The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-06
WAS BADL Y IN DEBT
ANDNEEDEDMONEY
Detective Who Investigated Case
Makes Report, and His Theory
Is Accepted by Members of
Town Council and Dead
Mans Friends Cen
orally.
tspec,al to The rlmes-Dispatch.l


Roa noRT, Va. August 5.-Mayor H.
A. Bousman, of Ridgeway, small
town in Henry county, sixty miles
south OF Roanoke, on the Norfolk and
Western Railway, who had both his
legs blown off by dynamite while ly-
Ing under tree on the lawn OF his
yard Sunday night. July "a. ana died
several hours later, was not assassi-
mated. is the belief now. The Mayor
Killed himself is the present theory,
In attempting to blow off his feet, so
that he might secure $4,000 accident
insurance TO save himself and family
from poverty.
Detective Joseph Funk. of an & gency
In Roanoke. the chief detective work.
Ing on the case, after following nu-
merous clues to an impossIbility, de-
clded that Bousman himself set Off the
dynamite that caused his death and
to-day he SO officially reported to the
Town Council of Ridgeway, and his
report has been accepted by the mem
bers of the Council and by Bousmans
friends generally.
Involved Financially.
1t has developed that Bousnan was
involved financially Two life policies,
one for $1,000 and another for twice
that amount, were taken out short
time ago. Bousman giving his notes
Tor the premiums. 1t is believed all
the policies Will be paid
While the evidence that he was the
victim of his own act convInces the
public mind, Ii can hardly be put be-
fore jury in such shape to prove
legally that his policies are forfeited.
Detective Funk believes Bousman
held the stick OF dynamite between
his legs and lighted the fuse with his
burning cigar.
little paper bag. bearing a brand
upon II which was found In clump
OF bushes near the Bousman home the
day after the tragedy. was identified
as being one that Bousman got the
day before at store where he stopped
10 qusnch his thirst with a soft drink
lie recently was seen by negroes blow
ing up a stump with dynamite. He
was seen In the clump OF bushes nea r
his home the day before the fatal ex-
plosion. and railroad men at the depot
heard an explosion which their trained
ears led them TO believe was dyna-
mite.
No Use to Hunt Assassins.
1t is argued that both legs could
not have been blown off at the same.
point had the dynamite fallen any
distance from them. There was no
explosion took place. Detective Funk
told the Town Council there was no
use spending money to hunt down as
sassirs.
Bousman owed $4,000. while he had
but $40 in bank and no resources. He
had been respondent and told his fam
lily that he heard an explosion In somc
woods near road on which he was
travelling some days before he met his
death. but he made no effort to fnd
out what the explosion was.
he had mentioned 10 persons at Mar
t!nsvilie that he feared harm would be
done him, because of his indirect con.
nection with the killing of negro ex
cursionist in the town. but he had not
mentioned this TO anybody at Ridge
way, and had takon no precautions, al
though on previous occasions whom
trouble occurred Or was threatened. he
policing
On the afternoon of his death he
drove d. TO Phosph9 Lithia Springs in
he met there remarked before they
heard OF his death that something was
wrong with him. His lightness and
occasional laughter had the appear
ance OF being forced, and there was
an indetinable suggestion of cynicism
or bitterness In his manner.