The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-31
SAYS SHOOTING
WAS ACCIDENTAL
Mrs. Patterson, Desper-
ately Injured, Gives
Signed Statement.
THOUGHT PISTOL
WAS NOT LOADED
Sister Wanted to "Play Hold
Up" and Weapon Exploded,
Sending Bullet Into Wo-
mans Head-Tragic
End Of a Merry
Party.

Z -t4s .-------s sl.e
Lying in critical condition at the
Virginia Hospital with bullet In her
temple. Mrs. j. f. Patterson, OF No.
1897 West Cary Street was able yes
terday afternoon to give a connected
account OF the manner In which she
WAS accidentally wounded By a pistol
shot from the hands OF her sister, Mrs.
l.. NJ Mcdonnell. of No. 1412 West
Cary Street
Although weak and suffering. and
swathed In bandages. Mrs. Pat
.serson was clear-headed and coll
.lectcd. and gave her statement without
hesitation or embarrassment Theirs
were present at the time Mrs. Nc
Donnell. by whose hands the shot was
fred: DR.. Blanton L Hillsman. ply
sician in charge. and Detective-Ser-
Eeant McMahon, who Is Investigating
the circumstances OF the accident, aud
who took down Mrs. Patterson's state
ment In full. Mrs. Patterson was too
weak to sign tho statement. but made
her mark beside her name after It was
written, and acknowledged the sigma
ture in the presence Of witnesses. It
is sad story-the old story OF a
play "hold-up" with an "unloaded"
pistol.
"Parely Accidentally.
Mrs. Patterson's statement tells that
on Tuesday afternoon she attended
The BIjou Theatre with her sister. Mrs.
Mcdonnell. and her young daughter.
Vivian. and on returning to her home
on West Cary Street, sho induced her
sister to come in and stay TO supper.
There were present at the supper
table besides DIrs. Patterson and her
sister. Mrs. Mcdonnell, the two daugh-
ters OF Mrs. Patterson, Misses Susie and
Vivian Patterson, and their friend, Miss
Elsie Noel. and a friend OF Mrs. Nc
Donnell, Mr.. John Brown.
Mrs. Patterson's statement says that
Mr. Brown. who was friend OF the
family. had earlier in the day brought
a small pistol as a present to Mrs.
McDonneif. and that at that time IT
was not loaded. The statement goes
on: ~
While at the supper table Brown
showed the pistol again: Mrs. Nc
Donnell grabbed 1t and sRappedsin her
sisters face.
II positively state that it was purely
nccidental." said Mrs. Patterson, In
concluding her signed statement.
What Girls Say.
The young ladies'. Miss Elsie Noel and
tho Misses Patterson. tell practically
he same story. Miss Susie Patterson,
the elder OF the young ladies'. is girl
of perhaps fifteen or sixteen, while her
sister. Miss Vivian. is hardly over
twelve or thirteen.
Both girls have a neat, attractive
appearance. and have the air OF Rich
mond schoolgirls of the better sort
a friend or two were with them yes
tcrday afternoon when they told their
story In q straightforward and girlish
manner.
Miss Patterson said that the party
had hardly been seated at the supper
table when Brown took out the pistol
which he had before offered To Mrs.
Mcdonnell. and had showed her earlier
In the day, when It was unloaded.
Mrs. Mcdonnell took the pistol from
his hand. saying. Watch me have some
fun. and. pointing 1t at her sister. Mrs.
Patterson, who was seated next at the
head of the table. Mrs. Mcdonnell said,
Eta, give ME some salad Miss Noel
shrieked, Don't. Myrtle; it is loaded
and Brown also attempted to wrest the
pistol from her hand; but before they
could secure 1t, 1t flashed, and a s2-
.callbre bullet entered the head OF Mrs.
Patterson Just over the left eye
Great Confusion.
The flash of the pistol or the sudden
uprising OF every one present put out
the lamp, and for few moments there
was wild confusion. After staggering
for some water Mrs. Patterson tainted
in the arms of her daughter, Susie.
whose dress was saturated with her
mothers blood. I.
Mrs. Mcdonnell became hysterical,
and 1t was not for some minutes that
Rrown realized the seriousness OF the
situation and went for a physician.
Dr. Blanton Il Hillsman was sum
nloned. and after a brief examination
had the injured woman removed5to the
Virginia Hospital, where a portion OF
the bullet was extracted. Drs. Hills
man and DR.. Robert c, Bryan perform
ing tile operation.
Or. III illsman. the physician in charge,
said yesterday afternoon that the con-
dition OF Mrs: Patterson was most
critical. Tho bullet struck the bone
Just over. the left eye and split, one
part entering the brain.
An attempt was made last night to
locate this piece OF the ball by means
Of an x-ray picture, hut so far the
physicians. have not ventured OH tile
delicate operati tion which will be neces-
sary for the removal of the ball, Mrs.
Patterson was conscious Throughout
me day yeslerday,5 and hcrt condition
was hopeful at midnight. no change
having occurred. & 4. /.
Police InvestigatlnR. @ .5
@ Detectives Sergeant McAIahon has
carefully Investigated the details of tho
shoo.$ng, and the police departmenttare
their inquiry along several
lines, but so fnranothlng has developed
to cast q doubt on the story as narrated
above, and since that account makes
the shooting purely accidental, no ar
rests have as ssyet been made, ssse
Mrs, Mcdonnell Is overcome With
grief as the result of her rash act.
and spent yesterday IN her SISTERS
room at the hospital. a
Both of the sisters, Mrs. Patterson
and Mrs. Mcdonnell. are Sc parated from
their husbands. though neither have
secured a divorce } n si.3i4 u
Mr. Patterson, the husband Of the
nsar r. he amnlova tSs A1.f vsraf ah- V"A1