Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-09
SYMPATHY FOR MYRlCk
He is the Crack Gunner in the
Navy.
The Sailor Who Shot Waterman King and
the Negro Man Hopkins VIII Have tho
Assistance of tho omoers and Mon of
tho AmphItrite.

Great interest is felt in the case of
Earle Myrick. He is the sailor who be-
came intoxicated during a shore leave
from the monitor Amphltrite and shot
Joseph r. King and Joseph H. Hop
kins colored.
These two men were wounded by
small shot from the double barreled
gun that Myrick carried and have not
been able to appear in court till yes
terday. They were wounded on Mo-
vember % at the Boston dock, where
King is night Waterman for the Mer-
| chants and Miners Transportation
Company. Hopkins is employed at the
Bay Line dock and was simply passing
| that way.
The case came before Judge Taylor
| in the Police Court yesterday morn
ing. when Earle Myrick was held for
the grand jury in January on two
| counts for felonious shooting.
The statements of the case are some
what contradictory, but they are to the
following effect:
Late in the afternoon of November
26 Earle Myrick appeared with a COM
panion and gun at the Boston dock.
The float used by the government Is
there and the sailors intended to take
| a. boat to return to the Amphitrite
Roth of them were intoxicated My
rick was holding the gun at port arm
military fashion and doubtless imagin-
cd himself on guard duty. When Hop
! llinS, the negro. came along Myrick
called Halt" Hopkins did not halt,
hut turned to escape. Myrick shot
him. Waterman King. who went to
| the assistance Of Hopkins, was shot
also.
| Nyrck made no resistance to arrest.
! He says that he doesn't remember any
1 ho n IN 40
| drinks.
| All the officers and men of the Am
phitrite unite in praising Myrick. He
| is gunner's mate on the Amphitrite.
and one of the best shots in the navy.
TIe is an expert with ordnance and
small arms.
He has a fine record as n gunner on
The battleship Texas. on which he
served during the Spanish war. He
not only handles the 6-inch, s, 10 and
Finch great guns, but he is n crack
shot with pistols, and holds the rec
ord of the navy with the Winchester
rifle. He has record OF % bulls eye
shots with that aim at 500 yards.
Myrick is from Portland. Me. He is
30 years old. has been in the service
six years, never had any sort of trouble
before and has the record of q sea-
man of the first class.
Before leaving here last week the
officers of the Amphitrite left instruc-
| tons with MIR. John G.. Tilton to give
Myrick ali the assistance in his power
stating that they will pay for any
! thing he needs for defense or COM
| fort. Mr.. Tilton says the man is not
| TO he held responsible for the catas-
trophe OF shooting the two men be-
cause he was absolutely unaccountable
| for his actions. He was intoxicated to
| practical insensibility.
| Myrick is intelligent. quiet and com
panionable. The officers of the Amph-
itrite give the best of character to
| him, while the 500 men are enthu-
siastically friendly and proud of him.
At the Jail there Is nothing but
praise for his quiet and gentle de-
meanor. The officials there declare that
he is admirably behaved. He says he
! can't conceive how he could have shot
! the men, as he bears no malice to any
body and never saw them before. He Is
willing to make any reparation and
! has neither defense nor excuse. He says
simply that he has not even a faint
recollection of anything that oc-
Cured,
The officers of the vessel say that
the shotgun Myrick carried had been
bought the day of the shooting with
the intention Of shooting ducks at
Port Royal where the Amphitrite is
cruising now.