Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-29
COL. H. c. PARSONS KILLED
Shot BY Railroad Conductor Whom He
Had Reported.
A Tragedy I'm Virginia This MORNING
-On His Way to Join His Family
at Natural Bridge.

A private dispatch received in this city
this morning stated that Col H. C. Par
sons, the owner Of Natural Bridge Va,
was shot and died at Clifton Forge, Va,
today
A dispatch from Clifton Forge states that
Col. Parsons was shot by Goodwin, a con-
ductor. whom the former had reported for
neglect of duty. The shooting occurred at
Gladys Inn. Col. Parsons died almost i'm
mediately.
Col. Parsons, 1t Is understood, had
charged that Goodwin permitted fast wo-
men to travel on his train free. He COM
planned because members of his family had
been annoyed and insulted by these women.
In consequence Of these charges Goodwin
was dismissed.
Details of the Tragedy.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
CLIFTON FORGE, Va, June 29.-Col. H.
c. Parsons was shot in the lobby of Gladys
Inn this a. m. at Z o'clock. The shooting
vas done by Thos. A. Goodman, a passen-
ger conductor on the Richmond and ALLIE
gheny railroad. He never spoke after being
shot, and died at twenty-five minutes after
6 o'clock.
Four balls from a double-action Smith &
Wesson pistol. IS caliber, entered the body.
One ball entered just under the right col
lar bone. one on right and one left side of
abdomen and one the left side of head at
the union Of frontal and parietal bones. He
lived one hour and fifteen minutes after
having been shot. but never spoke Dr. w.
"A. F. Miller, railway surgeon. was sum-
moned, but could render no aid.
After discharging his pistol, Conductor
Goodman went before W. w. Davis. mayor
OF Clifton Forge and gave up his pistol,
remarklng that when the public had be-
come informed with all the circumstances
Hoi hn h.a
justified by them for the killing.
He wired message to Col. Beverly
Crump. Richmond. his attorney, directing
him to procure and take charge of a GER
tain important letter bearing upon the ca Sc.
which. 1t Is alleged. Col Parsons had writ
ten to General Manager Stevens of the
Chesapeake and Ohio railway, seriously
hectins upon his official conduct and char
acter.
Senator Proctor Shocked.
Senator Proctor was extremely shocked
this afternoon to hear of the death of Col.
Parsons, with whom he was intimately
Quainted. He said. to a Star reporter: "Col.
Parsons was Vermonter. and served most
calamity during the war as captain of the
first Vermont cavalry. He earned distinc-
ton In many places, and particularly at the
battle OF Gettysburg. where he was en-
gagged In the famous charge of his regiment,
at the head Of which Farnsworth fell AZ
ter the war Col. Parsons went to Virginia
and settled, and has | believe acquired
considerable property around the Natural
bridge. he has been a very energetic and
enthusiastic republican, and has taken a
prominent part in the politics of the state.
He was an enterprising business man and a
shrewd investor. Besides being interested
In many local enterprises. ! understand that
he Was stockholde- in the Pan-American
railway corporation. Parsons always took
great interest In memories Of the war, and
not long ago l took trip with him to the
battle field of Gettysburg and he guided
me over all OF the historic places. He has
purchased farm over on the left flank Of
the Held. which was the scene of the charge
OF his regiment, in order to provide for the
Vermont battle monument saw Col
Parsons only very few months ago, dur
ing the past winter. and he seemed TO be In
excellent health and spirits. This news is
great snock to me, and a mystery. / can
not. OF course, understand how his death
should have occurred"
Coz; Parsons left Washington yesterday
for Richmond. Miss Elsie McElroy, daugh.
Ter or Col. John McElroy of the National
tribune, who had been invited by Col Par
sons to visit his daughters at Natural
pany with Mrs. Shelley and Miss Shelley
Tor chiffon Forge, Va, 1t being arranged
that Col. Parsons. after transacting his
business in Richmond. should hasten on
ana JON them at Clifton Forge, where the
party would remain last night and go on
TO Natural Bridge this morning This
morning Col McElroy received a dispatch
from his daughter announcing that Col
Parsons had been shot, but not fatally.
Httle later, however, another dispatch came
from her stating that Col. Parsons was
dead NO details were given Of the shooting
COL Parsons was a well-known business
man, having large interests in Virginia
and other sections of the south His mis-
sion TO Richmond. was to arrange some of
the details OF mining enterprise in which
ne mad become recently Interested A few
miles from Richmond Is located what is
said to be the only bituminous coal mine
east Of the Alleghenies. 1t was worked
before the war and operated during the
war by the confederate government. but
on wasteful scale, which was supposed
to have ruined it. Col. Parsons has recent
ly been organizing a company to reonen
the mine. build a railroad to a point on the
James river, where there is sufficient water
Tor deep-draught vessels, establish a line Of
Whale-back steamers and deliver coal to
Boston and New York directly from this
mine. He has been engaged in MANY other
business enterprises In Virginia. but IS
probably best known as the owner of the
Natural Bridge property and the hotel at
that point He has resided there with his
wife and two daughters
For a time he maintained a residence a1so
In this city at the corner of 10th and T,
streets. He was an ardent, straight-out
republican, and was identified with the
ani-Mahone republicans of Virginia He
was native of Vermont, and served dur
ing the war as captain in the First Yer
mont cavalry, the regiment to which Col
NJ. NJ Parker of this city was attached
He was terribly wounded at Gettysburg in
the charge which resulted in the death Of
Gen. Farnsworth.