot of here and got back on the rear plat
form of bis car. Mr.. O'Neill says that he
assigned gentleman who got on here MS
berth and then went into the smoking
room TO write up his tickets. that being
the proper and only place for him to do
that work.
THOUGHT IT WAS JOKE AT FIRST.
Mr.. Hardy. a prominent railroad con-
tractor, who has been engaged IN the con-
struction Of the Craig Valley road. and was
n warm personal friend of Mr.. Connells,
went to Charlottesville last sunday 10 see
the wounded man. MIR. Connelrs son told
him that his father supposed when he was
first aroused that his friend Mr.. Talbot,
who was on the tram. was playing Joke
on him. MIR. Talbot is an engineer on the
Craig-Vallev road and was an intimate
friend of the dead man. The son also said
that his father was a very sound Sleeper
and owing TO his advanced age was slight:
lv deaf. Mr.. Hardy Gays that the family OF
the deceased Will bring suit against the
Pullman Company for their carelessn"ss IN
leaving the rear door of the coach open
and the body of the car unguarded.
WHAT A c. AND o. OFFICIAL SAYS.
An official of the Chesapeake and Ohio
railway who was seen by the DISPATCH
correspondent SAYS that while mach stress
has been laid on the fact of the rear door >
being open, as q matter of fact, doors of
sleepers are not kept locked now and have
not been for some time. He gave rs
reason for this that some time ago sleeper
was burned IN wreck on western ROAD.
Several Of the passengers could not escape
owing to the door being locked. lie further
said that so far as n fiagman's being on the
tually no such thing as Aagmen on pas
senger train.
GREAT INTEREST
The greatest interest IS manifested in
this affair all along the line of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio and especially i'll those
sections where Mr. Connell was known,
and where all speak of him in the highest
terms.
Meade F. White, Commonwealth attor-
ney for Augusta county, Is actively at
work on the case and ia making diligent
search for any and all clues.
| More About the Actions Of the Man Seen
at staunton.
The Vdtty Vrginion, referring to the
shooting Of Mr.. Connell SAYS:
There is a mystery about these daring
assaults that may find solution later.
When the train that was entered at Basic
City reached Stanton az 1:30 A. Nj. OF
| Saturday four or five passengers got oil
aud proceeded to the Virginia Hotel. A
| Young man, hatless, and with a cooked
| pistol in his hand, followed them from the
| cars for nearly square. Coming up with
| them he peered into each face stepped
across the street. put the pistol IN his
| pocket, and hurriedly returned to the
| train.
The action of the man at Stanton in
| dicated that he was looking for some one
with murderous intent. 1t is possible it
was Mr.. Council, and finding that he had
not left the car he returned and continued
his Journey to the next stop at Basic City,
where he attempted to kill the person he
was looking for. This is merely a conjec-
ture based upon the action of the stranger
| at stanton and the manner of the assault
at Basic City. Several persons particu;
| larly noticed the man at Staunton who had
| acted so queerly and was so much excited
| that he left HIS hat in the train. and would
| possibly be able to recognize him."