Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-13
DIED FOR ONE DIME.
Proof in the Trial of Richard SchOO-
ley for Manslaughter.
WHY HE KILLED LEONARD HILTON.
The Divorce Court Keeps Just as Busy as 1t
Has Been of Late.
WHAT THE JUSTICE MILL is GRINDING

murder of Leonard Hilton, in a house near
the garbage furnace, Just back of the jail,
was taken up in the Criminal Court yester-
day, Judge Ewing presiding. The murder
occurred Sunday, June 81, last, during
game of poker, all the parties in the case
being colored. The prosecution was con-
Quoted by District Attorney Burleigh, while
Major f A Montooth and Alexander Goss
cared for the defense.
The first witness called was DIR. r. T.
White of the Homeopathic Hospital staff,
who used so many medical terms that Judge
Ewing asked him to explain his remarks in
English DIR. White then stated that he
had assisted in the post mortem, and found
the bullet had entered the head just above
The left ear, passing through the brain, and
lodged in the back of the head The wound
WAS necessarily fatal one
DE- William c. Rankin, of Second ave-
nue.. testified to having been called by some
one to attend a man. He found the man
sitting on pair of steps at 205 Second
avenue Blood was trickling down from a
wound in the mans head, and the witness
asked who shot him, when a man in the
crowd said that be had shot him. The
witness did not particularly notice the
man. Witness chen dressed the mans
wound and sent him to the Homeopathic
Hospital.
On cross-examination DIR. Rankin testi-
fed that the messenger who came for him
was colorcd man who wore handkerchief
about his neck The man was very much
excited and the witness could not tell
whether the prisoner was the same man or
not.
MURDERED FOR A DIME.
George Fairfax was in the room at the
time of the shooting. He said that they
were playing poker in the house when
Hilton came in the room and threw down
30 cents on the floor. The prisoner took
the money and refused to give it up, but
finally returned % cents, and when Hilton
demanded the other dime, the prisoner
turned to a man called Dandy" and asked
him Tor his gun. On getting the weapon he
pointed il at Hilton and pulled the trigger
The pistol did not go off the first time, but
when he pulled it again the pistol went off
and the bullet struck Hilton. The witness
then ran out of the room and did not see
anything else
Joseph Benjaman and William Lakewood
We're in the room at the time of the shoot
ING and told substantially the same story as
the preceding witness.
Peter johnson, who was also in the room,
testified that when Schooley pointed the
gun, the witness fell back on the bed and
said. ''dont do that it might be loaded -
At this point the Commonwealth rested
and Major Montooth opened for the de-
tenSe. He said that it was admitted that |
there had been an unlawful killing, but that
the crime did not reach a higher grade than
involuntary manslaughter if they did not
acquit the prisoner
The first witness for the defense was the |
prisoner, Richard I. Schooley. The witness |
stated that he was % years old, and was
born in Washing gton, d. c. On Sunday, |
June 21. with a number of others, he was /
playing poker in a house owned by man
known as ''The Devil They first started
10 shoot 'craps,' but, as that game was too
noisy, they started a game of poker Hilton
came in while they were playing, and, pull |
ing ont 50 cents, threw it on the floor and
wanted to gej in the game. Some one in
ihe crowd told Hilton that he would have |
70 show up 81 to get iii the game. There |
followed some words. but not in anger. and |
Hilton reached to get the witness money. |
At this time the crowd were laughing and |
Joking, and the witness turned to the fellow |
called Dandy and asked him for his gun; |
then, turning To Hilton, he said: 'Look out, |
I'll shoot YOU.
THE SECOND SHOT A FATAL ONE.
The witness pointed the revolver at Hill |
ton twice, each time pulling the trigger. |
The second time it went off The revolver /
had been examined by the entire crowd be- |
lore Hilton came into the room. and every |
body noticed that it was not loaded. When +!
the shot was fired Hilton fell over and said, |
Dick, you shot me, " and the witness re- |
piled. ''My God, 1 didn't know it was
loaded"
Al this point the witness broke down and |
cried like a child. 1t was fully three min |
UteS before be could resume his testimony. |
Hilton then said to him: "Dick, you take
this dollar" At this time the room was in !
darkness, the lamp having been overturned. |
Witness wanted to pick Hilton up and |
carry him 20 a doctor, but couldn't carry
him. Witness then started after a DOCTOR |
and finally, after going to several places, |
found one and told him he had shot a man
and wanted the doctor to attend him. The /
doctor went with him, and on the wav they
met an officer, and TIE witness was placed .
under arrest. Witness stated that he had
known Hilton for four years, aud they were
as close as brothers.
On croSs-examination witness admitted |
tba; most Of his time was put in gambling
Edward Brooks and Annie Brooks testi-
fed to the good character of the prisoner.
Major Montooth offered to enter a plea of
involuntary manslaughter, but the Court |
refused to take any such plea, and the case
then went TO the jury. Major Montooth
claimed that there could be no conviction
under the Indictment, as il called for moth
ing less than voluntary manslaughter, and
the testimony showed that the shooting was
clearly accidental, and there should be an
acquittal.
District Attorney Burleigh made an able
address, going over the testimony word for
word, and claiming a willful, deliberate
murder and a verdict of first or second de-
gree.
Judge Ewing's charge to the jury was on
the law, and when dealing with the facts
dwelt strongly on voluntary manslaughter.
The jury retired at 4:45 o'clock.
At o'clock the Jury returned, after !
having been out liJtle more than an hour.
Their verdict was voluntary manslaughter, |
with a recommendation to the extreme
mercy of the Court. The prisoner seemed
to be well pleased with lhe result.
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vs. Wilson. Bateman VS. Dunlap; Garovi Y