The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-13

vaded his home. and that he
was justi1able In committing
~ murder, w. C. Butler yesterday
afternoon shot and almost In
stantly killed J. j. Hair1eld at Eigh-
teenth and Franklin Streets, and then
calmly awaited the arrival Of the po-
lice.
The tragedy was enacted in but a
few moments. There was a short par
ley, fairfield turned on his heel and
started to walk away. a shot was fred
into his back. he staggered over to
the pavement, fell. and was dead in
about FIVE minutes. Holding his still
smoking revolver behind him. Butler
stood a few feet from the dying man.
and watched him until death had closed
his eyes.
Detectives Sergeant wiltshire and Po-
liceman Perkinson were on corner
shots. They hurried to the place and
grabbing hold OF Butler. asked him
who had done the shooting.
II did" said Butler, and handed over
his revolver. He took his arrest quite
coolly. maintaining his camness as
the officers carried him to the station,
and even after he was locked up.
Though shot at, three times, Hairheld.
who lived at No. 224o venable Street,
was struck but once. The bullet pene-
trated his back just above the left hip,
and severed the abdominal aorta arr
terry, which seems to have been the
direct cause OF death. The city ambu-
lance. with DR.. Young in charge. re-
sponded to the call for assistance, but
when the physician arrived the man
had breathed his last. DR.. Young ex-
amined him. and finding that his pulse
had ceased to beat, awaited the arrival
OF Coroner Taylor. who turned the body
over to an undertaken. and decided to
hold the inquest at 10 o'clock this
morning.
Refused to Sign It.
Witnesses to the murder claim that
Butler met HairAeld at the corner of
Eighteenth and franklin Streets and
demanded that he sign a paper admit
ting that he (Hatrheld) had Invaded his
(Butler's) home and had been guilty Of
improper conduct with his wife. Hair
field Indignantly refused. and Butler re-
piled: We'll, you've got to leave town.
or I'll kill you"
II won't leave town. answered Hair
field. II know you've got pistol. and
you'll have to kill me- He started to
walk away. and Butler opened fre
without moments hesitation.
He fired three times. one of the
bullets taking effect In the mans
back. Hatfield had almost reached the
car track when he was struck. and
staggering back, he reeled and fell on
the paving. The reports echoed all
through the market and a crowd soon
gathered. Officer Wiltshire and Perkin-
son were among the first to arrive, and
dozen other policemen Were on the
spot In a short time. A fireman, named
Russell, raised the dying mans head
from ho sidewalk tive oSh
famed him. Ills lips moved. but he
was unable to make sound.
Butler was nonchalantly standing by,
not moving step to escape. He sub
rnitted quietly to the officers.
Deliberately Done.
The shooting seems to have been
planned and committed with great de-
liberation. The two men had met but
a short time before, when few words
were passed. and fairfield informed
Policeman Kellam of the affair.
The officer advised him to get out a
warrant. Had he left the corner then
ana there and sworn out a warrant,
his life would probably have been
spared. He seems to hove known that
Butler was preparing to kill him. for
Just half hour before he had told the
proprietor Of bar that Butler intend
ed to shoot him on sight, and at din
uot lle 'Clildi hSu W uIS WllS lllldL Hes
mad enough to make any man nervous.
The saloon dealer was informed over
the telephone that fairfield had been
shot. "DId Butter kill him?" he in
quired, AMI the answer went In the
affirmative.
The body lay on the pavement fully
an hour before the arrival of Coroner
Taylor, who was out OF his office when
called for. Sergeant Wiltshire went
for 10t1 :, ! -
which to cover the corpse from tho
hundreds whose morbid curiosity
brought them to the scene, but the mer-
chant refused to let him have q yard
until 1t was paid for. Tho officer
counted out the change, and the body
was covered. Officers both mounted
and afoot were needed to keep back
the curious crowd, who pressed forward
at every opportunity.
Family Frustrated.
Like all bad news. information con-
corning the murder travelled fast.
Myrtle. the dead mans fifteen-year-old
daughter. heard Buffers brother tell
the murderer's wife that her husband
had just shot Fairfield, and then heard
a. negro pass the same news to an old
colored woman, She rushed screaming
into the house, and then ran all the
way down to Eighteenth and Franklin
Streets. Sobbing and shaking all over
In her childish grief the girl attempt
ed to reach her fathers side, hut
officers held her back, and she was
taken home by friends. @
AT home the announcement prostrated
ithe dead mans wife and his aged
mother, who has passed her three-score
years and ten. The oldest child OF
seven is but sixteen the youngest is
two years old. None OF them are at
work, and Mrs. fairfield stated that
her husbands tragic death had left her
without cent. SHE may get small
amount of insurance, as the premium
did not fall due until 10. day. Beyond
that she has no means wha tever OF sus-
.tenance. Her only relatives are Il bro
5ther and sister, who live In Jackson-
vile, Fla, and an aunt who lives In