The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-31
Story Of How Eaton Johnson Attempted
10 Kill His Thr3e Cousins.
AND THEN BLEW OUT HIS OWN BRAINS
His Father a Highly Respected Citizen of
Richmond, and An Honored Member
Pine-strcet Baptist Church-The
story of the Tragedy.

The Trcdcgar Works. Wednesday night
shot and badly wounded his cousin, Ernes,
l.. Fellows. and slightly wounded the lat
ter's wife and young brother. lie then
turned the weapon upon hims-.f aad blew
his brains out.
The young men whom he wounded are
sons Of Mr.. Frank w. Fellows. Of this
city. The full story Of the tragic occur
renee is as follows:
Mr. Follows and his wife occupied the
:.rs. floor of the house, and the mother
"a. Mrs Fellows. Mrs. Maggie Fucher,
xnd he daughters. Maggie and Leonas
occupied the second-story front room
taiOn Johnson, a cousin Of Mr.. Eel
lows. boarded with him, and occupied a
r.sr room in the second-story. with
Frank Fellows brother TO the proprietor
Of the house. Mr. Fellows. his family
anS the family of his wife. with Johnson
we're residents Of Richmond. Va. and
r1eved 20 Camden about six months ago
s1d secured employment in ship yard.
Johnson. being a stranger in the city.
desired r he with friends, and Mr.. and
MS Fellows decided 10 allow him To
beard with them. until he could secure
another boarding house. When Mr.. Fell
lows discovered that young johnson was
go,ng in company that he considered was
M, ~ a class that he should associate
with. he demonstrated with him
QUARRELED OVER MONEY.
Fer awhile Johnson needed the advice
% his friends, but in short time sought
TIC companionship of those 10 whom Mr..
Fellows objected. The difference cul-
nins ed when Johnson was unable to pay
INalf
his board last week and quarrel en-
Yu-, on Tuesday night, over tn. matter
Mr.. Fellows Informed him at that time
tha. he must seek another boarding
?isce. ard that ne would also be required
70 ray the amount due before he could
remove his trunk containing his clothes
or his chest Of carpenter tools.
Johnson left the house in an angry
rcoa. when ne returned. Mrs. Fellows
said ne had been drinking. and was very
ouNr-eisome. lie asked Mr.. Fellows
what he intended to do and was told that
there was only one thing mat he could
DO. and that was 10 hold the goods in
ne house until the amount due was
paid.
Johnson then exhibited great anger.
and pointing his finger at Mr.. Fellows.
exclaimed: Take care. Young man.
Take care. tell you. For when ] meet
YOU again. / will blow your brains out"
After making these threats he reeled out
of the door Ir. Fellows thought that
the threat was the result OF the mans
condition and I'm speaking of the inci-
dent 10 his wife said that there was no
occasion for her 10 te alarmed. as
Eaton" would he all right when he
sohercd up.
No THOUGHT OF DANGER.
johnson was not seen In the neighlor-
hood during the day, and when Mr.. Fe'-
lows returned from his work. and sat
down 10 his supper with his wife and
brother. Frank. as the clock struck g.
he had no thought that he was menaced
by danger
Mrs. Fellows was IN the act of pouring
tea into her husbands cup. and was
leaning over his shoulder. when she
heard the back gate latch raised, and
the noise Of the gate swinging on its
hinges She put the tea pot on the
table. and sat down in a chair by the
side Of her husband. who was sitting
with his back 90 the door.
The door opened and Johnson entered.
The family at once surmised that he had
been drinking. lie opened the conver-
satOn by burting out. az he turned his
gaze toward Mrs. Fellows. say, what
DO you suppose l am going to do II you
won't let me have my clothes and
toos?'
Mr.. Fellows said: Eaton. we cannot
let you have them until YOU pay us what
You owe Cor your board
How do you expect me to 30 to work
without tools?"
Again Mr.. Fellows informed Jo,.ason
THAT ne needed the money, or he would
not have refused 10 allow him 10 take
them away.
THE SHOOTING.
Johnson then became livid with rage
and. drawing new &2-calibrc. five
oharbcred. conter-fire revolver from his
pocket. he moved back a few PAGES and
said: "Then YOU won't let me have nv
things? All right" lie then raised his
arm and fired. Mr. Fellows fell 20 the
roor. As he lay on his back johnson
fired another shot al him
Mrs. Fellows ran screaming around
the table calling for help. Xith the man
standing in the doorway. pointing the
revolver al her As she approached 10
assist her wounded husband JohuSon fir
"a a, ker. The bullet struck her in the
breast, and she fell pros.rated by the side
Of her husband
Frank Fellows. the boy. had remained
q sDeechlcss. terrified spectator Of the
0ouble shooting. and desiring 10 secure
assistance he enaeavored 10 slip out the
,.cor leading 10 the stairway when he was
xtr,ck by "A bullet IN the hip. and fell.
J6hnson thinking he had inflicted NOR
tai wounds. placed the smoking revolver
over his right car and fired a bullet intc
his brain dropping dead by the side OF
HE former friend.
THE ALARM GIVEN.
Frank Fellows managed TO crawl 70 ths
front Of the house and gave an alarm
Mrs. Fulcher and her daughters hurried
down stairs and cared for the injured
until the arrival of a surgeon. II was
found that the injuries OF Mr. Fellows
and the boy were OF serious character
and they were sent TO Cooper Hospital IN
8 patrol wagon
The physician found that Mrs. Fellows
was suffering from shock and nervous
prostra.lon. An examination showed thai
she had a very narrow escape from
death The bullet entered her dress on
a direct line over the heart. but its force
was arrested by contact with steel
In the frame OF her corset. The steel
was bent and twisted and the flesh was
badly iacerated where the bullet entered
as A glanced off. The physician is OF
the opinion that the wound Is only SUI
perficial but her condition was such
that they refrained from making min
ate examination.
The surgeons al Cooper Hospital found
that the bullet that had struck Frank
Fellows was buried in the thigh and they
HaI.