The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-07-13
MYSTERY ENvElOPS
SHOOTING ARRAY
pn the Other Hand, Mrs. Lawler
5 Asserts That She Does Not
Know the Circumstances At
tending the Wounding
'<r~S of Young Englishman.
RICHMoND. Va.


cidentaL Mrs. Lawler did not shoot
me. 1 reckon I must have pulled the
kfigger myself. '-Substance OF state
ment by Meakin TO Detective Wiley
today.
II don't know who shot Captain
Neakin. He told me he shot him
self was not in the room when the
shot was fired, ! knew nothing of il
until heard the report, rushed up
stairs and found Captain Meakju
wounded. At first he could not speak,
Then he said he had accidentally shot
himself. "-substanc OF statement by
Mrs LAWYER.
1he above statements Numerically
opposed in several essential details
are all upon which the police have to
work this morning in their attempt
20 solve the mysterious shooting Of
George +. Meakin, who was
desperately wounded yesterday after
noon In his room at 1O6 4 East Clay
street, the home of Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. J.
<awler. with whom he boarded.
captain Meakin is now at the City
3ofue. AT first he refused to discuss
ne case. This morning, however, he
elked more freely and made the
bove statement to Detective Scream
. ohm Wiley.
Ane ponce records show that Mrs.
Awlef was mentioned in connection
9th a diamond affair" several years
So as the result OF which a member
the Richmond Fire Department,
y. l.. Valentine, was allowed to re-
lgn, the resignation being accented
for the good OF the department"
he records show that the resignation
tas rendered and accepted at a spe-
ial meeting OF the Fire Commission
Is held on June II, 1907.
The case was handled by Detective
ergeant Thomas Wren. Valentine,
#Mr. q
ngine Company No. 4, is said to have
)und a valuable diamond in n vacant
cuse. Just at that time the police
ere asked to find valuable stone
ported missing.
Detective Wren traced the diamond
the fireman. Valentine declared
lat he had given il to Mrs. LAWYER
he detective called on the woman
I'D demanded the stone. According
the detective, Mrs. Lawler finally
frrendered the diamond, which was
,ltSTneJ TO its owner.
No Warrants have yet been issued
the police for the shooting AFFAIR,
II Il is not improbable that one will
Forthcoming within the next TWEEN
-feuf hours. The statements of
tPtain Meakin and Mrs. Lawler are
~ this time so conflicting, however,
that the detective in charge of the
case prefers TO make further inVesti-
CATION before taking definite action.
Mrs. Lawler Talks.
Mrs. NJ j. Lawler was seen this
morning at her home. loo y East Clay
Street. She appeared worried over
the trouble which happened in her
home, but was far from hysterical or
lacking in self-control. She had rest
ed last night and the first shock of
BE shooting had passed. She said
Nat Captain Meakin came to her
(me some months ago, az the invi-
Aon of her husband, who knew him
business way. Meakin had been
Ny engaged in the sale OF stocks.
HAS, she said, a man of unusual
hpiishments, we'll read, fond of
y and devoted 10 telling his eX-
les in the English army.
-awler declared Meakin was,
.-l--ltfle, full of fun and would make
'lrcles with his arm, as though show
ug the art % parry and thrust He
would \play thus with the children.
TO fence with them. He
vas fond of firearms, as was natural
: nfan Of his type and army life,
"a IL (went without saying that her
lie boy. aged about fourteen, enjoy
hearing the captain tell of his ex-
encsN ia the field.
e~4 esterday morning Captain Meakin
41nt away from home without break
asst he later returned, Just before
o'ciocA and she saw him before he
vent upsNairs. He said he did not
want any Nod. but went to his room
N the secoAd floor. Between his bed
DOM and thu bath room was an un-
occupied room and on the mantel of
his room lay M old pistol. belonging
o Mr.. Lawler, Nho, with his wife, oc-
'npied rooms dNCnstairs. The little
on of Mrs. LawNr came in from a
bicycle ride very Not and tired and
vent upstairs to Wish his face and
lands at the bath \tub spigot. He
vas, said Mrs. Lawler, standing in the |
18th room when the report of the |
,lstol sounded. He had stopped, he |
aid. 10 talk with Meakin. who was
'andliug the pistol, but had left the |
aan as he was afraid of his APP |
larently careless manner of handling
he weapon.
Further, it was said by Mrs. Law |
er. Meakiu was in the habit OF drink |
rs bit too much for his own good. |
3e did not misbehave or do anything
hat would reflect discredit particu- |
arly, she said. but physicians had sew |
raj lines warned him of the effect of |
rink 0l his heart
Picture In His Pocket. -
On July 4th Meakin spent the day
2 his room. apparently reading. He |
|rpeared to be more deeply engaged |
4 thought. though holding q book IN |
~ hands, MrR. LAWYER says she jok-
uxly referred to the day as the occa-
ion on which the English were taught
3aseon by the Americans. Meakin
3f says was sensitive on such sub
S3sl9 and they often teased him. He
<RE very proud of his country, as all |
snEliehmen are. she declared.
N'or some days Meakin has had diff |
tplty with his business. On this sub
ttt ne was so sensitive that Mrs. Law
6 nesilated in discussing the matter,
4hc said Meakin was man of high |
Finciple and hated failure more than |
AK thing else.
Mrs. LAWYER said Meakin evidently
E&nt the morning with a friend, a |
'H4tafn Wesson. and when first he |
.eS found, shot, picture of Wesson |
s8E found IN MS coat pocket.
Both Mrs. I4awler and her boy say
~ shot sounded muf1ed. and not at
e Ike they would have imagined a
|i6tol would sound. Mrs. Lawler read |
9th morning paper accounts of the
Meeting, but said she could not I'M
what was meant by the state
1ent attributed to Meakin: 1--WE were
rly playing"
Mr.. Lawler has been i'll for some
ays and has been at home part of
" time the past week. He has just
rgone a slight operation. This
coupled with the shooting yes
and the further fact that her
Ther, J. II. Stansbury, disap-
0rne months ago and was af-
~ound a suicide in Washing
red Mrs. Lawler. In addi-