Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-06-22
cunningham STORY
Says He Was Not at Mr..
Richardson's House.
THEY MET IN THE LOT
He Also Says That MIR. Richardson Fired
First, That He Fell from HIS
- Wheel ana Ran to ...
- the Trees.

The Daily Press is able this
morning to lay before it's read
ers Mr.. Joseph Cunningham's story
of the tragic scene enacted at the
Chesapeake and Ohio depot last Mon
day at a quarter past IL O'Clock and In
which he received wounds from when.
it is said, he can not recover. Ar
stated In yesterdays report of the sac
event. the wounded man was taken I'M
mediately to Dixie Hospital in order To
afford him the best treatment possible
and at the same time spare his aged
mother the awful agony OF looking
upon the bloodstained face Of her dy-
ing boy. lie might get we'll. they
thought, but if he should die 1t WOULD
be kinder to tell her that he had gon"
than to carry him back to the hons
he had left a few hours before and lay
him there and may be kill her too. But
she knows the story today. and known
moreover that there is hardly a chanca
that she will ever again hear her sons
welcome footballs at her door.
An hour or SO after Mir. Cunning
hams arrival at the hospital Common
wealth's Attorney Collier called AND
was granted permission to see him. A
sleeping potion had been administered
and he had just recovered from Its ef.
fects. He was bright and cheerful ano.
despite the horrible fact that u portion
Of his brain had been shot away. CON.
versed intelligently. He told his stor1.
but 1t was not related as an ante NOR
TEN statement, for his condition hao
not been made known to him. Gun
ningham is q man of most remarka bio
vitality, as is shown by his rising ana
walking into the freight house after re-
ceiving the charge of shot that tore lin
way through his skull and brain. ME-
Collier FASTENED to see him in time 10
hear his account of the tragedy, and
this is substantially what he learned;
AT 10 o'clock on Monday morning Ar.
Cunningham left the courthouse for tho
purpose of going to the Chesapeake AND
Ohio depot to make some Inquiries Oh
Mr.. Walling. the agent concerning the
accident by which Daniel WASHINGTON.
a negro, lost his life on Sunday. After
a brief conversation he mounted h!n
Wheel crossed the railway track. turn
ed to the right and rode down an un-
improved street the length Of the block.
when he again struck off to the right
and wheeled down Marshall street
which, had he kept straight on. would
have taken him past Mr.. Richardson's
house Half way down the block on
which he was riding the railway
crosses Marshall street. and on Monday
a long train of freight cars occupied
the side track from the crossing to the
depot. 100 yards away. A moment after
passing over the track Mr. Cunning
ham says he saw Mr.. Richardson
standing near small house. on the
open lot at his right. with gun IN his
hand Instantly the thought flashed
through his mind that there was trou-
BILE ahead. Then he heard Mr.. Rich-
ardson call to him. reminding him OF
previous warning to keep away from
his (Mr. Richardson's house. AT the
same time, he says. the latter
raised his shot gun and fired. but with.
out effect. and Cunningham fell from
his wheel and took refuge behind pile
of railroad ties about Is feet from the
tracks. AS Cunningham did this Mr..
Richardson lodged behind the lttle
house near which he had been standing
in order to place himself out OF danger
from q shot from the formers pistol.
They had been in this position but
short time, when Mr.. Cunningham saw
an opportunity OF escaping to the
freight train. He went quickly and
was soon behind the cars. Then. in
stead of walking. as the witnesses VINO
testified before Judge Lee said, he ran
toward the depot and passed through
the opening between the cars left Tor
wagons going in and out But Just as
he did SO he saw Mr.. Richardson APP
preaching with his gun and believing
that his life was in danger levelec his
pistol and fired. He then backed to-
ward the entrance to the depot ana
when about IL feet away. Mr. Richard
son, who had come up on me ou,s,a a
of the train, fired the shot that wound
ed him. Such is Mr.. Cunninghams
story.
Mr.. Richardson was seen yesterday
afternoon. He was not asked to tain
Tor publication, because the Tragedy IN
which he played so conspicuous part
has cost him pangs as bitter ana deel
and terrible as any that his victim mas
suffered since it occurred weeks
months ago the cruel chain of circum
stances which led to it left its curse
upon him, disturbed the peace OF thf
home he loved and which by pat'en>
toll he had built for the wife and cnl'
dren beneath it's roof. He is sorry. Bui
he felt that his manhood was at stak'
more. infinitely more, his honor, anc
not his alone, but hers, was peihe
weighed in the roguish scales OF scan
dal mongers, and the day came whe'
he could no longer resist the unseef
power that forced him on TO right IN.
wrong and pluck ont the tongue OF Icu'
and venomous SANDER. NO one az
cuses his wife Of wrong doing. Inat -
not it But there was the sting Q.
death in the whispered insinuatlon. the
deadly gossip that went from ear 10
ear and upon which those who find de-
light in soiling q woman,s name ano
robbing q home Of its dearest Jewel fax
ten and flourish like well fed swine
The cloud that broke his peace AND
darkened his life was due. he says T.
Mr.. Cunningham's visits and time and
again he warned him to keep away. H'
had been Joe's friend, had aided MIN
when there was none other to whom
he could go and he prayed that ther'
might be some way by which the light
that had been withdrawn could -
brought back. but none could be founo
And so he did no more than any othe1
man with a spark Of honor within his
| breast would have done. -