The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-15
SHOT FIRED With
SUICIDAL INTENT
Verdict of : coroner's Jury in
Ethel May Pierce
Case.
FIRTH TAKEN TO CHESTER
Is Held on State Warrant Charg-
ing Him With ABB
duction.
FIRTH TAKEN TO CHESTER
WILLIAM FIRTH, JR.
[speeial 10 The Times.plspatcn !

Especial to The Times-Dispatcn
Alexandria, Va, September 14.-Wil-
liam Firth, Jr-, the twenty-seven-year-
old married man. who yesterday eloped
from Chester, Pa, with pretty Ethel
May Pierce, also OF Chester, went BIT
terly this morning when he gazei upon
the body OF his girl companion in the
undertaking establishment just before
the coroner's jury began it's investiga-
}tions. The dapper-looktng young tick
ct agent for the time being was unable
to control himself He was handcuffed
to Policeman Reid. and appeared to re-
alize for the first time the gravity Of
his offense. Again he wept after tes-
tifying of his trip with the girl from
Chester yesterday morning, which end.
ed in the tragedy.
Firth Very Nervous.
There We're few people in the little
room in the undertaking establishment.
Young Firth was extremely nervous.
At times he smoked cigarette, and he
asked to see a morning newspaper
containing an account of the affair. AS
he read the account his hands trem-
bled. and at times he looked as IL he
would break down.
A coroner's jury with R. T. Cook as
AoIe!idIl, diler elOuT VIII
nesses, including Firth, Chief Goods.
OF the police force and William l..
Rammel. proprietor of the hotel where
the couple stopped. returned a verdict
that the girl came to her death from
a pistol shot wound fired with suicidal
intent in her own hands.
t Immediately after the verdict Firth
was returned to police headquarters
and this afternoon turned over to Chief
Edward McCarey, of Chester, by whom
he was taken back to that city to an
swer a States warrant charging him
with the abduction OF the girl
The warrant was sworn out by VIII
liam NJ, Pierce, the father OF the dead
girl. The offense is said to be a seri-
Gus one In Pennsylvania. carrying with
1T penitentiary sentence.
Tells of Trip.
When Firth took the stand he told
OF his trip with the girl and his ar
rival here and getting room at the
hotel, adding thatitwas hisintention to
leavesfy yesterday afternoon. but both
oversight themselves. The girl, he salc.
told him she would drown herself IL
she was ever caught, but she never
ntimated she would shoot herself He
also said she told him she was going
to leave home. and wanted him to ac-
company her.
The testimony of Chief Goods and
William l.. Rammel was concerning
the facts leading up TO the shooting.
The detection OF the couple was
brought about by an article In an at
ternoon5 newspaper. which was seen by
aaclerk at the hotel, who notified Mr.
. .Rammel. The latter at once notified
the police. and 1t was when the chief
was about to enter the room that the
girl fired the fatal shot. She was
found behind the door bleeding pro.
rusaly from the wound DR. Walter A.
Narteld testified as to the character
OF the wound.
Two partially unintelligible notes
We're to-day found pinned to the
corsets OF the girl. One read in part.
and You ara the only one to make me
happy This note was pritten in INK
and dated August 90 The other note
was partially covered with blood, and
was written with a lead pencil and
read in conclusion, II Will love YOU as
your husband"
The notes were signed Teddy"
which was the nick k-name the girl had
given Firth. The girl, he said wore
the notes pinned to her inner garments
for some time past,
Afraid .of Negroes In South.
Firth said this morning that he car
rled the pistol because he was afraid OF
negroes whom he might meet in the
South, lie having heard they were had
The weapon, he said, was in his ever
coat pocket, and he, did not know how
the girl got 1t, When the chief raped
at the door tirst he said the girl re-
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