The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-31
KILLED FOR A COAL THIEF.
Capt. Eugene DoSSieuX Shoi Simply 10
Frishten the Negro Bat Hit Him.
THE BALL ENTERED 4 VITAL SPOT.
eiai Greatly Regrets the Unfortunate
Accident-Locked Up at the
County Court-iousc.

Captain Eugene Boss.cux. Chesapeake
4 o'clock yesterday afternoon shot ana
almost instantly killed negro hey
named James Thornton. whom he took
10 bc coal thief. at the Orleans station
In Fulton, about two blocks from tho
Louisiana street crossing. Captain Dos
sieux Immediately gave himself up and
declared that the killing was unlnten,lon-
al.
Squire r. p. Larus Just out Of sick
bed. was sitting I'm the cosy ii;tle County
Jail Office last evening. while tho boys in
the cells began 20 usher ia the gathering
shadows. With d8fkev melody. The cont
versa,ion ia tho Office had Acun tame
enough perhaps. most Of the group had
kept silent IN the consideration OF their
little cares.
4 silence that came with tho On sina
WIS hrokon bv the entrance of man.
Distress and remorsc were written I'm
every line OF his furlowcd countenance
and rs he told his story the hearts ~ tho
group went out 20 him. lie was captain
Eugene B0ssieuX
SHOT TO SCARE HIM AWAY.
He had been In the employ Of the Ches.
apeake and Ohio road for nearly twenty
five years and was a conductor on one
Of the big frcights that carry much OF m,
export" goods 10 Norfolk. his run beini
between that city and Richmond.
lie wa. attending TO some light dutis
connected with his train shortly hefor
4. O'Clock Yesterday evening when he no.
ticed negro. as he supposed. In the ac
Of stealing coal. 4 shout of warning ana
then a pistol shot rang out on the FROSTY
air. and captain BossieuX resumed hi
work TRANQUILITY. in the conviction that
he had scared one coal thief In the act.
When a fellow railroader approached
the OLD conductor some time later and
said Captain. | guess you must ha's
hurt that negro YOU shot at while ago.
Il took the old man so by surprise that
he could not speak.
As soon as he recovered he reported 10
the dlspatcher's Office near by and set on
TO find Squire Larus to give himself up.
CRUSHING EFFECT
Captain Boss.eux did not learn that tho
negro was dead until he reached the jail
and the effect on the faithful old railroad
er was crushing.
He states that whom first told that his
bullet had struck the negro he could not
believe II. as he had apparently fired iar
over his head. He had only meant 10
friehten him as it aid not seem 10 be
much more than a boy. lie would not
have the event happen for all the coal
owned by the Chesapeake and Ohio.
Squire Iarus heard the statement and
although Captain ,Bossieux could not be
baned. the ijai officials arranged that
he should suffer no discomfort In tho
night.
AN INQUEST TO-DAY.
He IS the nephew Of Mr. Cyrus Bosscux
ard resides comfortably with his wife
and family az No. 9l7 north Twen;y-i'fil'
street
TIL, body Of the negro boy. James
Thornton. who was about seventeen years
OF age. was taken 10 his home on Nlehol-
son street. near the Government road.
upon an order by Coroner CroNion.
The boy had not gone FAR after being
shot for his body was found close to inc
track. The presence or n physician could
not have aided him o1 tie bullet had PEN
etrated vital spot
The spot whore tho shooting took placa
Is crossed ana rccrogsed with a dozen
tracks and the landscape Us narrowed DOWN
10 long lines OF freights and the cleaning
red and green OF the switch lamps IL ~
about two blocks from Louisiana atreei.
The county coroner will hold his Inquest
at the necro's homo this morning az "
o'clock.
Captain Borsleux g. highly csioomod by
All his associates. both of the office ana
the track. and he IS receiving the hearty
| sympathles Of an in his trouble.