The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-03-14
on HIS JOB. here LAST /
MIGHT, .GOINC; TO poor.
:. Farm, THIS MORNING
Young Shot in Head
Three Times; Dies
r.. Soon After
SLAYER. AN
EX-OFFICER

Muruer was QOne CniS morning at
the county infirmary, about eight
miles below this city.
B. p. Thompson, better known as
VAL Thompson, former chief OF
shot Edward Young thrse times in
the head, almost instantly killing
him. The shooting took place soon
after nine o'clock this morning, at
the gate which marks the entrance
to the lnfirmary. Thompson was
formerly warden at the institution
but was succeeded by Young last
October during the term of Judge
Leroy Hairless, under whose admin
istration both of the men had work
ed &c.,. ..-. .- ..-~
MIR. Thompson worked last Iight
as merchants policemen, on the
principal business streets OF the city
and at three o'clock this morning
was in apparent good humor and
willing to watch through the night
before going to his home On Don
naliy street. where he has lived for
a humber Of years with his wife who
is NOW visiting her sister at Ward
= Telephones Officers.
Immediately following the shoot
ing which resulted in the death Of
Mr.. Young, Thompson telcphoned to
Howard Smith, local detective, and
said he was on mis- way back to the
city for the purpose OF surrendering
II fn nff
Detective Smith, and Sheriff S. F..
Smith went to West Side and it was
at THO car station that they met the
murderer. The detective went tow
ard the man, and Thompson drew a
gun, evidently the same one with
which he had killed Young, and
made an effort to shoot himself
through the heart. - He pulled The
trigger Of his gun, which is 38
oaliber, blue steel. The bullet miss
fire and the life1o Thompson was
saved for the time being. Since that
time he has been closely guarded
and no chance will be given him to
end his own life until his trial is
lsheld. ~'
81, A warrant for the arrest of Thomp
Son was issued this morning by
huire McGrew, and soon after one
W&lock this afternoon he waived
@mination and was re1nanded to
NE county Jail ito await tho action
ofAhe grand jury.
Mst before the officers reached
the accused who had walked to the
WesySSide from the place the killing
took Mace, he sat down by the road
side and wrote 2 note which reads
as rollqws:
"My wife at Ward, w. Va, two
sons at Huntington, on the Herald
Dispatch office, one son at Madison,
w. Va. Please notify.
'B. p. Thompson,
1907 Donnally street,
"Charlesto1, w. ya."'
The wife and sons were imfned-
ately notified Of the trouble in which
Thompson had gotten into and all
Of them will reach here this evening
for the purpose Of doing what they
possibly can for his benefit At
torneys Collect Littlepage and M. f.
,Matheny, Of the firm of Eittlepage,
Matheny and Littlepage, were called
into conference with the accused and
Will handle the case for him. He
was in such a condition mentally
that but little satisfaction could be
obtained from him by his attorneys.
He acted from the time of his arrest
as a man bereft Of his senses and
those who saw him at the office of
Detective Smith assert that he has
lost his mental balance and that Of
tiCers should continue to keep al
watch over him to prevent him from
taking his own life.
On Local Police Force.
Thompson worked on the local po-
lice force for more than year and
was successor as chief to Dan Mon
tague when that official was sus-
pended for conduct unbecoming to
one in his position. Later he was
engaged in the restaurant business