The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-04-04
TUFTS Pills
KILLS FATHER To
PROTECT Mother
Robert Saves Lives of Mother and
Sisters-Coroner's Verdict Per-
functory-Evidence Shows
Shooting Was Justifiable.
Boy Is Bailed.
ICHMO Nd, VA.-Special.-

RIG MON d, VA-Special-
Evidence brought ont before the
Coroner's jury this morning indicated
that William Edward Currie, who was
killed by his fifteen-year-old son, Rob-
ert, at their home, 1855 Williams
burg Avenue. last night. was tenn
peramentally unbalanced or insane.
Before he was shot he attempted
to kill his wife and two of his chill
dren. In a mad frenzy, he terribly
lacerated his wifes arm with his teet n
and bit his little daughter, Blanche,
on the hand. Mrs. Currie said that
he had not been in his right mind
for a month.
The jury returned a verdict that
William Edward Currie came to his
| death as the result of a wound in
fiicted by his son.
Robert Currie will appear in Police
Court tomorrow morning to answer to
| the charge, but indications are that
he Will be released at once as ne killed
his father. not only to save ms moth
ers life. but his own and the lives of
his two little sisters.
Young Currie was bailed lN Judge
| Wells in the sum Of $500 IL the
Hastings Court this morning; Ernest
Ferguson going on his bond.
Mrs. Currie and her twelve-year-
old daughter. Blanche, were the only
witnesses examined by the coroner.
Robert was not present.
The Mothers Statement.
In answer to questions put ny
Coroner Taylor, the inquest being held
in the parlor of Undertaken Arthur
Nielsen on Louisiana Street, Mrs.
Currie said:
Robert, my two daughters.
Blanche and Grace; the baby and
i were i'm the kitchen. My hus-
band came I'm and started the
row. He struck me with the
handle of "A knife; then with his
fist. L caught his arm TO keen
him from striking me again.
He bit my arm. / then STRUCK
him I'm the face and we both fell
To the floor. My children and l
tried to hold him down. He bit
Blanche ON the hand and tried
10 bite Robert. He was jerking
my head backwards and forward
by the hair. He turned my head
loose and struck me in the face
again. Robert begged him 10
stop beating me. He told Robert
he would kill us both il he tried
To interfere.
II told the children TO get out
of the Kitchen. and I would try
tn break loose from him and run.
Robert refused to leave. Finally
got loose and ran into the din
ing room. My husband jumped
up and caught me. got loose
again and ran into the AREA
InCn DeaTu the SlOJ. ran
back. My husband was lying i'm
the kitchen door. Robert had
killed him.
II don't think my husband was
I'm his right mind. He had been
quRrrelsome for over month.
He had struck me several times
before"
A Daughters Testimony.
Twelve-year-old Blanche CurTie
followed her mother on the stand.
She said she was in the room ans
saw Robert kill his father. After
telling what Mrs. Currie had said the
girl testified:
Father ran out after mother, but
turned and ran back at us. He said
that he was going 10 kill us. Robert
had gotten the gun. He pushed me
TO one side and said: Blanche I've
father. That's all 1 know about it
except that a policeman came and
took Robert away"
Currie was an engineer. employed
at the Richmond Cedar Works. He
was fifty-seven years old and came
ty-five years ago.
The Husbands Disposition.
While the direct cause nf the quar-
rel between Currie and his wife was
not mentioned at the inquest, IL was
said that the man was OF an intensely
JCdlOuS disposition ana frequently ms
construed his wifes words and &C
| tions.
Robert Currie shot his father with
a Al caliber rifle, the ball almost
completely severing the juguIar vein.
The man died in a few seconds.
The boy. who is an employee OF
Ferguson & Sons. printers, was ar
rested by County Officer Shoemaker,
who was in the neighborhood when
the shot was fired. He was given a
cell in the First Police Station where
he spent the night The boy appears
to be completely dazed. He has very
little to say and does not seem TO
realize what he has done.
Fathers Funeral Tomorrow
Currie's funeral will take place to-
morrow afternoon.
Besides his wife. the man leaves
nine children, they being as follows:
James f. Currie, J. M. Currie. S. J.
Currie, ]. Y. Currie. George Currie,
Robert Currie. Ruby Currie. Blanche
Currie and Grace Currie. The latter
! is the youngest. being five years of
age. ]. NJ. and S. j. Currie are now
serving terms of enlistment ia the
United States navy.