Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-27
SHOT THE WRONG ONE
BALL INTENDED FoH JOHN ROBIN
son KILLS GREANoR ANDERSON.
FATAL FALL OF A GUN BARREL
IL strikes watson Jones on tse Head
and lie Dies from the Ehects-A
Number of More or Less Serious
Christmas Accidents.

In separate cells In the Second Police
Station are two negroes charged with
murder committed yesterday. and while
both admit having killed their victims
neither is guilty OF having Intentionally
killed the men who now lie cold In DEATH
Willie Moore, boy about II years oil
age. is charged with having killed Greanor
Anderson, another colored boy about
the same age. He admits the deed
but he did not shoot TO kill Anderson;
he was firing at John Robinson, who es-
capped him. Moore was standing with a
lot of his associates on Leigh street be-
tween Gilmer and Munford yesterday
morning at 10 o'clock, and John Robinson
came by and picked quarrel with him.
As result, Robinson drew a revolver
and fred five shots at Moore, who ran
off and lodged all five of the bullets. He
took refuge behind the side of house,
and while there some one handed him
pistol with which 20 defend himself. lie
lost no time in availing himself of the
opportunity thus afforded, and he blazed
away at Robinson, who realized that his
time for fight had come. Robinson lost
but little time in making his escape, but
one OF the balls from Moore's pistol which
had been intended for him found Judgment
in the head of Greanor Anderson, VINO
was passing by at the time, and Ander-
son fell dead in his tracks.
The ball struck him irs the right temple
4 4 l.-gs 90
never uttered a sound after being shot,
and expired almost before he fell. Coro-
ner Taylor viewed the remains and turned
them over to friends; Captain Angle and
Sergeant Brooks then arrested Moore, and
warrant was sworn out for Robinson,
but at a late hour last night he had not
been apprehended. An inquest will be
held this morning at 10 o'clock.
THE OTHER KILLING.
The other prisoner at the station is
Clinton Otis Brown, a negro boy about
II years old. He is charged with the MUIR
der of Watson Jones, Il colored boy. but
this deed was entirely involuntary on
his part. Brown was celebrating Christ
mas. and with lot of boys was stand
ing on the corner Of Leigh and st. James
street. He had an old gun barrel, which
he had for the nonce converted into a
cannon and was attempting TO fire ii.
He loaded the instrument with powder,
rammng the charge home as tightly as
he could pack il. He then inserted a
fuse taken from popcracker, and laying
the impTOVised cannon on the ground,
lighted the fuse. He and his associates
beat a hasty retreat, and well they did,
for when the gun went off it kicked back
with fearful velocity. and, flying high
into the air, descended on the head of
Watson Jones, nearly half q block dis
tant. and crushing his skull, caused his
death, though he did not expire until
some little time after the accident
The Coroner was not notified Of this
affair. and did not go to the scene. but
officers from the Third Police District ar
rested Brown and he was locked up at
the Second Station.
A Soldier Loses His Hand.
Mr.. Otto Il. Gilbraith, prominent
young military man, suffered the loss OF
his right hand early Christmas morning
by the explosion Of a giant cannon
cracker.
Mr.. Gilbraith, with a party of friends,
attended a Christmas party given by
some young ladies, and made an engage
ment TO call for them early Christmas
morning TO escort them to mass. The
young gentlemen left about midnight and
about $3.50 o'clock to keep the
engagement They used firecrackers 10
awaken the ladies, and Mr.. Gilbraith met
with the accident that cost him his hand
while in the act Of firing a huge cracker.
The amputation was performed by DR..
Meredith, and the patient is now under
the care OF DR.. Stuart Mcclure
Mr. Gilbraith is a valued employee Of
10
from the firms headquarters at South
Bend, Ind, some years ago, and his quiet
and pleasant manner has made him very
popular. He is q member of the local
militia, and at the call for troops volun-
-eered with his company. the "Grays,"
and served as first sergeant until mus
.ered out last week. He lives at No. 4O7
east Clay street.
Mr.. McGinin Painfully Hurt.
Mr.. ~ A McGifin one of the watch
men at the City Hall, suffered serious
Injuries TO his right hand on Sunday
night, as the result of an attempt to ex-
plOde a dynamite cartridge in celebration
Of ChristmasDay. Mr.. McGiffin yielding
to the opportunities of his young son.
touched a lighted match to the cartridge.
and il exploded forthwith. He had ex-
pected the usual interval to e4apse before
the report, and was completely stunned
by the suddenness of the explosion. 1t |
affected his whole arm, but his thumb |
and foreiinger were badly torn and |
DR.. John X. Wheat was sum |
noned, and performed an operation Mr.. |
McGiftln' ssNewfoundland dog, which was |
standing near when the shell exploded, |
was stunned to such an extent that blood |
sushed from its ears, and the poor ami |
nal was unable to hear at all for some |
hours. Mr.. McGiffn was somewhat bet |
er yesterday, though he suffers much |
'ain in consequence Of his injuries
Two Boys Are Injured.
The little 10-year-old son Of Mr.. Jetty |
Barker, a motorman on the Clay-street |
inc, was badly injured yesterday by the |
explosion Of a can of powder which he
vas handling. The little fellow was
iring a toy cannon, and had in front of |
him can of powder, from which he was
oading the cannon. While bending over
With view TO loading the instrument,
negro passed and dropped a lighted fire
racker in the can Immediately under the
ads eyes. An explosion followed and
he little fellow was badly burned about
he face. 1t is thought that he may have
uttered the loss of his sight. His father
vas soon on the scene and removed the
uuerer 10 his nome. The negro who
brew the cracker in the can has not yet
zen caught.
The little son of Mrs. Charles Whitlock
ustained rather severe accident while
ngaged yesterday in firing off pop
hackers The little fellow attempted TO
xpode a baby-waker. and the large
racker went of in his face end badly
1jured his eyes Medical aid was quick
Y summoned and an effort was made to
ave the sight OF the eyes