Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-04
Shot Dead in His Tracks at Pow
hatan Courthouse.
BY LAWYER pILKlNToM
Tragedy Relieved 80 Have Grown ont
OF a Fight Over iho Post once ne
Ptikinton-Flanng Had Threat.
cned to Prosecute tho Man who
KILLED H1m-Particuiars of the
sad flair are Neasro.
Especial to virginIan-pilot.l

Richmond, Va, July 3.-AIr. VIM.
Flanagan. member OF the State Sem
ate. was shot and killed on the court
| green at Powhatan courthouse this
morning by Mr.. VIM. G.. Piklnton. a
young lawyer OF that county.
Particulars are meagre These gem
lemen recently opposed each other for
commemorative Attorney. The cam
Palgn was q very bitter one. Charges
and counter charges were made 1t
was feared there would be serious
trouble during the canvass. but this
was avoided Mr.. Flanagan won and
no one was expecting an encounter at
ter the heat and excitement of tho
| campaign was over
During the canvass Mr.. Pilkinton
had printed and circulated Il statement
In which he charged Mr.. Flanagan
with being dishonest official MIR.
Flanagan replied in a manner that was
| calculated to cause Mr.. Pikinton 10
fight. but the campaign ended without
| trouble.
CAUSD OF TRAGEDY.
1t is said that the shooting probably
grew out of the fight over the postoftica
ut tiikinton, on the Farmville and
Z
seems, was appointed postmaster. She
had Mr.. Pilkinton to prepare her bond
4 and to send 1t to the department at
| Washington. He,,was accused by MIR.
Flanagan OF pigeon holing" it and
finally mutilating the paper before
sending it on. At any rate, the depart
ment got tired of waiting for the bond,
Mrs. Dorset was removed and Mrs Pill
| kinton was appointed to succeed her
Mr.. Flanagan began an investiga ton
| OF the case and for some reason Mrs.
Pilknton resigned and Mrs. Dorset was
| re-appointed.
| This matter Is believed to be one that
| led up to the tragedy.
COURT DAY.
There were some other things that
might have provoked the trouble i'm the
courthouse square. but it is believed
| here that the postoflicc matter was the
! cause of the shooting.
This was court day at Powhatan. A
Large crowd was in attendance The
shooting occurred about 10 o'clock.
Mr. Flanagan told gentleman in
Richmond Saturday that he intended 10
prosecute Mr.. Pilklnton for carving
| concealed WeaDons
1t is probable that he intended TO
bring the matter before the grand jury
| to-day.
Messrs. Flanagan and Pilllinton both
q.
were mere Saturday. Mt. flanagan was
about 90 years old and has been Com
monwealth's Attorney for Powhatau
fourteen or fifteen years. Prior TO thar
time he was Sheriff. He was n native
Of Powhatan.
MIR. PILKINTON
MIR. Pilkinton is IL sen of the late T..
t. Pllkinton, who had a tobacco fac
rory In Richmond prior to his death.
lie is a native of Chesterfield
Mr.. Pilkinton conducted the factory
Tor short time after his fathers
death. He then became Il deputy coll
iector OF Internal Revenue under Col
rector Ryan. He soon resigned. studied
law and was admitted to the bar.
lie is married and has pretty homo
in Powhatan county. Recently Mr.,
| Pilkinton and Mr.. Alfred e. Cohn hava
conducted the Bankrupt Credit and
Correction Company, with Offices in tho
Ebel building.
y COURAGEOUS MAN.
| Mr.. Flanagan leaves wife and seven
children. y son is engaged in bust
ness in Richmond. Mr. Flanagan has
always been Republican and a strong
partisan. He was elected to the State
senate IN 1923 over Mr.. f. NJ. Parrish,
Oh Goochland. He was conspicuous in
me debates in the Senate and was
courteous TO his opponents. He has
never been q man who sought trouble.
put has had the reputation of being n
very courageous man. He has had sew
eral fist fights and always came out
first best
few years ago he and Colonel Taze-
well Elicit had a personal encounter
Senator Flood made an attack UNION
Mr.. Flanagan in the Senate chamber.
using stick.
Mr.. Flanagan had many warm
trends among people OF all parties. He
had enemies. but not many OF them.
ANOTHER REPORT.
Specials from Powhatan courthouse
late Tonight state that witnesses agree
that Flanagan was the agressor and
that he took Plkinton unawares. Com
| missioner of Revenue elect Gcode. who
was in conversation with Pilkinton Mt
the time OF the assault. says that Elan
agan had Pilkinton oy the throat when
the latter fired the fatal shot, and was
choking him. Pil<inton Is a Democrat
and Flanagan was a Republican, and
the two were opposing candidates for
Commonwealth Attorney In the late
election for county officers. Bitterness
engendered in the canvass was the
cause of the tragedy. y
A special grand jury indicted Pilkin-
fAv< - Il H.. - - 4 =.