Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-09-13

DESPERATE CHARACTER DEAD
OR LIVE. SHOOTS TO SAVE
HIMSELF.
Staunton, Sept. s. Warren
TombIin a desperate character lv-
ing at Craigsville was shot and al
most instantly killed late yester-
day afternoon by Deputy }. Z.
Darnall, of Staunton, while resist
ing arrest. From accounts of eye
witnesses, it was simply matter
Of who drew first ane Darnall was
the quicker of the two. Before
the desperate could get his gun
from his trousers pocket where he
always carried it, Darnall had
drawn his from his breast pocket
and put bullet through his left
shoulder. the ball glancing down
into the body and causing death in
five minutes. Even after the man
had fallen he still tried to shoot,
but Deputy New. Jackson. who was
with Darnell, jumped upon HIM
and wrenched the gun form his
hands. The shooting caused a SEN
sation both in Cragesville aud
Stanton, where the body was
brouget for inquest last night.
Darneil was acquitted of all blame,
the general opinion being that he
not only was entirely justified In
the killing, but that he had done
public service in Kidding the com
munity of a bad man,
Tomblin had been defying arrest
at Craigsvllle for two weeks, even
going to the trains, accosung
strangers with his gun, and asking
them if they had come there to az
rest HIM. The whole trouble seems
to have started over Miss Ethe Luck,
a pretty fifteen year old girl, who
repulsed his attentions. He threat
ened to kill her two weeks ago, and
sic has since been hiding in terror
at the home of her father, 0. +
Luck.
In the meantime Tomblin has
been drinking heavily, and declar-
ing that he was going to shoot the
Luck girl on sight and anyone who
attempted to arrest him. Accord
ing to Deputy Sheriff J. L: Ford,
of Craigsville, he warned them all,
IF anybody tries to arrest me Its
my soul to hell or his.
Finally the word got to Judge
Henry W. Holt, that Tomblin was
terrorizing the Craigsville neigh
borhood and he ordered Sheriff WI
son to have the man placed under
arrest. Mr.. Wilson tried number
of men before he found anyone will
ling to assume she risk of the UNI
dertaking. Finally he hit upon
Mr.. Darnall, who is a sergeant III
the Staunton Rifles, a dead rifle
and pistol shot a man of iron nerve
and deputized him to go to Cralgs-
Vile with Constable New. Jackson
and bring back Tomblin dead or
alive. Darnall said that he pre-
ferred not to 60 on such mission,
but that if the Sheriff ordered it he
woul | not hesitate. The two left
on the afternoon train and reached
Craigesville about three p. m.
DARNALL SHOT FIRST
Ahout o'clock TrOmblin was |
seen coming down the road from
the east toward Craigsville and
Darnall, who is a fruit tree man,
sauntered on to meet him, with a
fruit tree book under his arm so as
not to excite suspision. He met
Tomblin in front of the schoolhouse
and presenting his speciman book,
asked him if he wanted to buy any
fruit trees Tomblin watched him
warily, with his hand gripping his
gun in his pocket, said that he did
not. Darnall approached him and
Selling the man by the arm told
him he was under arrest. Tomblln
whirled and drew his gun, but the
next instant he lay breathing his
last in the dust and trying valnty
to shoot. A ball from A cal
Smith and Wesson in the hands OF
Darnall had struck his shoulder as
he whirled, glanced inward toward
his heart and ended his career.
A crowd quickly gathered and
TIE body was placed on board Il
train and brought to Stounton,
where an inquert was held at Ham
rick's undertaking establishment
last night.
Il have always tried to live a
Christian life," said Mr.. Darnall
with great feeling, land tell you
before my God shat my conscience
is clear. | had no alternative, L
tried to hit him in the arm but he
whirled with his gun as l pulled the
trigger, and the ball striking the
arm ranged into the body"
The only eyewitnesses to the
shooting were Constble Jackson, L.
F. Erwin and Deputy J. l.. Ford.
A number of Craigsville people
who came down with the bodv said
the opinion at the village seemed
that the shooting Was
justifiable. (