Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-08-11
HE NEWS OF NORFOLK ON PAGES THREE
suiCIDEoR ACCIDENT.
OFFICER HOLLAND SHOOTS HIM.
SELF IN THE TEMPLE.

Policeman Edgar Holland died yes
tcr9ay morning shortly after o'clock
from pistol shot in his left temple.
1t was either suicide or accident. The
theory OF suicide is seemingly better
supported by facts and circumstances
than that of accident, though Chief of
Police Ki2er is positive in his belief that
the dead officer did not die by his own
hand. The verdict of the coroner's
jury was that the officer came TO his
death by pistol shot in the left temple.
inflicted by his own hand"
The unfortunate affair occurred in
the rear of No. 553 Churcn street. OH
Ger Holland was sitting down and the
pistol lay between his feet, with only
one empty chamber it is the theory
OF Chief I<izer and others Of the Police
Department that the officers pistol fell
10 the floor and caused an explosion OF
one of the chambers. the ball striking
the temple They say that Il brulse on
the handle or butt of the weapon shows
that il nigh; have struck the floor
sufficiently hard TO explode the cart
ridge. lie died without speaking. liv-
ing only Il few minutes after the report
of the pistol was heard.
Wednesday afternoon, at o'clock.
officer Holland failed to report for
duty. lie was marked absent without
matter was 10 have been brought to
the attention of The Police Board, Those
who believe that the officer shot HIM
self purroscly account partly for his
rash act by this fact.
THE CORONER'S INQUEST.
AT the cororcrs inquest yesterday
morning. at 1880 o'clock. Officers Wood
and Sanderlin told about seeing officer
Holland short while before his death.
officer Wood met with him on Church
street about . O'Clock. holland was
going To the market, he said. The two
officers conversed together. walking up
and down Church street for about an
hour, officer Sandcrin, in the mean
time, joining them. officer Holland
SAID he was going TO the rear of the
barber shop at No. 555 Church street
ana left the other two officers. 1t was
not long before the negro boy notified
officers Sanderlin. Wood and Harris of
Il pistol shot i'll the rear OF the place,
ana hurrying tn the scene they found
the officer sitting down dead or diving.
as above stated. The police station
was notified and Sergeant Beane went
at once to the place
sergeant iieane testified as to finding
the dead officer. his position, etc, his
testimony coTroborating that of
the other officers
~ young man named T'wiford tes:i-
iicd TO seeing Officer Holland before and
after the shooting.
chief kizer testified that the pistols
used by the police force were not safe
To drop or strike against anything. He
related three Instances where the pis-
tolls had been discharged by falling TO
me iioor or ground despite the claim
OF the manufacturers that they were
saie weapons. Any pistol, the chief
said, was liable to explode when strik-
ing the floor He thought the unfor-
,unate occurrence an accident. since
iherc was no reason that he could sec
why the life of the dead officer should
not have been a happy one.
officer Holland was 80 years old. He
was appointed on the force when Cant.
w. II. Mayo was Mayor, in 1896 lie
mas been good officer. He had been
married only Il short time. and his
young wife. who is sister of the
wives of Officers Curlors and Daugherty.
was Frustrated by his sudden death.
ne had coy home at No. 9lS West
HiEhiand avenue. Brambleton.
The funeral of the dead officer will
take place this afternoon at o'clock.