Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-15
BORN In RICHMOND.
ooOovWiN'e SLAYER CLAIMS TO BE
NATIVE OF THIS CITY.
An Inquiry Indicating that wsbstsr's Real
Name 10 Thought BY soms to De
0ouldmsu.

Private kilograms received here last
night by correspondents of New York pa
pers indicate that the belief Ii held by
some OF the officers in that city that the
real naue Of tho man who ON the night of
August I'd shot and killed Charles z Good
win, Jr., Is Gouldman.
The name given by the person held for
the murder Is Burton Cor Bertram) @. Web
ster, who says that he was born in Rich
mond.
The idea has also gotten out in New
York that some time between 1880 Ind 1855
Gouldman served twelve months term
IN the Virginia pcnitentisry for shooting
Richmond car-driver named Pierce.
This latter supposition is certainly er:
roneous, and the belief that Webster and
Gouldman are one and the same person Is
SEARCHING THE RECORDS.
Having received an intimation that IN
auiries of the character indicated were
being sent here from the New York papers,
q DISPATCH reporter spent several hours
last night examining such records as were
accessible to see if any man by the name
of Gouldman had really been convicted IN
this city of felonious shooting.
The First and Second police stations
were visited and the officers in charge
kindly made search of such of their books
as could be gotten to at so unreasonable
an hour. At neither place did tho name
being looked for appear.
The penitentiary was next communi-
Gated with, but the books of record were
locked up for the night and the clerk was
away with the keys.
Superintendent Selden and others con-
nected with the City railway were asked
about the matter, but they knew nothing
of any street-car driver ever having been
shot. nor could they remember that there
had ever been driver named Pierce.
SOME LIGHT AT THE JAIL.
Next the reporter went to the city jail.
Here fully an hour was spent IN searching
the records of the past decade. and the
only light given upon the matter was that
on January s, 1881, white man named
James Gouldman was committed by Po-
lice-Justice Richardson, to be tried by the
Hastings Court oil the charge of feloni-
ously shooting Henry Hustin;. that on
JanuGy 10, 1881, the said Gouldman was
convicted Of felony and sentenced to the
penitentiary for term of three years.
A new trial was granted and this occurred
on February 8th of the same year. and the
prisoner was again convicted and gwen
ninety days in the city jail and lined $50.
These documents Furthermore show that
Gouldman was released from the prison on
June Sth. having served his term ana the
extra time required on account or the nne
imposed.
Mr.. Claiborne Epps, who assisted the re-
porter in searching through voluminous
pile of old papers and books. learned from
one of the jailmen that it was reported In
the city only few days ago that Gouldman
was down South and doing well.
a consultation of the DISPATCH files sus-
tanned the Jail records. though no informa-
ton cleaned shows what was the occupa-
ton of either Gouldman or the man whom
he shot. Captain Angle and Others seem
TO think The former was street-dealer III
fruits and confectionerles.
THE FATAL SHOOTING.
As stated above the murder occurred on
Sunday night. August Cd. An inquest was
held Wednesday and the jury finding that
death resulted from a pistol-shot wound
inflicted by Webster the prisoner was CON-
mitted to the Tombs without bail.
Anna Jennet Wade. the housekeeper OF
the Percival flats, where the shooting oc-
cured" says the New. ork Herald, re
peated before the coroner's jury her vivid
recollections of the events of the evening
of August %. She and her husband had
Just gone upstairs when they heard fall
and crash. She rushed down ana asheu
the elevator boy if he had heard the noise.
Just then she saw Mr.. Webster coming
slowly down the marble stairs. He told
her to 60 for doctor. She asked him If
he wanted Mrs. Webster's doctor. He
said: No. get any doctor; that man
Goodwin Is shot
witness went upstairs and entered
Goodwins room. He was lying on the
floor near his desk. She assisted in lifting
him on to the lounge. DR.. WINNER soon
appeared and told her to get some whiskey.
Mr.. Goodwin showed her where to get It.
He then asked her to take charge of his
letter. Witness said TO MIR. Goodwin.
fear you are suffering He answered !;
'Oh, God. this Is cruel too cruel. | did
not deserve it, knock came to the door.
| said Come" | stood up and Webster
came to the door and shot me-"
The husband of this witness testified
that the alleged wife of Webster had COM
planned to him that Goodwin put his arm
around her neck.