The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-24
THREE ARE SLAIN
ON PULLMAN CAR
Prominent South Carolinian Kills
Porter and Conductor and is
Himself Killed.
WILL EXAMINE BRAIN
Believed That Murderer Lost
Mind Through Fear of
Medical Operation.

WILMINGTON. DEL. March "a
1t will be many days before this city
resumes its normal tranquility. The
battle at the Baltimore and Ohio de-
pot last night. when John Henry
Bethea. a South Carolina contractor.
stood on the police and posse Of
cttixeus until finally overcome by 3
stream OF water from fire hose, and
then. bleeding from naapy wounds.
with his pistol arm hanging imply
Mt hts sfde. continued to pump mis-
siies from his automatic gun until a
bullet penetrated hts heart, can never
be forgotten by those who xaw It.
Bethea's body lie at the morgue. II
Was positively Identified to-day as that
of prominent contractor at Dillon.
s. G.
An autopsy Is to be held and the
brain examined. as Bethea's acts were
those OF crazy man. He left his
home Monday and went TO. Baltimore
to have an operation performed at
Johns Hopkins. II Is reported here
to-day that he was told the opera
ton might result fatally. This preyed
on hts mind, He drank heavily yes
terday. Then he started for Phila-
delphia.
In Pullman car on the Royal
Blue Line Flyer. Bethea Hoped we'll
down In his chair Dressed a long
tailed blue coat, with wide-brimmsd
SLOUGH hat and flowing Windsor tie.
his thin. cadaverous face. weather
beaten and ciean-cut. attracted at
tention from the start. He demand
ed that the porter. Samuel Williams.
bring him whiskey. One drink was
not enough. and he called for more.
The negro told him he was busy. A
drunk. raised himself bolt upright in
his chair and swore .fiuently.
Again he pressed the button. but
the negro paid no attention to the
call. As the train was bowling sixty
miles an hour near Newark. Bethea
staggered from his seat and lurched
down the aisle. Near the end of the
car he met the porter. who tried to
avoid him. A lurch Of the car threw
the men together. With an oath
Bethea snapped out an automatic re-
volver and sent a bullet through VIII
liams' heart AS he fell sidew'se ITO
chair he fired again into the now
iifeaess body.
Passengers Terrified.
The passengers In the car. men. wo-
men and children tumbied out
through the door, fearing for their
lives. Bethea. braced against . seat.
stood In the aisle. His revolver dan
gled on his finger. He smiled ~ this
passengers ran to cover.
o. e. weilman. conductor OF the
train. heard the commotion and
started into the car from one end
just as Will Coburn. second porter.
started In from the other. Cnburn
distracted the angry mans attention.
and Wellman started 10 grapple ' i'm
him. Just az he was about TO closc
with the South Carolinian. the latter
saw the conductor and pumped three
shots into his body. killing him.. Coz
burn tried to noor Bethea with n>Ena
lighter. but failed. and finally locked
him In the car and ned ~ tbs ccl.-
tractor was reloading his pistol.
The train was brought TO D stop, a q
alarm telegraph to Wilmington and
then quick run made to the city
Here police and armed ctttxens were
waiting, and demand was made on
Rcthea 10 surrender. His answer wa
shot. and pitched battle fol-
lowed. II
Fire Company Called.
For an hour and fifteen minutes
the cir was fllled with buffet Final
~. QS4pAlIAu8 hN0<tAtAs8 sS<te<A&es =
are company was called. and hts RAJ
fuge was raked with high pressure
stream.
Bethea crawled 10 the rear plat
form, firing AZ he went. A huilet
struck him In the side. another In the
| hexti. still he fought on 1heu.
shot crippled his pistol hand. and
shout went UP from the crowd which
thought It had him. But ne shtftud
his pistol 70 his left hand and foar5ni
| on.
Ifustslade Of shots were poured It him
One penetrated his heart. and no fell
dead.
During ere Agh& NJ h&diy wounded
Matthew Haley. = ctt1npns end nltght.
" wonnded stx others H wap sfofty'
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