Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-02
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
snor -FOUR TIMES BY A POLICEMAN
WHILE RESISTING ARREST.
rrctrac,cd Spree and the Loss Of situs-
lion Leads 90 Fatal Con-
sequences.
,e,,,,,, ,oleeram to the plspatch.)

fCprffQl Telegram 10 tUt IiepdttUt
ROANOKE. VA. November LA terri
h,e tragedy occurred here this morning
about $50 o'clock. James T.. Melhorn. a
n,vn,bcr. was shot four times by Ofhcer
q II Gee and died almost instantly. Mel
horn until few days ago was superintend-
.nt OF the Roanoke Sanitary Plumbing
Company. whose Office IL on jefferson
street: but having been on protTacted
sprce he was RECENTLY removed from that
poyition, and J. V. fowler. bookkeeper OF
The company, was given the place: ms
fingered Melhorn very much ana ai'e'
making things very unpleasant LOT Nv
Ter for couple OF days. lac assaulted hIn
Yesterday evening at his desk, knocking
him sensciess fowler at once swOrc out
"A warrant for MelhoTn's arrest, out ~
was not served upon him last night. IN
the meantime he met officer Locke anu
said he had a Winchester and Smlth q
Wesson revolver loaded for the policeman
who would attempt his arrest lie prom
iscd. however. 10 report at police heaa-
quarters this morning and stand ms tfla''
A FATAL VISIT.
rus, boforc g o'clock ne went TO the OF
fee Of the Plumbing Company ana asked
fowler n he was going 10 the ponce court
neing answered In the affirmative ne
closed the front door of the establishment
saving he would give MN soiht'nl"h ="
49,, tbcrc for. As his intentions were eVI-
IDENTIFY hostile fowler left the Office. While
Afclborn VAS standing on the sidewalk
a. front Officer Gee came up TO him ana
told him he had "A warrant Tor MN
1uI come no" said ,MclhOrn, backing to-
wards the door
No" said Gee, you must go now az
tho same time grabbing at Melhorn's arm.
Nolhorn backed into the plumbing estab-
Uehmeut followed 10y Gee. when near 'ne
800, ,f the room the men began TO scui-
Ne whom the officer drew his cup anu
str,irk NclhOrn on the head. Inc iatteI
,bep COT possession Of the club. with "hlch
D.. hol4borcd the policeman's head as nc
r.fr.ntrl towards the front door. BEFORE
mis- WIS reached the officer again iaced
bis sssoilant and after another scuille
t,,l "a him with his revolver five times.
THE FOUR WOUNDS.
.rro Of the shots penetrated the LETT
,,.ast on, the right breast and another
t,,rsol through the left arm. Inc three
ira,si wounds passed entirely through
tho body Of Mclhorn, who after waking
"a f.w steps fen 10 the floor ana almost
Immediately expired. officer Gee received
nv. ,youuds on the head. which penetrated
- fI| SKULL ~ ~ N.'''t'-
RIGHT check and several bruises about
tha body. which the physician who at
tended him SAYS were from KICKS or the
blows Of y club His injuries are serious
tait the chances are that he Will recover.
soon after the killing. Justice w. ). Pole
noting coroner. held an inquest AT which
th.. .,hoyc facts were developed, ana after
,.lr.fuine about a dozen witnesses the
inn, returned verdict 10 the effect that
NielhoIu met his death from pistol shots
fred bog officer Gee.
A PRELIMINARY TRIAL.
This afternoon at 3 o'clock prclimi-
r4rv examination of the case against the
uolircmau was commenced before Justices
Polo. Williams and Neal and after exam
lining four witnesses without developing
ANYTHING now except that two of the wit
n,esss testified 10 seeing Gee strike Mel
horn while they were sCuiliing. the court
adjourned until tomorrow morning at ,
O'Clock Mcluorn came here from PITTS
burg Pa. about three years ago, ana
leaves "a wife and three children. lie
was 90 years Old. and when not under
the influence of drink he WAS regarded
ans "a peaceable citizen. officer Gee came
here three Years ago from Keysviile. Va,
where he was for q number of years town
sergeant lie Is about n years Old ana
married Tie IS regarded as one OF the
csmest men on the police force, ana when
rough work had to be- done was almost
always selected.