Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-31
SHOTBYACONDUCTGR
JAMES THORNTON. NEGRO LAD
KILLED NY CAPT. BossrEUx.
Did NOT INTEND TO HIT HIN.
The Boys casxht stealing Coal, sn&
as They Fled the Experienced
Rafirond-Man Fired HIS Pistsa, -
He Thought, over Their Heads.

Captain Eugene Bosseux. one OF tho
Oldest conductors oa the Chesapeake and
Ohio railway. and one OF the best-known
and most popular residents OF Church
Hill. shot and killed James Thornton.
small negro boy, yesterday afternoon. snd
Is now prisoner in the Henrico county
jail, where the grave charge or murder
Is registered against him.
The killing was one OF those unfortus
nate accidents which 80 frequently result
from the too careless use OF firearms-
Captain Bosseux was summoned 10 take
oat freight train on the Peninsula Di>
vision of the Chesapeake and Ohio. ana
was at Orleans-Street station checking
up his cars when he discovered twN lite
tie colorcd boys on top of a coal-car. .iI.
fering the contents thereof He called
TO the lads to get down, and at the sama
time. In a spirit OF fun. pulled his pistol
from his pocket and fred up the track In
an opposite direction from the boys.
AIMED HIGH AND SHOT AGAIN.
They quickly scrambled down from their
perch on the side of the car and scaIn-
pered on across the field. With View
only to accelerating their speed, so he ex-
planned TO q Dispatch reporter, Captain
Bossieux Armed high and shot again. Tho
boys continued 90 rum and with laugh
the conductor pocketed his revolver and
resumed his work of checking up hia
train.
He had absolutely no idea that he had
touched one OF them, and was horftfied
when about ten minutes after the shoot
ing a fellow employee came TO him ana
| told him ne had killed one OF the boys.
For moment / was horror stricken"
| said Captain Bossieux TO the reporter, in
describing the affair, "and stood as ono
| transhxed. / then turned and entered
| the station giving my pistol to the ope-
| rator there and telling him to summon
! some one else TO take my train out. I
| at once boarded car and came to the
| county JAIL where informed Magistrate
| Larus OF what I had done and surrender
| ed myself never dreamed when 1 shot
| that my pistol was even pointing towards
| the boys, and certainly never entertail~
| ed the slightest idea of harming one Of
| them. | never harmed living creaturs
| in my life and my conscience will mover
| cease to reproach me for this thoughtless
| deed"
DIED IMMEDIATELY.
The boy. after being shot, fell In nm old
| field by the side of the railroad track,
and expired almost Immediately. H.. ball
| having entered his body just above the
rear OF the right hip. His remains were
| left where they fell until the Coroner
should view them, and DR.. Croxton was
sent for He turned the body over 10
| this boys mother who lives out on Mich
olson street, extended. Undertaken Nei-
son then prepared the body for BURIAL
and it was taken home. -
Il Those who saw the shooting say that
they are positive that Captain Bossienx
had no idea of killing or even harming
the boys, and those who know him as
sert that nothing would be mort foreign
to his nature. He has been with tho
| Chesapeake and Ohio for twenty-fye
wears G nd has been running ae sond;setoI'
fov twenty years. He was never known
| 10 be in a bad humor and has as many
| friends as any man in the railroad BUSH
| ness.
HAS AN INTERESTING FAMILY.
He is a son of Mr.. Vlrginius Bossieux,
who now resides in Henrico. but who,
during the war. had charge OF the Con-
| federate prison at Belle Isle. and Is
| closely connected with the other Bos-
| sleux families i'm this city. He. is AZ
years of age, and has been married
twenty-three years, having as q result
| OF this union two SOns--one OF whom viii
| graduate from the Medical College OF
Virginia this session, and the other ~
now attending the High School. ~
AS soon as arrested Captain Bossietx
sent a messenger TO his home, No. SIT
north Twenty-ffth street, to inform his
wife Of his misfortune. ard shortly
thereafter he was visited by his brother-
in-law Captain Bossieux is naturally
very much depressed over the sad oc-
currsnce, but hopes TO be able to provo
that the shooting was entirely devoid OF
| malicious intent. He has not yet en-
gagged counsel and says he does not
know that it will be necessary for him
| to do so
DIR. Croxton will hold an inquest at the
county courthouse this morning at IL
O'Clock, and not until that is over cam
: the question of bail be considered.