The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-16
MISTER SH |. |. |! I D
FAT.A SHOOTING ] [ !! |!
No More Fatalities at Locomotive
Works as Yet.
VARIOUS THEORIES @ III ADVANCED.
Superstition Tint Bullet Wa. Stray One
Seems the Nest Plausible Other
Shots Heard, Which Seem to
Bear Out This Theory.
No More Fatalities at Locomotive.
VARIOUS THEORIES ADVANCED
.

Mystery still sshrouds the fatal shooting
saturday morning last, at the Richmond
Locomotive Works, of Mr.. John O'Brien,
aud the less serious. injuring OF Mr.. c.
Manly Parker. No more shots have come
to disturb the equanimity Of the workmen
and the entire community, and tits hoped
that the last OF them have been fered.
With regard to the operating cause in the
whole affair a variety of opinions is about
| all that can be discovered at this stage.
| Nothing to indicate that malice was at the
bottom OF the shooting, has yet been hit
| upon and the theory advanced in The
Times yesterday morning that Mr..
OsBrlens came to his death at the hands
| of a stray bullet fired from q rife handled
by some boy or boys sporting in the
neighborhood is 3the most tenahle opinion
that has yet presented itself.
! The Henrico authorities have practically
taken this ground in the matter. They be-
I lieve that the fatal shot came from
| Chelsea Hill. Just across the way from
] the Locomotive Works, and further that
! it's striking Mr.. O'Brien was purely acct
I dental. Believing this as they do, how
! ever, they have determined upon a rigid
investigation and if possible will sift the
| affair to the bottom. A careful inquiry
will be made and in the search for facts
| the Henrico officers and special detectives
| called to their assistance will unite.
OTHER SHOTS ARE FIRED.
| When it is said, as above. that no more
shots have come to disturb the peace at
| the Locomotive Works, it is meant that
| no other case similar to that of Saturday
/ has developed. The reverse is not true
| Other shots have been heard in the
| neighborhood of the works and that as
4 late as yesterday. But they evidently
| bear no more than an incidental connec-
] ton with the preceding events. Quite
| distinctly yesterday Watchman Williams
| then on duty at the works heard one or
! two or more reports of a f1raarm in the
near distance and at once he proceeded to
| Investigate. judging that he might be
| striking upon some clue. He walked in
| the direction from which had came the
sounds. but could see no one. The sports
men were evidently at some little dis
lance.
This last firing in the neighborhood OF
| the works is d valuable coincidence. since
! it illustrates the statement of residents
| in the neigfI5orhood that there is fire.
Quently more or less display of firearms
| around the place. Chelsea Hill appears
! to be a favorite haunt for youngsters
| who desire to test their skill with the
! rifle or lay low some innocent sparrow.
| and herein it is thought lies the key
to the mystery. A representative of The
Times visited the works yesterday after
noon and surveyed the situation from
that point. One fact struck him forcbly.
In a line with the door wherein Mr..
O'Brien was standing when he fell NOR
tally stricken, and in fact in a similar
| relation to that entire side of the works
reckoning from the surface. there is o
string Of telegraph wires.
These wires number many, and to q
person standing in the door designated
are also on a line with the top of Chef
sea Hill. They are not quite midway
between the two ponts-probably con-
siderably nearer the Hill.
sPARROWS ON THE WIRES
These wires like most others. have
been appropriated by the sparrows for
congregating places. and they often gather
there and hold converse. To a COY pass
ing along the crest of the hill, a short
distance off they would offer a strong
temptation to break up the group. II
he had rifle along he simply couldn't
resist. and blaze away he would. Like
as not he would take no cognizance of
the fact that beyond, at. the Locomotive
Works, which, it Will be remembered. is
on u line, with the point where the boy
is standing, there was danger that his
bullet would do harm to human life. In
tent upon q sparrow and the best
method of killing it, boys do not usually
think of such things Following 4 down
grade. the bullet would naturally fly with
exceptional force. and Wine. of small
caiibre could easily kill a man whom it
struck a the works below
This is judged to be the most plausible
explanation OF the unfortunate shooting
of Mr. O'Brien and Mr.. Parker One can
easily imagine how it might have DC
CURED without any stretch of the inla-;-
nation. y visible incident strengthens this
belief When questioned yesterday.
Waterman Williams said or Sunday
morning between and 10 O'Clock he saw
two or three boys on top of the hill. and
from their actions was led to keep his
eye on them. One was evidently telling
something to the others, and in explain
ing his narration he walked to the top of
the hill and pointed directly to thefdoor
where Mr.. O'Brien received his fatal
wound Thinking that the boys might
know something. of the shooting, the
Waterman called to them. but when he
attempted an approach they ran off.
NC. GROUND FOR MALICE.
The theory that the shooting of the two
men was malicious carries but little
weight. Nc reason for murder has been
discovered. though careful Inquiries nave,
been made, and it is more than likely
Lie iioiiS VIII DSe lOdiit- MI. " OTleil wills
highly thought of by his acquaintance.
and so far as knowledge goes had not an
enemy in the world. Other theories are
equally untenable. or more so. and need
no elaboration. One man had the tenleri-
ty to suggest that the anarchists are
getting in the game al the Richmond I.o-E
connective Works.
Mr. PARKER BETTER
Mr. Parker. the young man who was
shot a the works and r2infIIlIv. INT
seriously injured is somewhat better The
bullet was removed Yesterday morning