The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-08-01
SHOT Woman in
CROWDED STORE
Erred Three Times, Life Of
Victim Being Saved by
Corset Steel.
SCORES PAINTED;
HOUSE. In UPROAR
Deliberate Attempt to Murder
Miss Beel1lan by Discarded
Suitor at Coher's-Clerks
and Customers Panic
Stricken, Flee for
Safety.
. RAZED by intoNicants and unre-
Quilted love. II. r; Connolly. Of
Chestnut Hiih yesterday after

noon walked into Cohen's
department store while 4,
~as crowded with customers. and
going up to Miss Katie Beelman
counter girl, deliberately fired at he,
three times. none of the shots. how
ever. taking serious effect The store
thronged as II was with customers
and Its own army OF employees was Inn
mediately thrown into an uproar near
~ every girl fainting or going into
commissions. Somebody grabbed hold
of Connolly, and prevented him from
shooting again. and Policeman Graf
ton rushed in from the street with
drawn revolver Connolly was sti.l
holding his smoking pistol Miss Beel-
man had fled from behind the counter
out into thc main aisle.
snid He Wanted 10 XIII Her.
what are you doing. man." called
the officer. as lie laid hold OF him.
Il came in here to Kill her because
she refused to marry me- replied the
half-crazed man. She wouldn't marry
me. and 1 wanted to kill her"
Grafton led him out. and on the
street Connolly attempted TO regain
his revolver from the policeman The
latter was forced TO strike him ia
make him desist. He was rushed to
the Second Police Station. and in less
than five minutes, the automobile pa
troll had returned to the scene with a
squad of Officers, picked up at various
places along the street
Nobody paid any attention to Con-
nelly when he walked up to Miss
Reeiman. but at the sound of the first
shor there were wild cries OF terror,
AMI rush for the doors. Even on the
top floor girls tainted or went into
conclusions. Miss Bselnisn was the
4r:.liiest and coolest OF all those in
the house Two girls rushed ont into
the street. wriHging their hands and
sirieking wildly.
Others fell fainting TO the Poor
Pandcmonium reigned supreme. 1t
was almost a wild paroxysm OF ter
ror. Nobody seemed TO know what had
happened until Grafton had hold of
Connolly and was leading him away.
Life Saved by Steel RIB.
Medical assistance was at once sum-
moncd, and Drs. Robins and Ross re-
sponded. First attention was given TO
Miss Beelman. She disrobed, and 1t
was found that her only injury was a
small flesh wound, inflicted by the
bullet as 1T passed through her cor
set and ranged upward, just beneath
tne lelt ShOuloeF, II was to'e % LIZ
steel ribs In her corset that saved
her life. AS he fired the last time
Connolly placed the muzzle of his re-
volver directly against Miss Beel-
mans body The bullet struck the
steel. barely scrapins the flesh. The
other two went wild. and were found
imbedded In the counter.
All three bullets We're found. and.
with the corset, Will be used as evil
dence against Connolly when he Is
brought up for trial this morning.
Miss Beelman stood the shock with
the utmost calmness. Having been
warned that Connell was prepared
to kill her, she probably knew what
to expect when she saw him standing
make outcry before he began firing.
She was leaning down behind the coun-s
ter, in the hair-dressing department..
when Connolly walked in, and did not
see him until she rose to her feet,
They conversed in low tones few
and fired pointbank at her as she at
tempted to get away. After 1t was all
over. and while others were shrieking
and fainting, the young woman was
the physicians attended her. She
talked with them as il little had hap.
pened, displaying nerve that, under
the circumstances, was nothing short
Of remarkable.
After the examination the physicians,
turned to the other girls in the store
Hestoratives had to be administered
to several. Four lay on the floor att
the top of the building, and 1t is said
that they We're not restored to con-
shooting.
Ran as He Shot First.
When Connolly walked in Miss Beel-
man was standing at her counter. He
addressed her In a low tone and they
talked for severallminutes. They could
denly the man, inflamed beyond all
reason, whipped out his revolver and
began firing. She tried to break away
from him, but he pressed the pistol
against her body and fired again. All
the third shot she managed torun from
behind the counter, and. darting down
the aisle, reached the main aisle be-
fore Connolly could follow. ETe walked
Crafton's hands before he could sc:
outside.
He attempted no resistance. except
10 grab for his revolver which was
then In the officers hands; In the
ton to xiii Miss Beelman, and to
snd his own life. When seen In the
station house, he would say nothing,
not to know Miss Beelman.
He showed every evidence of having
Jeeu luTll RlHS.ft Ills was
and his eyes very much nflamed,|
Nothing could be learned from him, and
no was left. lying down on his iron
pallet, apparently indifferent asto his
lttempt on the young woman's llfe, orl
ais own Subsequent ia te. 5t
Connolly had been paving attention
% Miss Reelman for about five months,
,nt recently he was ordered by Mr..
Herman Beelman, father of the girl, I
rot to repeat his visits. Mr. Reelman
objected because of Connellys reputed
dleness lie was formerly a machln-
st in the Richmond Locomotive Works,
'ut lately had been out Of employment,
First and Only Snitor.
4 He was Miss Beelman's first and
pnly suitor, her mother stated We ester-l
day afternoon. and she received him
only as an ntllnatny X friend. A But after|
lhe strenuou sobieetions gof3 her parents,
Continued soR last Pave, y NJ