Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-04-20
LOCAL.
A LADY Shot ON THE CARS,
HER ASSAILANT BROTGHT TO
STA UNION FOR SAFETY,

vi Ouludy CNCulIS IdSt, the chesapeake
Il Ohio Vestibule train brought here from
Charlottesville, Richard B. Guard Of Fa-
ber S Mills, Nelson county, formerly con-
ductor on the Norfolk 81 Western Ry.,
charged with the attempted murder of
Miss Laura b. Martin, also of Faber s
Mills, and daughter of Mr.. Hudson Mar
tin, an assistant clerk Of the Virginia Sen
ate. The accused is a short, stout man, of
about thirty five, with brown hair, and
moustache, will probably weigh ITO pounds
and is badly cross eyed. Miss Martin is a
pretty blonde, OF slight figure and about
twenty years of age.
The prisoner was brought to Staunton at
the request of Capt. Micajah Woods, one
of his counsel, who had received informa-
ton that hostile movement in the way OF
lynching him was contemplated. He was
accompanied here by two Of the Charlottes
vile police, and his brother, j. E. Guard
of the Falls Ice Co., in Washington city.
The party when they got off the cars were
followed to the jail by curious crowd of
one to two hundred people, and the follow
ing seemed to make the prisoner nervous
and depressed. AS the prisoner is entirely
uncommunicative (under instructions Of
his counsel), we gather from other sources,
THE STORY OF THE CRIME.
The Guards and Martins live in sight of
each other at Faber's Mills, and the two
families are very intimate. Guard had
recently been discharged from his freight
conductors position on the Norfolk &
Western Ry., by the cutting down of the
force, and had been, later. appointed to the
place Of flagman. On Thursday afternoon
last, as the Richmond and Danville pas
senger train was approaching the Midland
Junction at Charlottesville, Miss Martin
was sitting in the same seat with MI.
Charles T. Brown. of Danville. Guard
came into the car from the smoker. MI.
Brown gives the following account of what
happened:
THE SHOT IN THE CAR.
1--WE were talking on general subjects
when MI. Richard B. Guard, of Faber S
Mill, entered the tirst-class CAL from the
smoker. He shook hands with Miss Mar
tin, and expressed pleasure and surprise at
seeing her. I thought said Miss Martin,
you were on your way to Kentucky and
Guard replied that he had this morning
gone as far as Lynchburg, but failed to
make railroad connections, was then on his
way to Charlottesville, whence he expected
to proceed to Paducah. The conversation
at all times was commonplace and devoid
of excitement as was the manner Of both
Guard and Miss Martin. There was moth
ing indicating anything confidential be.
tween them and certainly nothing to fore
Charlottesville, arose, took up the valises
and was passing out of the seat, Miss Mar
tin following me. Guard whipped out a
revolver and without word fired it in
Miss Martins face, infiicting a wound in
the left eye. He then turned the weapon
towards his own head and fired once GER
tainly, and probably twice. Guard had a
bottle of whiskey and was drinking, but [
am sure was not drunk"
THE RESULT.
There was instantly great confusion
among the passengers. Miss Martin was
picked up unconscious from the car floor
to which she had fallen, and was taken to
the Hotel Carter and surgical aid sum-
moned. 1t was found that the ball had en-
tered under the left eye, passed down along
the roof of the mouth and lodged in the
back of the neck. 1t was to have been eX-
tracted by the surgeons yesterday Thurs
day.. Miss Martin eye was not destroyed
and it's sight will probably not be affected.
Guard was taken by the police to the
Jail. He refused there to give any account
of himself. even declining to give the name
of the lady he shot. Later he manifested
great grief and wept bitterly, exclaiming ::
81 don't know why did it," His brother
from Washington city arrived there and
he saw him, but his two sisters, Misses
Lottie and Rosa Guard (who are also de-
voted friends of Miss MARTINI who arrived
from Faber S Mill, he refused to see. These
two sisters taught in the Middlebrook
Graded School in Augusta county and had
only returned to their home at Faber's
Mill a few days ago, after their school
closed. On Friday night he made a wound
in his arm with piece Of glass from the
cell window, but it was not dangerous and
the blood was soon staunched. He had on
his person $3.50 in money, several letters,
apack of cards, and small pocket knife,
the last of which he attempted to conceal
in his sleeve. On Saturday morning he
was arraigned before the Mayor of Char
louisville and being asked if he had coun-
sci he replied no, and if he wanted counsel
he replied, II suppose So" His brother
engaged counsel for.him. Messrs. Woods &
Fishburne, with whom the prisoner, after
he was returned to jail had consultation.
1t is presumed that the line of defence will
be insanity, as the accused now has sis
ter in the Western State Hospital here 1t
is stated that the accused claimed in Char
lottesville that he had no recollection of
the crime and that the whole transaction
was blank to him. His examination be-
fore the Mayor of Charlottesville is set for
tomorrow, the 21st inst.
A RETICENT PRISONER.
On Tuesday, representative Of the Vim
DICTATOR went to the jail here to see him,
and to see if hehad anything to say in his be-
half to explain his extraordinary crime. AS
the representative remarked On his return,
ssYou might as well try to interview a
clam.'' The reporter found him dressed in
dark brown pants and vest and wearing a
calico shirt. He seemed greatly depressed
and nervous. cycling the floor continuously
during the conversation. He had aseveral
days growth of beard on his face. Upon
beino told by the reporter that he was a
newspaper man, Guard turned around with
ont speaking, but when the reporter hand
ed him an editorial from the Charlottes-