The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-30
REFUSED TO SAY GOODBYE.
This Is William Meaior'S Excuse for Murder
ing Maggie DrVSr.
THEN he TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF.
A Well-known Painter shoots Dead His
Paramour and Then Puts a Bullet In
His Own Head-Another Homicide
Last Night.

/ about 10 o'clock i'm the oyster saloon OF
Andrew Glrolami, 1903 east Franklin
street, and as a consequence young
white woman named Maggie Driver lies
| dead at the almshouse, with several bull
lets in her body, and William J. Meadors
is at the same place with thirty-two-
calibre ball in his head.
Captain Thomas, OF the First police
station, and Policeman Duggins, VINO
were the first officers on the scene state
that about ten minutes past l0 o'clock a
little boy. whose name they did not know,
! came running 10 the station-house, and
said that a man had killed a woman
in Girolamrs saloon.
a CHASTITY SPECTACLE.
They at once set out in run for the
place and when they got In front of the
oyster saloon Captain Thomas peeped
through the door and saw MeadOrs kncel-
ing upon the body OF the woman, whO
lay with her tect against the door, with
pistol between his teeth. Captain
Thomas told MIR. Duggins TO go around
the BACK way, and distract MeadOrs at
tentiOn, while he got hold OF the pistol.
When he thought sufficient time had
elapsed for the officer 10 accomplish this
captain Thomas again opened the door,
ana, as ne did 50 NeadOrs pulled the
trigger. and fell hack upon the body
OF the woman. blood flying from his
mouth and mingling with her own blood.
yet warm, upon her garments.
The officers quickly entered the room
and took the pistol from the nerveless
hdnd OF Meadors. II was an American
puil-dog nve-shoOter. &-calibre. and all
OF the barrels had been discharged.
Captain Thomas al once 'phOned for
the ambulance and for Coroner TAYLOR
The former was soon upon the scene
WIN Dr. Parker I'm charge. and an eXami-
nation was made of Meadors wounds.
after which Or. Parker expressed the
on morning
WHY HE KILLED HER.
MeadOrs was perfectly conscious while
his wound was being examined, an, talk
ed continually. In reply TO a question
from Captain Thomas as TO why he had
Killed the woman. ne said.
Killed her because she would not
tell me goodbye. / swore ! would l<ill
her and myself if she did not tell me-
goodbye, ana ] have done IL. / loved
That woman better than my life / Joined
tne United states army yesterday and
was going away 10 try and lead a bet
Ter ne. she would not tell me good bye
and have killed her. / did IL. saw this
M the presence Of all YOU gentlemen"
Meadors then became violent i'm his
grief, and partially raised himself from
tpe moor, but fell back with blood pouring
from his mouth.
In proof Of the fact that be had ioinod
the United states army he was dressed I'm
the regulation army uniform, and by his
side lay military cap.
re was carefully raised from the floor
placed upon streteher. ana taken TO the
almshouse. 4 few moments after the de-
parture or the ambulance Coroner Tay-
lor arrived. and endenvored TO e,-tract
from the frightened and reticcnt Italians
the true facts of tine case
Girolami, his wife. and the Keeper Of
the, oyster counter an declared hat they
had not seen the shooting Mrs Giro
lami said that she heard three or four
shots fired. and then rushed into the
street. several Cthc' witnesses We're eX-
amlreu hut none ot them admitted hay
ing seen the shooting. though an agreed
that 10 was about twenty minutes be-
tween the time That hc shot the woman
and himself
THE MURDERED WOMAN.
Captain Thomas stated that tho muir
dered woman formerly lived i'm Manches-
Ter, but Tor seven years past has been one
of the fallen women OF Richmond ln
some time past she has been living with
Mead0rs at the corner of Seventeenth
and Cary streets over francionis bar
room. Last week sine moved 90 over
Rohnson's carpenter shop. on -Four
toenth street Last Saturday Two weeks
ago Meddofs got INTO 20 row lu Giro
lami's saloon and was arrested and locked
up az the First station. The next day
Maggie Driver came 90 the station and
hailed him out She then told Captain
Thomas that she had baby just nine
teen days old, of which Meadors was
Dr. Taylors questioning In regard TO
MeadOrs elected tho fact that be- was
painter who .s supposed TO live at 2G1
Q street He has been known as a
rather cough character Who is dangerous
when drunk, BOO which condition DEE Wa.
at the time OF the shooting He is the
man who attracted SO much attention for
his cool ner-r wuilo paIrfin- ihe steepio8
OF ST. pauis and Broal-Strpet churches
Dr. Taylor then made partial eXamina-
tiOn Of the body OF the murdered girl
and found huliet-h0le just below her
right coilar-bOne. So close had tine
pistol been t0 her when the shot was
fired that the flesh was burned aid par
ticlcs of powder imheddcd lu g. Dr.
Taylor did not make n thorough eNamina-
tion, bur having ascertained mat the
woman had no friends who would bury
her. had the body sent out 10 the aims
house where he expects 10 make more
extended examination to-day.
JEALOUSY THE MOTIVE.
At the request Of Dr. Taylor officer
Parkinson was sent around TO Maggie
Drivers last residence. on Fourteenth
street 10 find out what had become OF
the baby which Captain Thomas had
mentioned. The officer found IL at No.
20 south Fourteenth street al the house
of James Davis, a cOlOred man, who
ia the morning and asked him and his
wife &c keep % for her The little one
is only "a little over "A month Old. and
Or Toylcr was much cOncerneI AZ 10
what would become of it RE dec ided
that ii would be- better TO sen1 10 20 the
% 'msbouse which viii probably be done
to-day
Meadors' motive IN killing the woman
and then attempting suicide seems 10
have been jealousy. " ls sidd that he |
was trying 20 persuade her % remain true !
10 h~n while he was away and that she |
would not agree 10 do this. MeadOrs has 4
been for some years past "A me mber OF |
The First Regiment Virginia Volunteers |
Meadors was still living at a late hour |
last night. but the ball IN his head had |
not been located.
Maggie Driver Is sister Of the girl |
who brought a suit against John r. Acree, |
4 motOrman on the Clay-Street line. for |
alleged betrayal, some time ago. Acree |
Was acquitted OF the charge
Coroner Taylor thinks that tle actual |
,ause of Maggie's death was the Severing |!
Df large artery by the ball.
This makes the second homicide that |
las occurred I'm Girolamis bar-rOom with
n year
Al 3 o'clock this morning Meldors was |
thought 10 bee sinking. His mJther. sis |
er. and brother had been summoned, and |
we're by his bedside
BTILET ~ ms HEfRT.
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