Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-06-21
A SHOCKING TRAGEDY
Mr.. J. J. Cunningham Nor
tally Wounded. ..
SHOT BY R.V RICHARDSON
Claimed That the Shooting Was j ustifiable-
Mr.. Richards on AdHitted TO Bail
in the gum OF $1,000.
Other Items. M

peake and Ohio depot yesterday morn
ing at quarter past 10 o'clock and this
morning a shadow as black as thai
cast by the hand of death is hanging
over the hads of two families here
that of Mr.. r. V. Richardson, one of
the most highly esteemed citizens Of
Hampton. and OF MIR. ]. j. Cunningham.
u young man with scores of friends.
who lies on cot in Dixie Hospital dy-
ing from a CHASTITY gun-shot wound In
the head .
The awful story cannot be told thla
morning, but the day is coming, and
perhaps is not far away. when it Will
be laid bare in all of its shocking de.
tails. In it the people Will have story
Of love which led to blood. and which,
in yesterday mornings terrible sequel
gave birth in more than one heart to
pangs which Time with his soothing
balm will be years. long weary years,
in healing. ....
When, shortly before 10 O'Clock. Joe
Cunningham mounted his wheel and
road away toward the East End he
little thought that an hour later he
would be carried to Dixie Hospital In
dying condition. Nor is 1t at all likely
that Mr. r.. V. Richardson, whose man.
ly and upright life has made every man
in Hampton his friend, thought when
about the same time. he left his work
at the courthouse and started home
that he would soon return to answer
the charge of having sought to take
fellow beings life. 1t was not in his
heart to do it, and whether the future
shall prove him right or wrong IN the
eyes of the law. that great tribunal in
which unsullied manhood sits as judge
to guard the sacred altar of the nome,
will hold him guiltless.
Joe Cunningham was we'll liked. But
he made the mistake OF gong 70 the
house Of a man who had warned MIN
to keep away. Perhaps he meant no
harm. But that was neither here nor
there He went. and yesterday he paid
the awful penalty of his folly. There
is a missing link in the story. and no
one has yet been found to supply it,
The shooting began in the lot back or
Mr.. Richardson's house. but what hap
pened before the two men We're seen
there has not been told. Or course,
there are those who know, but they arr
not ready to talk. and not one blannes
them for their reticence.
After shooting Mr. Cunningham Mr.
Richardson surrendered to officer Dies
til and came to the courthouse, MherS
he was held until o'clock, When !uuge
Lee released him upon $4,000 bail. MT.
Henry Schmelz and Mr.. j. S. Daring
becoming his bondsnEen.
The weapon used by Mr.. Richardson
with No shot. He was so close Wheli
he fired that the charge had littls
chance to scatter and the greater part
of it ploughed its way through Gun
head, carrying away a por-
ton of the skull and brain some OF
the shot struck him in the breast, Duh
those did no serious damage Cunning
ham bled profusely ana presen.eo ana
horrible sight. He arose, however, ana
walked to the end of the platform and
sat down. But q few minutes later no
got up and went into the freight mouse.
saying that he wanted to get where
people would not disturb him. short
" afterward he was taken to Dixie
Hospital.
tion before q Justice of the peace, ana
at O'Clock a hearing took place in
Judge Lees court to determine the
question of bail He was represented
by Mr.. Arthur Segar. Mr. Rlchardson.
who occupied a sent by the side of hls
father, listened to the proceedings WIN
the quiet demeanor of man VINO 1eels
that the act with which ne stanas
charged does not belong to the category
of crime. Many of the leading men OF
this city sat inside the bar Enclosure
while the space outside was tnfonseu
with eager spectatorSh. the majority ol
whom supposed that the series OF I'M
happy events leading up to the Tragedy
would be brought out. But in THIS they
were disappointed. for put Two WI
nesses were examined, and on thelr
testimony Mr.. Segar rested ms aPpe"i
for bail, and won.
ennis Lee. a colored man we'll known
in the East End. where he lives, was
the first to take the stand. he told my
story in a straightforward manner. ne
saw Mr. Cunningham near the oepo'
about 10 O'Clock. He was on his wheel
In about thirty minutes he saw MT.
Richordson walking out Mallory ave-
me in the direction of his home, Whicn
is at the foot Of Marshall street.a snort
distance from the G.. 4 O. KY. tracks.
A little later Lee saw the TWO men
together near Mr.. Richardsons mouse
and although he was 800 yards away
he could easily tell that they We're car
rying on an animated conversation. II
Ala not occur to him, however. that
thew were about to fight and, knowing
them both. began to walk toward them
While thus engaged he heard a pistol
shot and, looking up, saw Cunningham
with a revolver in his hand. Mr.. Rlcn-
ardson, who had a shot gun. then TOOK
refuge behind a pile OF cross-ties anc
almost Immediately Mr. Cunningham
concealed himself at the ~--ier end
They had not been in this position lone
when another pistol shot rang out, ant
Lee began to realize that the two mef
were about to engage in deadly combat
Then, thinking that he might persuade
them to abandon their quarrel. the wit
ness started toward the pile Of ties. bu
Cunningham warned him back. and NJ
beckoned to Mr.. Day. who was paint
ing at the depot. to come to his assist
ance But Mr.. Cunningham also mo
toned to Mr.. Day to keep back. In TN
meantime Mr.. Richardson raised nj!
gun and fired. The shot. however. dit
no damage and Lee. feeling that q III
would be taken unless he quickly inter
ferred, again advanced toward the men
| at the same time appealing to them t
put away their weapons. But neithe
| was inclined to 90 So Mr.. Richardson
alone replied to his remark. saying
Lee. have been badly treated b.
| this man.
! Mr.. Cunningham then called to tn
witness and asked him to secure ID
Richardson's gun. saying that n
| Cunningham was an officer. Lee al
not attempt, Of course. to comply wit
the request. While this was going o
Mr.. Richardson according to the ne