The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-08
MEAk|N PERSISTS
he SHOT HIMSELF
NO ARRESTS WILL BE MADE IN
LESS HE CHANGES HIS
STORY.
NO CHANCE TORECOVER
HUSBAND Of MRS. LAWLER IS IN
TERROG ATED BY POLICE, But
NOTHING NEW Is
LEARNED

In probing the mysterious shooting
of George Frederick Vernon Meakin.
the Englishman who lies at the city
Home with mortal revolver wound
through his left lung, detectives have
developed what is regarded as one OF
the most peculiar situations In Grim
inal investigation in the annals OF the
Richmond police department.
Baffled in their endeavor to as
semble discriminating evidence, which
would justify the arrest of the per-
son suspected of shooting Meakin, the
police last night reached a decision
that no arrest Will be made unless
Meakin retracts his explanations of
the shooting and reveals what is be-
lieTed to be the true version.
II Meakn was shot by other than
his own hand. the guilty person will
never be arrested for the crime un-
less Meakin on his dying bed delivers
the accusation against the person
whom the police believe he has been
defending nobIy throughout several
days OF intense suffering and In the
face of the fact that his time on this
earth is matter Of hours
Meakin was shot while in his room
nj loo Ia East CLAY street on Wed
nesday afternoon. The bullet entered
his left chest lust above the heart.
tore through the left lung and lodged
In the back about an inch beneath
the skin. being extracted shortly after
he was removed to the city Home
Pneumonia developed Thursday af-
ternoon. and hope for his recovery
was abandoned. His death within a
short time was made more certain
~rl, r. II
In dressing the wound discovered the
patient was also suffering from
gangrene. Ills temperature arose
afarmingiy and for time It seemed
he could not live until night. but he
rallied slightly.
sticks to Story.
Detective Sergeant Wiley. who Is
heading the investigation. was admit
ted 10 the patients presence after
Meakin expressed willingness to see
the detective. II do not want YOU to
talk except 10 answer me in mono
Nllables," said Wiley for 1T liz dan
gerous for YOU TO exert yourself or
grow excited. wish to ask you
whether you desire 10 retract your
statement that you shot yourself ac-
49, eiaentafiy.A II ---
NO.. replied Neakin
Before Meskin dies he will he given
an opportunity to make an ante-mor-
tenn statement as II Ia believed he may
change his determination when he real
Ices death IL near
III. j. Lawler. the restauranteur at
whose home Meakin resided. was cues
toned yesterday afternoon ny the po-
lice who wanted to learn all that Law
Ter knows about Meakin and the shoot
ing. LAWYER was questioned by Detec-
tiTe Sergeants Wiley and Keliasn in
The morning but he was excited and
nervous and could give little tnforula-
tien.
LAWYER did not seem 10 understood
why the detectives should question him
but he endeavored 70 aid them to the
best OF his ability. His story or the
shooting was duplicate Of THE story
told by his wife who said Meakln sho,
himself accidentally while she was
ascending the stairway to carry him
breakfast and just after her SON. James
Edward LAWYER, thirteen years old, had
fed to the bathroom from fright at
sight at sight OF the revolver exhibited
by Meakin.
The L when questioned by detec-
tives shortly after the shooting Wed
nesday afternoon corroborated his
mothers statement though his story
was disconnected because OF fright and
the shock resulting from nearly being
n witness OF the shooting. The father
when questioned By the detectives yes
terday morning was asked about "a dts
turhance in his home about TWO weeks
ago when the police were requested 10
come to the house.
Trostss AZ foase. ..
Just before the two policemen who
answered the summons rang the door
hal!- theg heard a saaS inside siie sloase
say In an angry voice. "rll shoot YOU,
that's what III do" When the police
rang the bell few seconds later they
were told they were not wanted. Law
Ter remembered the incident.
lie said Meakin had made verbal
attack on Southern people and Gus
toms. When Lawler demonstrated
with the Englishman. Meakin grew an
cry, and according to LAWYERS expla-
nation, used the words heard by the
police. Following this quiz in the
morning Lawler was summoned TO the
office Of the chief az police. Werner In
the afternoon. again reciting what he
knew of the case.
After this Interview at police head
quarters. the police decided that no ar
rests VIII be made unless Mealcn re-
tracts his statements and gives an
other explanation Of the shooting.