The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-20
HE DIDN'T KNOW
GUN WAS LOADED
Harold Waiman Acquitted Of the
Killing of Edward Carter.
SHOOTING WAS ACCIDENTAL
One Witness Testified That Wainan
Had Taken Cartridge from His
Pocket, but He Did Not Know
VIVA, He Did With 1t.

Harold Julian Waiman. the youth
charged with the killing of his playmate
Edward Carter. was tried and acquitted
In The Police Court yesterday morning.
Harold Naimau. the youth acquitted.
IS fourteen years of age; a frail delicate
little fellow. On Wednesday evening,
while with company OF boys of the
neighborhood. he accidentally shot and
killed his little playmate. a youth about
his age.
From the evidence before the court yes
terday morning it was clearly shown
that the shooting was accidental, and
that though the Waiman lad threatened
60 shoot Garter, 1t was in fun. and, that
ne was ignorant OF the fact that the
pistol he fourished was loaded.
There was the greatest interest in the
case. the court room being filed with
persons from the section of the city
where the boys lived. besides number
OF boys summoned witnesses. The
little prisoner at the bar showed clearly
the strain of the last few days He was
nervous and exhausted. and moved in his
seat restlessly during the hours Of ne
trial When at last his acquittal came.
tears came into his eyes. and he left the
court room on the verge OF breaking
down
The faces of the boys lined up along
the wall of the court room We're studies
end when their playmate was set free.
plainly showed their pleasure.
DEMANDED CIGARETTE.
1t seems that the whole affair between
the boys arose because Carter would not
give Waiman a cigarette Carter had
Just given a cigarette to Arthur hoiner.
another boy. and when Waiman asked
him for a cigarette he said he didn
have any to give away. Waiman. play
Ing. said he would make Carter give him
a cigarette. and drew the revolver. a
thirty-two calibra, owlted Jointly by
several boys in the neighborhood, and
snapped VT several times. pointing IT
TO the street. The revolver did not ex-
pode and STILL playing. Waiman turned
TO Carter and snapped the revolver at
him.
Carter was not afraid of it. having no
idea that il was loaded, and didn't even
leave his seat Then Waiman turned
away. and examined the revolver 10
make certain there was no load IN IL
When he uy1ed back he pointed IL again
at Carter and Carter reached Tor IL As
he did so Waiman jerked his arm oach
suddenly and. he says. the shock OF me
Jerk must have caused him to pull the
trigger Anyway he was amazed when
the shot was fired and Carter tell PACK.
Only Brock Pollard SOW him take the
cartridges out Of his pocket he was
positive that Waiman selected one ana
then he turned away. The remaining
two cartridges ne put into his pocket
What he did with the third Pollard did
not know. All the witnesses agreed IN
the statement that there had never been
any trouble between the boys: that they
were the best of friends; that they
had never quarrel!ed. and not one of them
imagined the possibility Of Carter being
shot. although they all heard the con-
yersation between the two.
BOY HAD SUFFERED.
when the testimony was all in Com
nonwealth's- Attorney Richardson explain
cl the law to the court. defining the
four degrees of homicide This removed
tho possibility Of murder in the first or
second degree and left only for the con-
alteration Of the court the possibility of
voluntary or involuntary manslaughter
In conclusion he said that the court
might realize that the boy. Waiman, had
Suffered enough as a result Of his care
icSSneSS.
Attorney Barrett. who appeared for the
defense went over the same ground ana
asked for an acquittal. The killing was
to he deeply deplored. but he did not
see that punishment in any degree would
be necessary When he closed the court
announced that the prisoner was dis
charged