The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-21
DASTARDLY DEED
OF A TRAMP
Inaicts a Terrible Wound Upon Mr..
John F. Dunston,
ANALOGOUS, UNPROvOKED SHOT
Mr.. Dunston was the Night Operator
az Lorraine, and was Fired Upon as
He stood i'm the Door of the
Telegraph Office.

one Of the most outrageous and will
fully malicious actions which mas ever
been committed by that band of nomads'
known as tramps, which are a scourse
10 the country, took place ABOUT
o'clock yesterday morning AT Lorraine,
station on the James river division OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, the result
being the serious and probably Iatal
wounding Of Mr.. John +. Dunston, the
night telegraph operator at that place.
STANDING IN THE DOOR.
Mr. Dunston was standing IN the open
door OF the telegraph Office as a freight
train rushed by. A number Of tramps
were stealing ride on the train, ana
as he got opposite the door OF the office
one OF them drew n pistol and fred the
ball striking Mr.. Durston In the slom-
ach
The noise made by the heavy train
drowned the report II the pistO., ard
none OF the crew knew OF the occurrence
at the time. Meanwhile, 81 having been
discovered that Mr. Dunston was
seriously wounded, an engine was hastily
secured, and he was brought TO Rich
mond. Immediately upon IDe arrival OF
the train here he was taken 10 the Re
treat for the Sick, where "a cNannnatoh
showed that a difficult and delicate opera
ton was his only hope for life.
He was accordingly operated on ty Dr.
Hush Taylor, assisted Dy Drs. BROCK
Toss ana Nirginus Harrison. II was
discovered thai the ball had pene-
trated his stomach. passing through the
liver, and lodging IN me muscles OF .ne
considered very serious, and IL Is said
that there Is little hope OF his recovery.
PROMISING YOUNG MAN.
Mr.. Dunston ia but little past thirty
years of age. and bears the reputation
Of a heightened. honorable man. lie Is
a native Of Goochland county, having
lived some years az Vinetaville. But a
few days ago he moved TO Lorraine 10
live and furnished house there for his
wife and little child
Mr.. Dunston attended school at Bowl
ing Green. and while there one OF ms
warmest friends was Mr. Henry HARDWOOD
Of this city. lie married a Bowling
Green lady some years ago. At the time
OF his rishap his wife was visiting near
Petersburg. She was al once notified or
his condition and came 10 his side.
But a short time ago Mr.. Dunston
Joined Mccarthy Council, Royal Area
mum. of this city. lie IS well and IA
vorably known here, where his unde-
served misfortune has excited the deep
est regret and indignation.
THE ASSAILANT UNKNOWN.
As soon as It was discovered that Mr..
D.us .A na.. urtu snD, 400 rurnl Wa0
at once inaugurated to apprehend his
assallant. Information was telegrapned
all along the line, but at last reports no
trace had been discovered OF the muir
derous vagrant. IL Is thought tnat ne
jumped from the train between stations;
Upon Il telegram from Lorraine ana
Information of the shooting al that sta-
ton the Richmond police made arrests
of several tramps found on one Oh tho
trains yesterday afternoon. ho,,, A.
hand and no pistol being found on any
of the suspects they were released.
ANUIHEk ACCOUNT.
A speciaI to The Times from Vinita last
night says:
This morning at 2:l5. whilst an east
hound train on the James River Division
OF the c. &. o. Railroad in charge Of
Conductor j. ]. Taylor. was passing Lo-
raine station. one OF the numerous
tramps that were said to be stealing a
ride. wantonly and unprovoked fired M
Mr. John +. Dunston, the night operator
who stood In the door Of his office. The
ball struck him Just below the lungs.
Mr. Dunston IS one OF the most popu-
lar operators on this entire division KIND
hearted. generous and iovial, he is always
foremost in all the entertainments given
in the lower portion OF Goochland and
Powhatan counties. Should his death oc-
cur. his loss Will be deeply mourned by an
who know him. This news VIII be SAD
shock to his young wife. who was
Miss Southworth from Caroline county,
Va. and now on q visit 20 her parents.
The tramp nuisance has been a terrible
scourge to the people Of this valley for q
long time.
There IS scarcely a single freight train
passing going either east or west that
does not have one to a dozen Of that wor-
thy fraternity on board. II IS OF frequent
occurrence for them 20 throw rocks or
chunks OF coal at the stations and oper-
ators as they pass.
At sabot Station. twenty miles west
OF Richmond. where there is water
tank. seems to be headquarters for them
10 stop. and the people Of that vicinity
are greatly annoyed by them.