Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-05
THEY SHOT TO KILL,
William Britton and John Riley
Foughta Duel ina Saloon
NEITHER WAS FATALLY HURT,
BrittOn Used a Shotgun and Riley
a PiStOf.
RiIey's Bullets Did Not Down Him,
and While lie Was Trying to shoot
Again He Was struck Over the
Hend-A Desperate Encounter.

That William Britton, a well-known
stone-cutter, and John Riley. bartender
at the saloon Of Peter Chiappa, Nos. 1898
and 1890 east Main street, are not subjects
for a coroner's jury is due to their bad
craftsmanship. and to the fact that they
are more thick-sknned than the ordinary
mortal
Both men were seriously shot in a duel
in Chiappa's bar shortly before midnight
and are now at the Almshouse Hospital,
whore. at an early hour this morning, it
was said that they would recover.
Britton rooms over Chiappa's bar and
had been lettering around there all day
yesterday, drinking. lie was in the bar
room about o'clock in the afternoon.
and accosted Mr.. Robert Hudgins, a pile
driver. employed on the Chesapeake and
Ohio railway. whom he invited TO take a
drink. Mr.. Hudgins was not drinking,
and declined the invitation. This incensed
Britton, and he began cursing Hudgins.
/ His language became so rough that Hud-
gins finally resented il, and attempted TO
strike Britton. The latter eveded the blow
however and left the bar, swearing ven
geance against Hudgins.
HE GOT HIS GUN.
He went to his room and secured his
doube-barreled shotgun, which he load
ed with No shot, and came back into
the bar. In the mean time however, Hud-
gins had departed, and Brtton made dire
threats against him, swearing with con-
siderable emphasis that he would kill him
on sight. Riley was behind the bar, and
endeavored to pacify Britton. The two
had always been friends. and finally at
Rney's solicitation, Britton went 10 his
room, ostensibly to retire. Riley shook
hands with him and bade him good night,
and expressed the hope that he would
wake up in a better humor.
This was about II o'clock, and half an
hour thereafter Britton reappeared in
| the saloon. and walking up 10 the bar
/ asked the bartender who had relieved
| Riley where that individual was. Riley
was seated in a chair i'm front Of the
stove not feet from Britton, and when
the bartender pointed him out Britton
|
throwing his gun to his shoulder. fired
one barrel at him, the shot all taking
! effect in his abdomen. and literally tear
/ ing his coat 10 shreds.
RILEY USED HIS PISTOL
Riley was doing when shot but he
/ quickly awoke. and. springing 10 his feet,
| drew a 32-calibre Smith q Wesson re-
volver from his pocket and blazed away
at his assailant. Ike emptied all five
shells at him. and throwing his pistol on
/ the floor grasped an Iver Johnson g.
/ calibre revolver. which was handed him
| and started 20 fire that Britton had in
the mean time been endeavoring TO fire
the other barrel of his gun at Riley. but
after the fifth shot had been fired at him
ne was fened by poker welded by
! gentleman standing near him.
Mr.. L. G. Haake. who was standing on
the corner at the time the shooting COM
menced, entered the saloon at this juno
ture and grasped the second pistol and
wrested it from Riley's hand ere he could
shoot again.
Sergeant Matthews, Of the First Police
| District, was soon on the scene and took
| Riley to the First Station, and the ambu-
! lance was telephoned for 1t quickly re-
| sponded with Dr.. Brown I'm charge and
| he, after making a cursory examination
! of Brtton's wounds concluded that the
man was dangerously wounded. and all
| haste was made to get him TO the hospi
! tai. The Doctor stopped at the First Sta
tion long enough to pick Riley up. and
also took him along to the hospital. Po
| liceman Hulcher going with him 10 guard
| the two men.
NEITHER WILL DIE.
There 1t was found that neither man
was desperately wounded. One bullet
only had found lodgment in Brittons
body, it having struck him in the right
thigh. but his scalp was badly lacerated
by the poker, two deep gashes being
made therein. He suffered severely from
the shock but revived when restora tives
were applied at the almshOuse. and cursed
the doctor with great vehemence as he
dressed his wounds.
Rney's injuries were only flesh deep.
and were not at all serious. Thirteen of
the shots took effect I'm his body. but none
Of them. 80 far as could be ascertained
last night had pentrated the abdomen.
Britton - stone-cutter. employed at
I.atouche's stone-yards, on Linden street
near Mount Calvary Cemetery. His
father was for many years employed as
a night watchman for Davenport q Nor
ris This IS not the first shooting scrape
in which Britton has figured. He was
arrested some years ago for shooting
James Holleran. on Seventeenth street.
Riley Is said by his friends and the
police 10 be q very peaceable man. He
is the son Of the late Thomas Riley. who
was proprietor Of a saloon on the corner
Of Twenty-hfth and Main streets. and is
about S2 years Of age. Britton is about 49,