The San Francisco call., 1908-12-31
THOMAS N. RITCHI[
IS SHOT BY FRIEND
Irving Cockroft Mourns Pro-
posaI for Mock Duel Which
Ended Fatally
Revolver Supposed to Be Empty
Sends Bullet Through Heart
of Young Man
Especial Dispatch to The Call

lSpecIdl Dispatch 10 The Call
SANTA CRUZ, Dec. 30.-At late
hour last night Thomas Newcomb
Ritchie of Oakland, IS years old, met a
sad and tragic death in the home of
friends. and Irving Cockroft of Oakland
is in a frantic state of mind because he
killed his lifelong friend in a mock
duel
Sidney Carlton of Oakland had in
vited the young men down to spend the
holidays at "The OAKS" Ben Lomond,
the summer home of DR.. Carlton The
trio had reyolvers and had been enjoy
ing great sport shooting in the woods.
Ritchie intended to return home to-
day, so in his honor last night there
was little gathering at DR.. Knowles
cottage, adjoining. which is occupied by
Mrs. Knowles, Miss Phebe Knowles
and Dorothy Bridges.
After dinner the time passed pleas
antly until IL o'clock, when the boys
were about to leave. Grabbing up their
revolvers, which were lying on a
table, they proposed duel, thinking
the weapons empty. Ritehie snapped
his pistol at Cockroft. calling upon his
friend to shoot. An instant later, in
report and Richie pitched over dead
at the feet of the young women, ball
having pierced his heart. and passing
through his body, lodged in the mantel-
piece
One loaded cartridge had been over
looked DR.. III. n. Miner was sum-
moned. but help was useless.
Cockroft was taken into custody by
Sheriff Trafton, but released when the
81 itr q
shooting accidental Ritchie's body was
shipped to Oakland, where his mother
and sisters reside.
Friends Excuse Slayer
OAKLAND, Dec. 30-Thomas New
comb Richie was the second son of
Mrs. Hannah w Ritchie of 692 Mari
posa street and the late Rev. Robert
F. Ritchie, who for many years was the
rector of st. Paurs Episcopal church of
this city. A brother Robert w. Ritchie.
a former newspaperman of Oakland and
San Francisco, is now member of the
editorial staff of the New York Sun.
Three sisters, Margaret, Helene and
Mary Lisle Ritchie, live with their
mother at the family home.
Young Ritchie was Is years old and
had been student at the Oakland high
school. He belonged to the Pi Delta
Kappa fraternity of the high school,
with which his chums, sydney Carlton
and Irving Cockroft, are also affiliated.
BOYS AWAY ON HOLIDAY
Ritchie, Carlton and Cockroft left
here a few days ago to spend short
vacation at The Oaks, the country home
| OF Cartons father. DR.. ii. p. Carlton
of this city. Ritchie and Carlton were
TO enter the employ of William~Le
oliver upon their return from Ben Lo-
mond.
The friendship between Cockroft and
Ritchie went back to their high school
days Upon graduating from the Oak
land high school last year Cockroft en-
tered the state university and Ritchie
gave up his studies to go into the pow
der, fuse and cap works at Melrose.
MESSAGE RELATES TRAGEDY
DR.. II. P. Carlton. at whose country
residence the tragedy occurred, said:
''Ritchie and Cockroft were the house
guests of my sQr Sydney. The fact
that they We're at The. Oaks was not
known to me until after l received a
telephone message last night informing
me of what had happened
Cockreft is a son of the Louis F.
Cockroft family. His mother is a sister
of w. w. Garthwaite, vice president of
the Oakland Bank of Savings. His fam
| lily is much perturhed over the fatality.
SISTER TELLS OF FRIENDSHIP
Miss Helene Ritchie, sister OF the dead
youth, said:
I'VE are satisfied that Toms death
was accidental. All three of the boys
were fast friends and fond of the out
door life. Forest life appealed to Tom
strongly. During September and Octo-
ber he spent a vacation in the forest
preserve near Mount Whitney. He was
engaged as helper to rangers in the
forest. Mountain climbing and all kinds
OF outdoor sports formed the chief
pleasure of Toms life. He was stu
dent in his second year in the Oakland
high school and was a member of the
Pi Delta Kappa fraternity. He was a
favorite with his schoolmatcs and was
liked by all who knew him.
The funeral will be held Saturday
afternoon at o'clock from the Ritchie
residence.