The Washington herald., 1909-04-26

Battling for life, scarcely twenty-fouI
hours after being shot down in the
streets OF Warrenton. Va, William A.
Thompson. associate editor Of the War
renton Virginian. died in Providence Hos
pitsl al S:45 O'Clock last night.
Despite all that medical skin could do
he sank slowly during the day. and death
was inevitable. Following the operation
early on Sunday morning. shortly after he
was rushed 10 Washington. physicians
held out little hope for him. He was un-
conscious for hours before expiring.
An autopsy was performed directly after
death by Dr. Harry H. Kerr. assisted bv
DIS. Hammond and Larzin, Of the Provi-
dence Hospital stan They pronounced
death to be due TO fifteen perforations Of
lne intestines from gunshot wounds.
Body Was Removed.
The body was removed TO Wright Broth
eFs undertaking parlors, and win he
taken 10 Warrenton az O'Clock mis-
morning There were no friends or rsIs-
lives OF the unfortunate editor A. che
death bed.
Thompson died, It Is said, without Isar-
ins any message regarding the ARRAY
Which caused his death At no time was
ne IN condition TO talk huently REGARDING
the affair. ''-'''
ne vas rushed 70 Washington on spe-
elel' which iicst Zyarrenton al '1g.se o,clocl-
Saturday night, the train having the rigb,
Of way over al others. On The t-ln
physicians took every means within their
power 10 save the wounded mans life.
Sumulants were administered. Thomson
was conscious only part OF the time.
No sooner was Providence HosuRal
reached than the wounded man was
placed upon the operating table. with DR.
Kerr IN charge The delicate nature Of
the operation held out little hone that II
would be successful. Thompson did po-
rally with sufficient vitality 70 give him
q fair chance TO survive the shock.
Plea of SeIf-defense.
The following was received By The
Washington Herald from Warrenton. Va
last night.
That self-defense VIII be the pIes of
Prof. J. D. Harris. principal OF The Var
rentOn High School, VINO fatally shot
Associate Editor ". A. Thompson. Of
the Warenton yirgfnian on SATURDAY
evening. was shown here cary this morn
ing at the hearing Of the application for
bail made by Harris
Prof Harris, IN his statement claimsd
Thompson pursued and attacked him
while he vas seeking 70 avoid trouble.
and that the fatal shots were fred when
Thompson was committing an assault
upon him.
Bail was granted Prof Harris IN the
sum Of S2ac0o, his sureties being 7 X
Jeffries, D. P. Wood, A ". StrOther- and
J. B. Grayson- Prof. Harris to-day en-
gaged brilliant array OF legal talent 10 (
defend him. retaining Speaker Richard /
Evelyn Byrd. Of the Virginia house OF |
delegates: Senator Fletcher. and Judge
c n White
At the hearing OF application for bail.
Prof Harris testified that when he fred |
the shots he thought he was shooting !
at Tho npson's legs.
It was shown that Thompson was = 4
powerful man. weighing 80 pounds, and /
that Harris IS a man OF slender build, /
weighing between 115 and 10 pounds.
Harris. IN his statement. said Thomp- /
son had assaulted and beaten him bs1Iv
last October. during which Thomson
blackened Harris eye Saturday nigbt.
about an hour before the shooting. Hs--
RS said he accompanied several young
women teachers in his school to the rail-
road station, where they boarded a. train.
Thompson was ct the station. and said
the editor directed at him a number of
prOfane remarks IN the presence OF the
women.
Prof Harris said he avoided Thomson
and later met Irving Msxheimer. broth
OF the dead man. in Main street
He asked Maxheimer 10 use his influence
10 prevent further trouble, which Max
1eirusr promised 20 DO.
Saw Thompson Coming.
At the time Harris said he vas talking
10 Maxheimer, he saw Thompson ap-
preaching. and Harris said 10 Maxbeimer-
'T see Thompson coming now and I
viIl-ge
Harris said he then walked awav and
Thompson followed him. catching up with
I'm While ne was talking 10 Mason
strother. Harris said that. Thompson
,eized his coat by the lapel. and beean
o beat him. He said he knew Thompsond
vas in the habit Of carrying arms. and
hat on the occasion OF the first assault
n October Thompson drew a knife. and
hat subsequently Thompson had used
lie epIthet and threatened him.
Harris then said he fred his pistol while
Thompson was committing an assault
iPon him. and when he was shooting the
veapoh sIe fred at what he thought was
legs because he. believed him
elf in imminent danger
Mason StrOther, with whom Prof. Har- /
Is was talking when Thompson attacked !
Harris. said at the hearing that Prof.
farTis in his first two shots seemed 10
e firing toward the ground
Prof. Harris has severe confusion on
* eye as a result Of the assault. 4