The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-20
Says He Was With Friends at
Another Place.
NOT SUSPECTED OF MURDER,
Authorities Satisfied That if the Accused
Fired the Shot ii Was AecidcntaI-The
Two Men Were Friends and
Worked Together-Tslk
With mrs. Ed
wards.

Thomas Edwards. charged with -unlaW-
fully and feloniously shooting and killing
John O'Briep at the Richmond Locomo-
tive Works on Saturday morning, October
18th, is in the Henrico Jail awaiting trial.
The warrant for his arrest was sworn
out about / O'Clock yesterday afternoon
and he was apprelended by Constables
Waldrop and Eubank.
This is the latest development in the
killing of Mr.. OBrien at the Locomotive
Works a week ago, and is one anticipated
in Fridays Times Whether or not this
is to prove a solution of the mystery
which has surrounded the unfortunate af-
fa remains yet TO be seen. The prisoner,
who is an eInploye OF the shop where
O'Brien was killed, absolutely denies the
charge in all of its aspects. and though
audience with him could not be gained
yesterday it was learned through a
source reliable as his own statement
would be--from his wife--tflat he was pre-
pared to prove to the satisfaction of all
that he was far away from the region Of
the shooting when it occurred. His hope
that he may demonstrate to the conclu-
sion of all that lie is not implicated in
hlt'1 Oil t~ii, H. Sttou, 10 bcSt0
this alihi, which he confidently asserts
that he can prove.
There was some contention yesterday
afternoon as to whether or not the charge
against Mr.. Edwards was actually that
of murder. The warrant, as seen from
the opening statement, contains the word
s.felonoiusly," and that was taken by
some 10 indicate that the case was Of a
graNer nature than was at first supposed.
\
contrary is lliesE case. The Eenrico off
GERS. SO far as is known, have in hand no
evidence which would justify them in the
belief that the shooting was malicious.
The prisoner had not decided upon his
counsel late last night Several friends
brought Mr.. ". II. Beveridge to the
courthouse, while the mans wife came
along with Mr.. II. NJ Smith. One. or
both, Of these gentlemen will. undoubted-
ly. be engaged. Bail had not up to that
time been formally applied for. The
time for the preliminary examination OF
the case before Squire James T. Lewis
has not been set.
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.
A long ana careful investigation led
UP to the arrest of Edwards It was
about 1920 O'Clock on the morning OF
Saturday, October 12th-a week ago yes
tcrday-that John OBrien, foreman Of
the erecting shop at the Richmond Loco
motive Works, suddenly fell in the throes
of death while standing within few
feet of one of the doors of the shop talk
ing with two men. For some little time
it was currently believed among the
worknen around the stricken man that
he had died Of heart disease, SO sudden
was his taking off. Fully a haIf-hour
afterwards was it that they learned, that
a bullet, fired by some person unknown,
was responsible for his decease. Even
when this face was proclaimed by the ply
sicians who examined the body and found
the wound, hut no blood many Of the men
about the shop were incredulous. Not
until the wound was probed and the
bullet extracted were they convinced
Thus will it be seen that any immeL-ate
investigation was precluded by the fact
that it was not generally known for some
little time afterwards that Mr. O'Brien
had really been shot Ample time was
afforded to the perpetrator of the deed
to get at a safe distance before anybody
began to look around for an explanation.
The dead foreman was one OF the most
III ifEIya regarded men in the entire es-.
Enlistment, and his unti1ne,y taking off
was a source Of regret TO his wide circle
Of friends. No one could account for the
deed, and finally the theory that the
fatal bullet was a stray one fired fl v4n
a rife handled by seine unknown person.
probably by boys, who are frequency
caught shooting at birds and other tar
gets in the Immediate neighborhood of
the works. came to be generally accepted
by the public at laTgA Practically on
all hands it was agrees that the shoot
ing was accidental. The discovery, made
later. that another person at the works
hau been injured in the same mysterious
way. only served, in most minds to con-
firm this belief.
Then the Henrico officers got to work
on the case and one or two new things
developed They learned, for instance,
that living on Cfrelsea Hill was man
who owned a rife which accommodated.
a bullet of the same calibre as that which
was taken from the body of Mr.. O'Brien.
This man was Mr.. Thomas Edwards. an
employe Of the works. 1t was further
learned in this connection, or at least
ii is so stated, that Mr.. Edwards mad
used this rife on several occasions on
rats, birds, and other targets around his.
house. The house, by the way, is on a
direct line with the door OF the Locomo-
tive Works in which O'Brien fell dead.
When approached by the Hencico off,
GERS with regard to the shooting Ed
wards. it is said, appeared nervous ana
made contredi.tnry stafements
THE WARRANT ISSUED.
With these facts In hand the authori-
ties felt themselves justified in taking
steps looking to the arrest of Edwards
Their evidence as well as can be learned,
went and goes no father than this They
are. it is understood, py no means GER
tain that the man fired the bullet So far
as any malicious intent is concerned it
is believed that they have no evidence
at all II they have. they have not made
thezfaSts known yet. Whether or not the
shot was fred with Intent to kill. whether
T or not it was fired at all by The man ac-
F cused will be developed In the trial.
At all events a warrant was on yester-
day afternoon sworn out against Thomas
Edwards charged with unlawfully ana
felonfously sfo otirs and killing one ] Ohm
#Q,Brein. The man WAS nrxasfed at q .6ll