The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-04
WAS HE YENDETTA'S VICTIM
The Claim Advanced That Thomas j,
HOleran Was Murdered
As An act OF DIREFUL REIRIBUTIOS
Tho Friends OF the Dead Man VIII tn-
deavor 10 show That Ho Was Killed
Dr. Taylor Does Not Believe In the
Theory of Murder-Ihe Tragedy

The shocking death Of Thomas J Hol,
Ieran In the wards Of the Chesapeake ana
Clio railroad near the northern end or
Seventeenth street. 1hnrfday nEhi mas
glyeu rise TO "a suspicion in me ninda 81
his friends and relatives, ana iho'eu on
others mat ne came 50 his dcalh ~ ~,
lcnsc at the hands 81 some enemy. ann
thai dis rcmains were placed upon fbe
track in order that their muulaiion mibnt
conceal The crime. 80,
Ae ls vcn known 10 readers Of The
Tlmoe HOuCran. about a year ana hait
fco became involved in a dihCulty win
young Italian. Who acted as bar-tehu,f
fOr a. GirOl1mt at the corner or fHtechlh
and Franklin streets The Italian reached
Tor his pistol but Hollcran was quicker
ON the draw and shot him dead. holier-
TN was tried. but as 81 was eVdcntly
case Of self-dcfCncc De wus set Al nDefty.
AT that time 10 was said that friends
Of the voinc bartender sw0re 10 get even
with Holeran for the homicide IL 1T took
years To do so. and there arc those VINO
claim that since that day they nave
watched every chance with the persist
ence OF Corsicans who have sworn
THB DREADED MAFIA.
10 ia also claimed that there exists right
here in the heart OF this law-abiding city
branch Of that fearful society, the pow
or ~ which has been felt so often IN
sunny italy. and whose name alone In
spires tfrrOr-thc Malta
DARK hints OF who may have been re-
sponsiblo for the death Of Holleran are
rife among HIS friends, and he had many,
though his enemies were not few.
TO say the least Of 80 the manner of his
death was peculiar Born within a stones
throw OF the spot where he came TO his
end he knew thoroughly every inch OF
ground. and had time and again traVcrsed
the thickly-tracked yard i'm the light OF
day and through the dense gloom.
"a NIn rrfu
OF long experience. having once served as
conductor on the Norfolk and Western,
nnd having been connected with other
roads.
Mr.. Holloran left his home at 1015
O'Clock Thursday night, and took the
nearest way TO the Richmond Locomotive
and Machine Works, prepared 20 take 10
Texas an engine recently completed az
the works. In mis- pocket Mr.. Holleran
had so for the expenses or ms trlp ana
carried a small grip, with change OF
''' IN THE SHADOWS.
As above stated, he started TO go
through the yard, which is thickly studded
with tracks. and his path led beside a
number of box cars. the shades vi which
added TO the already deep gloom OF the
spot
Just here, II IS thought by Iolerans
friends. he met his fate. Ihey cialm that
some enemy concealed between Two OF
the cars, struck him "a blow with some
weapon. knocking him inseosble, and
that the body was then put upon track
IN tho way Of one Of the shifting engines
two OF which were pulling noisily up and
down the tracks moving cars.
Just fifteen minutes later switchman
in moving his lever found that something
interferod with II. lie threw the rays OF
his lantern on the object ana was horri-
hel tC find a mass Of crushed ana bloody
bones His startled cry brought a number
OF companions TO the spot. ann soon IAN
terms were fitting up and down the yard
looking for the cause or the CHASTITY nnd.
Their subsequent discoveries were even
more horrible than the first. Here and
there at intervals FOR thirty yards were
scattered gerry fragments OF human
body. A foot In one place, here hand.
and there n finger OT toe. little iur-
Their on and the lights revealed a trunk
less head. one side crushed beyond the
scmbiance OF humanity. The other side
had escaped with little injury. ana as
soon as his eyes fen upon it the cearcher
exclaimed
"Why. its Tom HonoranW
JUST TWENTY MINUTES.
Just twenty minutes had elapsed since
the man. superb physical specimen. lcit
LIS homo fun Of life and health. before the
ucw sof his horrible death was carried
back.
The subsequent events I'm the case were
printed in Yesterdays Times, but the
question Ftill remains: "Was his death
accidental
- the theory that he was mur-
0orcd py yengcul Italians others
think u Sas the work OF ne
groes Mlo reside in tne vicinity of ihe
Chesapeake and ohio round-house. ana
with some of whom Holleran IS said 10
have had trouble. Whether either theory
S. true, only time Will show, but the
friends OF the dead man VIII leave no
stone unturued 10 arrive at the true cause
DIR. TAYLORs VIEWS.
DR. william a. Taylor. coroner Tor the
CITY of Richmond who has had more eX-
ltricnce in cases like the above than any
other man in the state. is OF opinion from
the circumstances connected with the
case that tho murder theory is entirely un-
tcnublc.
"Tho fact that De was "a railroad man,
said DR. Taylor. makes it less surprising
that he should have been run over.
They grow careless from constant famili-
arity with danger, and are more apt 10 be
Killed than YOU or j would be.
"The place where Mr.. Holleran was
Killed is formidable one. and l know OF
one case OF man being killed there
in broad daylight How much more
dangerous then. would it be by night.
Another point against the murder
theory IS that none of the dead mah' s
money was taken, anl he mad nearly $50
IL is possible that some one may have
killed him for revenge. but the facta IN
the case do not justify the presump-
ton"
An of tho money that Holleran had ex-
fept forty cents has been recovered an
other ten-cent piece having been touno
yesterday morning I'M the yard by boy.
The funeral Of Mr Holleran viii take
place az $3.50 this morning, with requiem
mas from ST. Peters ana the interment
VIII be iu River View cemetery.
DAMdGING TESTIMONY,
A Chomist Saws Canstie Potash Was Not