The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-30
A BULLET In THE HEART.
rHOs. hrWELL INSTANTLY KILLED
BY JHOs. NELSON M,y<KEE.
Tho shooting Was the Result Of Grudge
Between the Men = McNamee Lam
guishes in the First Police Station.

/
the conductor on the Richmond and Dan
Vile railroad yards on Dock street.
The killing of Atweil reveals one Of the
most dastardiy outrages recorded in the
annals OF outlawry Of this city. He was
first enticed into the yards OF the James
River Coal Company. at the corner OF
| Twenty-eighth and Dock streets, evidently
for the purpose of killing him. and throw
ing his body into the river. This part
OF the murderer's plan failed One OF
the men carried a heavy hickory stick,
painted black. with which he struck At
well over the head. while the latter was
talking TO them in the yard, but did not
succeed In stcnnig him. He ran towards
| a hole i'm the fence, and one Of the two
| men. supposed to be Thomas McNamee,
! OF Manchester. fired at him three times.
| The third shot struck him In the back
under the right shoulder-blade and pene-
trated to the heart. Atwell ran across
the street to the opposite curbstone, and
/ there fell unconscious He did not
| live over five minutes. so he could not tell
/ which one OF the men did the shooting.
Immediately after the killing the two
men separated. one going up and the
| other down Dock street. on a dead run.
| Several of the yard hands started in
| pursuit. and were going on. when the
man who is thought 20 have done the
shooting slowed up. and the pursuers
stopped. fearing that ball would lay
| them out also.
one Of the men wore a brown. and the
other dark oyercoat.
Cause Of the Killing.
| The trouble is understood TO have origi-
mated about a real estate transaction,
| Of which the particulars will probably be
~ ..of1 IL.
| body this morning at half past nine.
| Coroner Taylor viewed the remains as
they lay across the curbstones last
| night. The cursory examination held
| by him revealed the wound under the
| shoulder-blade, and IL is thought that
this was the only shot that struck him.
| The coroner ordered the remains moved
| to Laube's undertaking establishment,
] and n post-mortem examination will be
made before the jury meets to give its
| verdict this morning.
| Atwell was a handsome fellow. about
| thirty-two years of age. He was mar
ried. and lived in Manchester, on Ninth
street, between Decatur and Stockton
streets. His wife and children are visit
| ing relations at Amelia Courthouse. 50
they are entirely unaware OF his horri-
bic fate.
J. II. Sheldon. a nephew OF the muir
dered man. who is employed I'm the Dan
Vile yards. FASTENED over 20 Manchester
TO inform his brother. James Atwell, and
other relatives OF the killing
VIGILANCE Did This"
Mr.. Sheedon stated as soon as his atten-
tor was directed to where the murdered
man lay cold in death. that TON Nc
Nance did this" other witnesses who
saw the shooting from across the street,
and who stated to pursue the murderers,
are w. IT, Godsey and Mr.. Nunally, two
Of his working companions, who saw him
run out Of the coal company's yards.
They came out Of the little white house
on the corner, where all the yardmen eat
their meals, when they heard his yell
after having been struck with the hickory
club. Trey will appear at the inquest
this morning.
A large crowd OF Manchester people
started for the scene as soon as the re-
port Of the murder was given out by Mr..
Shelton. Atweel was well known and
popular with all who knew him
Warrants were Immediately sworn out
for McNamee, and description OF the
other mans appearance given. The police
were in hot pursuit up until 1890 p VI.
McNamee's house was searched, but no
trace of him appeared there. He is an
upholsterer by trade. and is the foreman
Of Howell q Shaw's works, at No. 1901
east Main street
Tho urderrr Locked Up.
At II o'clock last night he walked into
the police-station and gave himself up.
When interviewed, he made the follow
ing staten ent:
"Mr. Atwell and myself have always
beer friends. About two months ago l
brought suit against him for 500, money
which he owed me for some real estate.
We continued friends up TO the time the
suit was brought. The suit was decided
in my favor. This seemed to change Mr..
AtwelIs conduct toward me. Since that
time he has talked In very ungente-
manly manner of my family. lie called
my sister n-law a liar, saying some of
the evidence she lad given in the suit
was rot true. l ignored all of these
things, and said nothing to him.
cor Tuesday evening when / went
home found my wife very sick. She APP
peared 10 be nervous and worried over
something Sne said that our little boy
had been up in Mr.. Atwelrs yard play
ing with his son. They were riding their
velccrp6des when Mr.. Atwell came out of
the house drove my son out OF his yard,
and kept his veloclpcde.
Used Indecent Language.
Ny wife went to Mr.. Atwell TO get the
velocipede He was very insulting. and
used indecent language toward her. and
told her to tell me that he would be home
every day this week.
l went to his house on wednesday
There was no one in. / then went 10
Mr. Ferris house. who is friend Of both
families He told me that Mr.. Atwell
and his family had gone 20 the country,
and would not be back till Friday.
q L. 1...s. Il EnTiC
that he was mistaken that only Mr..
Atwelrs family had gone to the country, |
and that ne was still here. and that / |
could see him at Twenty-eghth and Dock |
streets.
Il then went to that place this evening |
20 see him. intending 10 demand an apol- |
ogy for the language he had used to my |
wife When I saw him l told him l |
wanted an apology. He then asked me /
II that was what I had come for. In |
the excitement that followed. l don't |
know who struck the first blow, but / !
think we both struck at the same time.
II had black stick in my hand. lie !
also had something in his hand, but / |
could not see what IL was. My stick |
struck whatever he had In his hand and |
broke ] then started to retire.
HE followed me and struck at me |
twice. i threw up my left hand and |
caught the blow. When he struck the |
second blow he dropped whatever he |
had In his hand and reached for his hip |
pocket.
Drew HtI Revolver and Fired.
'I then drew my revolver and fired |