The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-07
TO SOLVE
THE CEASE
MYSTERY
Wounded Mans Brothers
Demand Justice.
HIS LIFE HANGS
IN THE BALANCE
Strange Story Of the Tragedy
Of Sunday Afternoon.
BULLETS FIRED
THROUGH A WINDOW
L. siebert Cease Shot at One O'clock
in the Afternoon, Lay Bleeding Alone
Five Hours Before Assistance
Circumstances that
Led Up to the oc-
currence.
BULLETS FIRED
THROUGH A WINDOW

home IN Highland Park Sunday after
noon adds another mystery and sensation
to the long list of history.
Mr.. Cease is in a critical condition at
the Retreat for the Sick. A bullet is
very close to his heart, after having
pierced his body. He is In utter collapse,
and II is admitted by all that his life
hangs in the balance.
The profound mystery thrown around
the shooting is remarkable. considering
the time of the day. the number of peo-
pie close at hand, and the statement OF
Mr. Cease himself tn Police Officer Hal
Ter. of Highland Park. No arrests have
been made, but an Investigation will be
held BY the Commemorative attorney
this morning.
Madden by Drink.
Mr.. Cease is rated by his friends as
one OF the best hearted men on eartn
when sober He has frequently shown
himself to be well-nigh demon when
he has been drinking The effect OF
drink seemed to drive him mad. Oeca-
sionally before Sunday morning he had
ri per, IDS wife great distress. The neigh
f,ors knew 1t. and Mrs. Cease had .ap-
plfed In one or two instances to Officer
Haller for protection. But she would
not consent to his arrest. Sunday ne
started the day by drinking, He had =
lug of LIQUOR In the house. While at a
late breakfast, as the meal was ending.
he asked for more whiskey. His wife
demonstrated with him. according to her
account to Mr.. Haller, asking him not
10 drink any more. as she was eSpecZg
company that day. Her mother was
coming. and her aunt and her husband
from Washington. She had made the
cake and gotten the Ice cream ready.
She wanted the day to pass off nicely
The effect of her request was remark
able. She SAYS he seized the first thing
he could get his hands on and dashed IT
on the table with all his might. From
that moment for the next two or three
hours he went about the house a per-
feet terror now and then smashing
everything that his eyes fell upon. Mrs.
Cease told Squire Lewis, before whom
she later swore ont the warrant fo' the
arrest Of her husband, and also ofllcer
HalIer. who assisted at the arrest. that
Cease rushed at her and declared In a
loud voice that she should not dictate to
him about what he should OF should
not do.
Smashed Picture.
When the maddened and intoxicated
husband had finished his savage onslaught
upon his own household the china, chairs,
tables and other articles of furniture,
pictures. including very large ana hand-
some portrait of the father'of Mrs. Cease,
bric-a-brac and other home treasures, MT:
and Mrs. Pierce arrived In the midst OF
the trouble and so did other guests, as
we'll as could be gathered from the
nelehbors and according to the under
standing of the officers. 1t took little
time for the guests to realize the sltua-
ton. or Mr. Cease came TO calm about
the time of their arrival. for Mrs. Pierce
took off her hat and other easily dotfed
appurtenances to lady's street costume
and nut them in the sitting room About
IL o'clock Mr.. Cease began again MS oe-
yastating career about his own house.
Mr.. Cease is a man of powerful build and
great strength. Officer Haller SAID last
night that he was one Of the most power
full men he had ever known The uncle
by marriage, Mr.. Pierce, and the brother
of Mrs, Cease, Mr. Harry S. Snyder, a
young man. would have been no match
for the master of the house. The result
was that the ladies precpitately fled.
Went to Neighbours.
Mrs. Cease and her mother ran to the
house of Mr., Todd first. this being near
est, but finding no one at home. went on
to the residence OF Mr. Frank Anderson,
a hundred yards up the street and on the
opposite side. Mr.. and Mrs. Pierce and
other guests went further up the street
to the residence OF MI tJpllll a. iDof','o'
Mrs, Cease got Mr., Devine to get on his
wheel and ride to Chestnut Hill and get
Officer IIailer to come and place her hus-
band under arrest,
Mr.. Haller went to Mrs, Cease and
asked her what she wanted bin to do
Officer Haller declares that Mrs, Cease
told him she never would live with Cease
another day. that she was going to entel
divorce proceedings as soon as possible
and that she wanted him arrested, Mr.
Haller told her he could do nothing with
out warrant. as he had no authority
without warrant to enter the Cease res
idence. sNIrs. Cease asked where she
would have to so to get warrant. The
officer advised her to go to the county
courthouse and get an officer To phone
for magistrate. This she said she wouc
do at once, and Mr. Haller accompanied
her to the north end of the viaduct. tell
ing her he would await her return there
and to tell the officer who came back
with her to serve the warrant that he
| would help him serve It, But before al
this the shooting must have occurred
though 1t has been impossible so far tc
get tha time relative Of all the events.
Conductors Statement.
Conductor of northside car No. 435 made
the following interesting statement re.