The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-03-11
Former Eaton Man, After a
Visit in Richmond, Goes to
Dayton and Attempts a
Double Tragedy.
VIOLA WILKINSON
INTENDED VICTIM
She May Survive Wound,
but Cruver Is in a Ser
ious Condition-He Way
laid the Woman.

Enraged because. as 1t is alleged.
his affections for the woman were
not reciprocated. John A. Gruver, for
merly Of Eaton. Ohio. but who recent
ly had been staying in Richmond with
relatives. attempted to murder Mrs.
Viola wilkinson at Dayton on Satur-
day afternoon and followed his shoot
ing Of her with an attempt at suicide.
Mrs. Wilkinson was dangerously
wounded but may recover. while
Gruver's self.inflicted wound is ex.
pected to prove fatal. Mrs. Wilkinson
ls 81 years old. The would-be MUIR
derer and suicide is past 50.
According to a newspaper dispatch
from Dayton, Gruver left Richmond
Saturday noon and reached Dayton
shortly before o'clock. A half hour
later he met Mrs. Wilkinson and her
daughter on a street car and spoke to
the woman, who spurned his atten.
tions. When she left the car directly
in front Of the Miami county court
house. Gruvsr approached her and
drawing . revolver fired point blank.
the bullet from a 80 cahbre weapon
entering the left side of the woman's
neck and being DETECTED upward came
out the right side of her mouth. In
it, course It narrowly missed the jugu.
hr vein.
Mrs. wilkinson turned and ran, but
instead Of pursuing the woman. Cru.
weapon TO his right temple and fired.
the bullot, however, ranging outward.
and emerging at the outside corner OF
the eye.
Taken 70 Hospital.
Both Mrs. Wilkinson and Gruver
were hurried to the Dayton hospital
whore 1t was announced that the .wo-
man might recover, but that Gruver's
chances were slim.
Gruver 10 known to many Richmond
people and has relatives here whom
he had been visiting for two weeks
past. He was at one time In business
at Eaton and later went to Dayton to
reside. For some time he was mploy-
cd a. an assistant storekeeper at the
Dayton Soldiers Home. Since resign
ing that position he had spent his
time at Dayton and Richmond.
Mrs. Wilkinson also lived formerly
ut Eaton and 10 daughter Of the late
William Lamb. . prominent Preble
county farmer. Mrs. Wilkinson's state
ment of the shooting ~ 1t appeared in
. Dayton Newspaper 10 AZ follows:
Going to Thsatsr.
MY daughter and myself had pre-
pared to attend the matinee in the Vic
toria theater and left our home about
3 o'clock. boarding q Third street car
almost directly in front Of the
house. When We got on the car MIR.
0ruver was standing on the back plat
form. but I failed to note that fact At
once.
As I turned to enter the car proper
he remarked: Well. why don't you
step on . fellow replied that had
not noticed him. but he responded
with . sneer and insisted: Well, you
did. and furthermore you are not treat.
ing me right
II replied that had done nothing
70 him. and did not care to have him
call me down on q crowded car. He
mumbled something could not under.
stand. and then my daughter and my
self sat down within the car, Gruver
continuing In his position on the rear
platform.
Get or Car.
"When We arrived at Third and
Main streets suggested that We get
off the car and walk to the theater in
stead Of transferring. because l was
afraid Mr.. 0ruver might follow us.
He had previously alighted. but was
lost In the crowd. As We walked north
on the west side Of Main street ask
ed Maybelle to look and gee II the
man was following ue, not knowink
what had become Of him. She glanced
about and rspliad that he was no.
where to be seen. but a. she again
faced north her yes met his, and he
was approaching us with an upraised
arm.
Tho pistol cleaned directly ut us.
My daughter involuntarily clutched
my arm and then came q flash Of
flame and smoke. I did not know I
had been hit by the bullet, for there
was absolutely no sensation Of pain"