Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-02
TERYSTRANGESTORY
ATTEMPT 70 MURDER o. r. coNNeLL
ON A PULLMAN SLEEPER.
The Alleged Assassin Makes Young Lady
Scream HE IL Kichsd-shoots Con-
neli-Cnsccn by Anybody.
Especial telegram TO the Dispaich.l

CHARLOTTESVILLE, August IA most
dastardly attempt was made to murder
Mr.. d. +. Cornell. Of Portsmouth, o.. this
morning about 2 O'Clock by some unknown
person on the Pullman sleeper attached to
Train No. Q. from the West. on the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railway. at some point be-
tween Wayncsboro' and Base City. From
tho best information obtainable It Is
Searned that the person who did the shoot
tng was very young white man. passcn-
ger on the train, who wore siouch black
InE WRONG HyRTH.
II il ea,d that 10 first went to berth in
which there was young lady. who. OF
course became badly frightened upon be-
ina disturbed. and screamed 10 her mother,
who occupied another berth near by. The
would-be murderer politely asked to be ex-
Cused. and then went 10 the berth OF Mr.
Cornell. who resented the intrusion upon
his)s,yI cy 10y vigorous kick at the In
truder
suoT Mr.. coSNEII.
The assassin then drew his revolver and
fred. the ball taking effect in MIR. Connclls
abdomen, passing nearly through his body,
lodging IN his back very near the surface
Of the skin. The wounded man was made
- comfortable % possible after II was dis-
covered that he had been shot, and when
the train reached here he was taken OF
and carried 10 Wrigbt's Hotel, where he
now lies in q very critical condition. Dr..
ii. 7. Nelson. Of this city. was summoned.
and did all in his power TO relieve the suf-
feYer, and distracted the ball to-day.
NOT NECESSARILY FATAL.
While the wound Is quite serious and
painful his physician does not think 1T will
necessarily prove fatal. An interview was
sought with Mr.. Cornell, but his doctor
positively forbade him to talk. His patient
greatly fears the effect of the news upon
his mother. of whose welfare he IS very
solicitous, and who is over eighty years of
age. He has q son in Craig City.
PLAUSIBLE THEORIES
Many theories are advanced as TO the
motive of the man, the most plausible OF
which il that tho object was robbery and
that the ASSASSIN was made very angry at
the, deservedly rough treatment be re-
ceived from Mr.. Connell, hence the shoot
ipR. Many Iumors are also atlont as TO the
cause OF the attempt at taking human
life. among tbom that the man IL known TO
Mr. Cornell and that the shooting is the
outcome Of an old grudge.
THIS IL VERY STRANGE.
II appears that neither the conductor
nor porter Of the sleeping car knew of the
shooting until informed Of it by the pas
sengers near the berth of the wounded
man, nor did they see the assassin. The
only one who seems to have seen him dis
tinctlv enough even for faint description
was the conductor of the other part Of the
train. MIR. Connell was Oh his way to
Richmond.
SUPPOSED.
It is supposed that the assassin jumped
from the train ut or near Basic City. A
great deal of Indignation has been ex-
pressed over the heinous crime. No clue
has been obtained of the murderer, and it
10 thought he has made good his escape.
APLAN TO MURDER CoNNELL.
Especial telegram TO the Dispatch.l
Basic CRY, Va. August mo one be-
lieves that the object of shooting Council
on the sleeper was robbery. but all concur
In the opinion that the whole plan was ar
ranged for the murder of Mr.. Cornell. as
future developments will prove. MIR:
Haxall, the partner of Mr.. Connell, passed
through to-day en- route to Charlottesville to
render any possible assistance. No arrests
J have yet been made nor have suspicious
J pointed towards any party as the likely as
kRaSSln.