The herald., 1893-06-08
The Shooting of D. f. Richards
Last Night.
Antonio Aguilar the Man Who At
tempted to Kill Him.
Conflicting Lot OF Stories About the
Case-Mr. Riohard's Statement
Not Corroborated by His
Wife-The Details. ..s4f

short distance below Los Angeles. D.
f. Richards Was ehot four times by
Antonio Aguilar. sisA
streets were full of pedestrians and the
four reports rang out clearly through the
night air. A rush was at once made by
all those in the vicinity to the spot and
the two actors in the tragedy were i'm
msdiately seized. Aguilsr was captured
by Sergeant Morton, he gave him
self up quietly to the officer and
handed him his still smoking re.
volver. The wounded man was
leaning against the side of the building
groaning deeply and covered with blood.
He was perfectly conscious and de-
nounced Aguiisr as his murderer. Both
men were at once hurried to the police
station, Richards walking all the way
assisted by j. w. EgaD, and leaving be-
hind on the sidewalk trail of blood.
At the station Aguilar was searched
and then consigned to cell in the city
prison. The weapon, by which the
shooting was done, was 38-calibre
Smith & Wesson revolver, four chambers
OF which had been discharged.
Richards was taken into the receiving
hospital and laid upon the operating
table, where an examination OF the ma
ture OF his injuries was at once COM
menced by Police Surgeon Bryant.
He groaned and writhed in agony
while being undressed, and as his cloth
ing was removed and the ghastly nature
of the wounds revealed, he certainly
had good cause for suffering. He had
received four gunshot wounds-three in
the body and one in the head.
The shot which struck him in the Lead
had evidently been fred from very close
quarters, because the front of his hat
was literally sprinkled with partially
burned powder grains. The bali struck
him on top of the head, about an inch
back from the commencement of the
hair, and penetrating the skin, glanced.
when it struck the skull, ploughing an
irregular and ragged furrow for about
three inches and then escaping. The.
crown OF the hat shows two bullet holes.
front and back, marking the entrance
and egress of the ball, and is a witness
to his remarkable escape.
On the outside of the right arm near
its junction with the shoulder another
ball entered, and passing through in an
upward direction escaped from the top
OF the shoulder.
Another ball passed entirely through
the right arm short distance below the
elbow, taking downward SLANT. These
wounds are simply flesh ones, and while
of a painful nature, are not dangerous.
The fourth wound, however, is the one
which may cost Richards his life. The
ball entered the body ON the right side,
in the neighborhood of the tenth rib,
6s 6ass Sot gRa Bssn f6and Although hss Il location
has been repeatedly probed for. The
wounded mans injuries were at once
dressed and morphine was given him in
considerable quantities to- reduce his
pain. Up to an early hour this morning
he was resting easily. DR.. Bryant como
sideres him in dangerous condition
in fact, his recovery remains entirely
with the effects OF the bullet in the
body, which will be probed for again
today. ~
While writhing on the operating table,
Richards stated that he had at last re-
ceived what he had expected for years
past.
81 knew that man would shoot me-"
he said che always said he would, and
my wife 10 at the bottom of it all. She
only lately told me she would never stop
until she had succeeded in having med
killed. She has been living with this
murderer. She won't live with me. Oh,
what will become of my two poor chill
dren7 ] am 81 years old, and was born
in Camden, Me. Oh, what shall do2
It's all that woman's fault. She is
wicked, deceitful and untrue, and won't
live with me, while she harbors and
loads with her caresses this miserable dog
Aguilar," and so the wounded man ran
on, talking incoherently, partially
crazed with pain and fright.
AGUfLAR's STATEMENT.
Antonio Aguilar, who occupies cell
No. in the city Jail, was asked how he
came to shoot Richards, and told that
he was charged with being improperly
intimate with Mrs. Richards, indignant
ly denied the last assertion and claimed
that he had only acted as q man would
in defending his life.
Aguilar was extremely agitated and
distressed at bis condition. and said
"Richardson only two weeks ago point
ed a revolver at me in his wife's house
and said that il it we're not for the pres
ence OF the women he would kill me.
He has repeatedly threatened to kill
me, and l have been in fear OF my
life. Tonight l did not see him
until we met Richardson at once
commenced calling me the foulest
names, and ssid I've found you at
last and will kill you,' at this he forced
his hand back into his hip pocket as ii
to draw pistol. What could do but
fire; did not know he was unarmed.
did know of his threats to kill me on
sight. Richardson treats his wife
very badly, she has to support
herself and two children. He never
gives her anything and what he makes
goes in drink.
'sAe to his saying l am the cause OF
his wife leaving him, it is false, never
had any improper relations with Mre.
Richardson. l have always kept the
law and now l am forced into this by no
choice OF my own"
Just here Aguilar broke completely
down. He WAS born in Los Angeles and
both his parents reside here. He is a
hod carrier and was working on the
building on Spring street between Third
and Fourth. ssc |
MIR. EGAN's STATEMENT.
J. W. Egan, who lives at the Los
Angeles Hotel. stated that he was stand
ing at the corner of Second and Los An
geIes streets about half-past eight o'clock
talking with friend. Suddenly be saw
the flash and heard the report OF pis-
tol across Second street in the shadow
OF building.