The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-11-06

White Woman Accidentally Shot Last
Night - Circumstances Peculiarly
Sad.

A deplorable accident happened in
this city last night and of which a
white woman, Mary Cartright, about
thirty five years old, is the victim. It
was caused by the accidental discharge
| of a pistol, and is just another one Of
| the sad incidents that occur in this life
and which mean untold sorrow to the
living.
The accident. for such it was beyond
| all possibility of a doubt, happened in
this way:
Last night etwee 8 and 10 o'clock
Mr. \. Watkins, a we'll known plumber
of this city, had occasion TO make a
business trip in the vicinity of Sixth and
Castle streets, 10 which point he rode
on a trolley car. After transacting his 1
business, hich only required a short
time, he went back to the corner OF
Sixth and Castle streets to again board
the trolley and go to his home. on Fifth
street, between Dock and Orange. At
ter waiting several minutes for the car
he decided to while away the time by
walking around the block and catching
the car at Sixth and Church-a most
natura act. He walked up Castle 10
Seventh, up seventh to Church and had
gotten about midway down Church, on
his Way TO the intersection of SIXTH,
when the woman. Mary Cartright, who
was sitting on a Stoop in front or q
: one story frame dwelling house, called
:. him. Mr.. Watkins stopped and asked
= -. 49,. - -ao-a Che told him
, she wished to see him and asked him
to come inside the house as she desired
e to tell him something, and, after he nau
h noted that his car was still not IN SlSht,
e he Went-anOther natural act. In the
house was a second white woman, but
Mr.. Watkins paid no attention to her,
but. standing, asked the CartrlSht
woman the reason for getting him TO
r come inside the house. The woman
told him to be seated and that she
n would tell him.
Mr.. Watkins refused and III taking
dropped a cigarette, which he was
,e smoking. out of his mouth. He at once
stooped down to pick ii up and as he
~ did so a large revolver, which he had IN
n = holster attached to belt around his
J. waist. slipped out and fell to the floor
m The butt of the pistol hit the floor
to first and a discharge folloWed, the pul-
s let going upward and sinking Itself INTO
Il the head and brain of the CartrlghI
80 woman, who was sitting opposite 10
~ where Mr.. Watkins was standing ana
s. who, when the cigarette fell, leaned
C. over. very probably to pick it up her
1S self.
Mr.. Watkins comprehended tbs
le' awful situation as the woman fel
forward. He at once tenderly picked
III her up and placed her on a bed and
:, then went to the city hall and surren'
re dered himself.
nd An emergency call was sent lmmedl
ately to the James Walker Memorla
OF hospital and the woman sent there IL
IL the ambulance. Before she was removed
u from her home she plainly informed
=, Police Captain n. ]. Williams and oth
II. er parties that the shooting was accl
ng dental. She repeated this statement I
&C. a nurse at the hospital.
DR.. Joseph Alderman, superlntenden
the of the hospital, accompanied the ambu
OF lance on its emergency call and dress
ed the woman's wound as best he could
~ He at once saw that life was only
~ matter of a few hours. The bullet, c
3S-calibre, had gone in the head De
tween the eyes and after going aboU
'di- 1-2 inches had lodged in the brain
'es- The woman was conscious when ca
. ried to the hospital, but at 80 o CLOG
this morning she lost consciousness an
DR.. Alderman gave out the opinion th5
lis she would in all probability die betol
daylight.
hat Mr.. Watkins is a mar well KNOW
a and possesses a splendid character
III one without a blemish. He Is d natlN
on of Richmond, Va, and came to WI
mington some time ago and engaged
the the plumbing business During Il
'rn- Spanish-American wal he served ".
the volunteers from Virginia and ID
trict of Columbia. He is both a II
Man and a Junior Mechanic
Ose- That the shooting was anything %
re- an accident is absurd to even TIM
.ase about and Mr.. Watkins friends, w
number hundreds here and who not on
7,al esteem but love him, have extended
him all aid possible He IS natural
greatly distressed over the occurrence
reei The pistol which he had was a Col
and one which he had with him IN |
did army: consequently he priced 1t mgr
end and usually, when going out at night
q distance, carried it With him.