Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-11
A WOMAN CAUSED IT
An EARLY Morning Tragedy
at Phoebus.
APoLIGIzED TO FOSTER
Movement Tor the E.nert of soldiers
Families. Work on the Gas Rant
to be C"miiencei Scout
Wright Convicted. U"

Riddck Barnes, an old and we'll
known colurcd citizen Of i'hocbus. VAS
fatally shot, at haif-i,aSt o'coc!l yes
terday morning. by :, young negro
named Charles Ch:Snian. 'rnrrc bull
lets from the lattcr'S revolver entered
Barnes body. one striking the lief,
nipple and passing dangerously near
the heart, the second goln:; through
the right lung. ANA Tie tni:. ;ti.r.iEg
the stomach. Th.s OH lnan ,%;ts tak.i,
TO his nome ana Physicians Gui, l>ls
summoned. hi: .lvy were. unair;y to
writing this report II IS said that he
can live but :. few hours. CnisnInn is
i'll Jail in this city.
The cius: OF the shooting dates back
several days. AS ustal, there - n NO
man in it. She is white AM, is known
in Phoebus simply as tussie. Cc1tl 81
few months ago tiussic lived in Wash
she came to Virginia. Ridt'ck Barnes
was one OF the first men She became
acquainted With after reaching i'hoe-
bus, and. despite his advanced age the
woman appears to have formed Il
strong tondnesS for him. The old man
reciprocatcd her affection ana conf
dence and promptly instnlEed himself
as her protector. So. at any rate, the
story goes. and there is good reason To
believe that il is true
GusSie came IL Phocbus with th,.
dasha nd flourish characteristic Ut ,eu-
pie of her kind and, having become
the mistress of Eiddick Earncs. na,ur-
ally enough quickly attracted the at
tcntion of the young colored men Of
the place. among them being Charlie
GhlSmAn. Il rather Good-!outjn. fellow
of about twenty-cight. with home
and a Wife of his own. Gussi,. seems
l" nave Infatuated him, however. and
ne was unable to resist the temptation
To see her. But whether he had sue
ceeded in doing SO prior to the visit
when caused yesterday morning $
tragedy, is not stated. a few nights
;tSo, IL is alleged. ChSman Went 10
Barnes house. and. finding the obi
man absent, crcpt through II window.
ltis visit, however is said to have. an
n'Eeh rather tnan pleased the woman
ana IN addition to requesting him 10
leave told She story Of the intrusion to
HarneS when he came home lie,. re-
cltal anSered the Old man and he de-
clnred that il he had been in the house
at the time he would have Shot CHS
man, ana he doubtless spoke the truth.
The young negro was not long In
hearing what Ridaick had said He
probably brooded over i, until the
thought came into his mind t,fat
BARNES might still harbor the idea OF
shooting him. But however that may
be. thislnan met officer Joe Ma sten al
O'Clock yesterday morning ana after
telling his story asked the policeman
what he would do about it. MIR. Mas
lin laushinsly replied that under th,.
circumstances he didn't think he
would do anything. Chisman then
Went away. but evidently NOT salts
fled With the officers advice. Shortly
after . O'Clock he walked down Curry
street toward the Chesapeake & Ohio
fy..o,
front of his blacksmith's shop. TIe
made n" effort to move as Chisn,an an
preached. as he would have done If he
had known that ne was about to be
fatally shot. Walking close to him. 1t
is said. the young man asked Barnes
If he had used the threatening Ian
guagc attributed TO him. He admitted
that he had. and his words We're deliv-
cred in a tone which indicated any
thing but friendly feelings toward his
visitor. y series OF nerco cpittcts is
said I" have followed. and Il few mo-
ments later iti,ii:ick Barnes. with a
strong stick III his hand was on his
feet. his. eyes flashing with anger. Ac-
counts as to What transpired after
struck Chisnan while he was backing
away. While others assert that CHS
man reached toward. his hip poke for
4 pistol. and that then Barnes fear
ing that he would be shot. drew his
revolver. Which of these versions is
correct cannot be said, but certain it is
that the firing began Immediately and
that Riddck fell to the ground pierced
by three bullets. as described above.
Believing that the old man had been
killed SONS. one shouted to Chisman to
run. He did 50, and when found by
officer Giddings and Constable Wall
lace was hiding in Frank Chisman's
barn. on Fulton street. He claims, it
is said. that Barnes shot first, the bal,
striking him on the hand.
Riddicll Barnes is one OF the best
known negroes in the county. H.. has
lived many years in Phoebus where
he acquired perhaps $4,000 worth of
property. Chisman, his assaiiant, was
until recently. employed at the Hygeia
Hotel as q cook. EIe will probably have
u hearing today. Chisman has Il blu;se
on his hand which looks like it had
been made by a club. II appears likely
that Barnes did strike him.
LATEE-I'arncs died last night from
the effects of his wounds.
FOSTER WILL HOLD ON
He Met the Enemy and They are