The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-18

Continued
Tho theory Of suicide in the case Of
Mr. Harrison Field, who was found dcad
with II bullet hole in the centre OF MS
breast In Reservoir Park, Saturday nlght,
has bees almost utterly abandoned "
ia now generally believed that IT was
either accidental or that murder was
committed. Both theories have many
adherents, and with the meagre evidence
now in hand, 1t Is hard to decide Whic.l
has the more solid basis. The whole ali
fair is oyerhung with mystery. and It
NAV never be decided what We're the
real circumstances Of Fields death. The
coroner and police however are stu
bending every effort to probe the mys-h
terry to the bottom. so that some more
definite and satisfactory conclusion may
be arrived at.
Some Plausible Arguments.
Those who hold to- the murder hypothe-
sis adduce plausible arguments for ITS
maintenance. They attach deep slsni1,-
canoe to the fact that not a cent nor his
pocket knife, which he carried with him
habitualy, nor his night latch Key was
found on the dead 9mans persona what
had become of these? Granting that the
money had been spent, why did ne not
save enough for car fare home, and what
had become of the key and pocket knife?
Then, again, Mr.. Field was familiar with
the nature and use Of firearms, and fire.
quently INDUCED in target practice. X
he wished to buy pistol, why did ne
select a cheap, defective " ana IA rusty
weapon? He did not lack for funds to
buy high class revolver, and he could
easily have borrowed one, which he fire.
quently used. from one of his dearest
friends, who. by the way. is an upholder
a.
the habit of carrying a pistol, and he was
regarded as absolutely fearless. II, on
the other hand he had found the weapon
and was examining 1t, why, usually SO
careful in handling revolvers. should ne
have so carelessly manipulated IT? And
to dlsbar this theory, the pistol must
have been held at n distance and at a
very awkward angle to have Inflicted
such n wound. To have made powder
marks on tho index and little fingers
OF the left hand, the hand must have
closed over the cylinder of the pistol
with tho Index finger In front and tho
little finger behind. This would seem
to be rather an awkward way in which
to handle n revolver. 1t Is usual, LOO.
and especially with persons used to
handling revolvers to hold the gun closer
to tho eyes when examining them. IT
Is further argued that ono would hardly
ger, more particularly when the weapon.
is hard on the trigger, with the pistol
pointing at ones breast. Another TACT
difficult to account for in the accident
theory Is that the pistol, when found
was at half cock How did that happen?
Vigorous and Fearless Man.
Field was young, athletic and well de-
vcloped, lilo had often been heard to say
that he would make resistance were he
ever held up by highwaymen. Some who
were most intimately acquainted with him
advance this theory, and with some APP
parent pausbility. that no was held up,
robbed, and then shot while making re-
| sistance.
The Robbery Theory.
The hypothesis is this: That after hay
| Ing been robbed he buttoned up his coat
[ to give freer movement to his arms. and
then made after the robber, but the lat
ter, seeing that Field was gaining ground
on him. turned and held him at bay
with tho pistol; that Field, In graphing