The record-union., 1893-11-23
BL0ODOHED At DAVIEVILLE.
Telegraph Operator H. NJ. Eaton
Killed by Charles Dodge.
The Latter Claims That Eaton Had
Ruined His sister-story of the
Fatal Encounter.

A terrible tragedy was enacted at Da-
visvilIe, Yolo County, on Tuesday night,
In which H. NJ. Eaton, the railroad tele-
graph operator and agent at that place,
was killed by "Charley" Dodge. livery
stable keeper there and former resident
of this city.
News of the homicide was received in
this city after midnight, and the railroad
officials at once dispatched Detective
Burke to the scene. Dodge at once set
out for Woodland and surrendered HIM
self to the Sheriff at an early hour yester-
day morning, saying that he had to do
the act, as his sisters honor was at stake.
There appears TO have been but one
eyewitness to the shooting, and that was
Chris. Olsen, friend and partner OF
Dodge's.
The shooting occurred at the railroad
station. in front of the operators office,
about 10 o'clock. Eaton, after receiving
his cath wound, managed to make his
way to the Lillard House, about 200 yards
distant, where he fell unseen to the side
walk and expired.
1t was only few minutes after 10 when
Conductor Cummings of freight train No.
arrived at the station, where he ex-
pected to receive orders, but finding the
place unoccupied he went over TO the Lii
lard House ia search OF Eaton and found
him, as stated, lying dead on the side
walk in front Of the house, with blood
flowing from wound in the abdomen.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
The shooting is understood to have
been caused by Eaton's alleged criminal
intimacy with Miss Lydia Dodge. sister
OF his slayer. She is a young woman OF
prepossessing appearance, who recently
came from the East 10 live with her
brother. 1t is said that strong intimacy
lately sprung up between her and Eaton,
of whom she was taking lessons in teleg-
raphy. Ii there was anything wrong go
ing on between them it does not appear
to have become matter OF public talk,
although Dodge is said to have threatened
that he would shoot Eaton.
1t is understood in Davisville that
Dodge's sister is a married woman, and
that when she came to this State she left
her husband in the East, they having
separated.
oLsEN's STORY OF THE AFFAIR.
a dispatch from Woodland yesterday
stated that Chris Olsen, Dodge's partner,
had made the following statement:
dodge came to the livery stable about
10 O'Clock last night, and asked me to 90
to the depot and see Eaton and ask him
to explain the actions between himself
and Miss Dodge. | was accompanied by
Dodge and on our arrival at the depot,
he knocked OH the door and Eaton came
out.
AS soon as Eaton recognized Dodge he
sprang at him. The two men clinched
and there was scufle, the result of
which was that Eaton got Dodge down
but afterwards let him mp.
L. L.
Dodge, the latter assaulted him and he
was thrown. After brief scuffie Dodge
got up, aud as Eaton was also getting up
Dodge deliberately fired the fatal shot.
Eaton staggered toward the Lillard
iouse, and Dodge disappeared.
Not word was spoken between the
two men during the alteration, and
Eaton's friends say that he had been told
that Dodge was going TO kill him, and it
may nave been the fear that he would do
SO that influenced Eaton to seize Dodge
when he opened the door and discovered
VINO lie was.''
Ills MIND NOT CLEAR.
When Olsens statement was read to
Dodge in jail and he was asked if it was
Il correct account Of what had taken
place, he repiied:
1t was something like that"
lie declined TO deny or affirm any par
ticulsr part of it, and added that he would
make complete statement as soon as his
mind became clear.
DID EATON EXPECT TROUBLE?
A railroad brakeman whose train
passed through Davisville shortly before
the tragedy, stated to a RECORD UNION
reporter yesterday that ne had suspected
something was wrong. When the train
stopped in front of the station he noticed
that all the window shades of the office
I,o, \
before noticed.
This was noticed by the trainmen and
commented on by some of them, although
they were not then aware of the terrible
fate that awaited Eaton.
The deceased was man about 25 years
of age. He was first employed at Davis
vile by the railroad company about
eighteen months ago. but resigned and
went to Colorado on visit. He returned
last summer and was reappointed few
months ago TO his old position. He was
regarded as very faithful employe and
q competent operator.
Miss Dodge is at the residence of A. L.
Grieve in Woodland, and is quite pros
trated over the terrible affair which has
involved her in a scandal, sent her friend
to the grave and landed her brother in
Jail as murderer.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner Bean of Yolo held an INQUEST
last night at Davisville on the body OF the
deceased, at which the following facts
were elected, according to a special mes
sage from the Woodland 1HaiG to the
RECORD UNION:
Drs. Bates and Noble testified to hav-
ing made an autopsy on the body and
found a pistol-shot wound in the abdo-
men, ranging upward. 1t was a neces-
sarily fatal wound.
Chris Olsen testified that three weeks
ago Dodge had made threats against the
deceased. On Tuesday night he went to
the stable where Olsen was employed
and asked him to go to the station with
him. Dodge exhibited a pistol and Olsen
tried to dissuade him from using it.
Dodge told him not to mind, there would |
be no trouble.
When Dodge tapped on the door Eaton |
came out, and on seeing Dodge sprang
upon him. The meu then engaged in a |
fight, and Olsen said he cried to Dodge |
not to shoot, but he did and at close
range.
Eaton staggered about the platform for
a few moments, and then moved off to-
ward the hotel. Olsen and Dodge walked
of short distance and separated, Dodge
going northward.
Conductor A. L. Cummings testified
that he saw Eaton in the depot office
three minutes before 10 o'clock. He
(witness) was busy for about half an hour
after that Ia switching cars, and when his