The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1899-07-07

gan TO strike him. The TWO clinched
and Flanagan was pressing Pilkintol
back against the courthouse wall whel
the latter drew his pistol and shot hi
assailant, the ball entering just below
the collar bone
81 am shot and killed r' exclaimed
Mr.. Flanagan, as he started to fall.
Mr.. J. Haskins Hobson took hold o
the dying man, who soon breathed his
last.
While the tragedy is believed to have
been the elimination of a political
ieud, nobody seems to know why the
attack was made by Senator Flanagan
lie roundly denounced Pilkinton in
court few days ago, but the matter
ended there. The fact that Pilkinton
had said he would oppose Flanagan for
The Senate, and again hold him up for
public criticism, may have been the
eXasperating circumstance. Not a
word was spoken before the shooting.
Three persons witnessed the tragedy.
All agree that Flanagan, who came
out of the courthouse behind Pilkinton,
struck him three times before he drew
his pistol. II is not certain that the
fatal shot was fired with intent Pill
kintOn says he has no recollection Of
having pulled the trigger, having been
so dazed 10y the blows, and an officer
who tried TO disam PilkintOn, says he
had hold Of the weapon, and that the
force of its owner i'm the sculiie caused
its discharge. There was a crowd on
the court green.
Mr.. Flanagan's home is only one
hundred yards away from the court
house, and the scene when his wife
arrived was heartendng. Her hus-
band was sweltering in his blood, and
she could hardly be restrained from
falling upon him. She turned to Mr..
Pilkinton, and severely upbIaided him.
a brother Of the dead official arrived
at Powhatan that night, when there
was another affecting and dramatic
scene. An inquest was held the same
afternoon, and as the county Jail is
insecure, and there was a good deal of
excitement, Judge Miller had the
prisoner taken to Richmond to remain
until the trial in August. Pilkinton
was greatly wrought up. He says he
would rather have been killed than to
have mans blood on his hands. He
saws he does not care as much for
Flanagan as for his widow and child
rem. He does not seem to understand
the immediate cau.e Of the attack.
Flanagan was unarmed. His pistol
was in his desk in Richmond and not
loaded.
Mr. Flanagan was native Of Pow
hatan, and about fifty years old. A
widow aud ten children survive him.
He was a stanch Republican, and had
long been one of the recognized leaders
Of his party. He was Commonwealth |
Attorney for fifteen years or more; had
served four years in the State Senate,
and had been very active in politics.
Mr.. Pilkinton is member Of the |
bar, and about thirty years old. He |
has a pretty home near that Of Mr.. |
Flanagan, in Powhatan, and has wife |
and three children. He, like Mr..
Flanagan. had law Office in Rich |
mond, and both were in the city Sat
urday. The campaign for the office of
Commonwealth Attorney was very
bitter one. Charges and counter
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 after the heat
and excitement of the campaign was
over.
During the canvass Mr.. Piikinton
had printed and circulated statement
in which he charged Mr.. Flanagan
with being a dishonest official. Mr..
Flanagan replied in manner that was
calculated to cause Mr.. Pilkinton to
fight. but the campaign ended without
trouble.
1t is said that the shooting probably
grew out of the fight over the postollice
at Pnkinton, on the Farmville and
POwhatan railroad. Mrs. Dorset, it
seems, was appointed postmaster. She
had Mr. Pikinton prepare her bond
aud send it to the department at
He was accused by Mr.
Flanagan of "pigeon-holing" it and
finally mutilating the paper before
sending it ON. At any rate, the de-
partment got tired Of waiting for the
bond. Mrs. Dorset was removed and
Mrs. Pnkinton was appointed to sue
coed her. Mr.. Flanagan began an in
vestigation Of the case and for some
reason Mrs. Pilkinton resigned aud
Mrs. Dorset was reappointed.
Mr. Flanagan told gentleman In
saturday that he intended
t. prosecute Mr.. Pilkinton for carrying
concealed weapons.
81 have used Chamberlain's Cough
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