The Washington times., 1921-05-15
FARMERHOLDS
OFF DEPUTIES
. .W|THSAOTCUN
Crazed virginian Rushed" BY
Pursuers As He Tries to
Escape Down Road.
JAILED FOR OBSERVATION
William Dabney's Grief at Sui
eide of SoIdier-Son Overseas
Blamed for Outbreak.

Wilidm DdDney, farmer nvlnS
near Alexandria, yesterday after
noon barricaded himself in his farm
house, armed himself with a double
barreled shotgun, and held three
sheriff's deputies at bay for mora
than three hours. He was finally
'subdued at 7:30 last night and taken
to the Arlington county jail where
he is being held for observation.
SON SUICIDE IN FRANCE.
Stricken with grief over the suicide
in France of his soldier son. Dabney
at i o'clock yesterday ran from his
house with a shotgun and fired wildly.
Three of his chickens were killed.
All Yesterday afternoon and until
1880 o'clock last night Dabney's rel
atives and friends and three sherifrs
deputies attempted to take The shot
gun away from him. Zach was met
with threat to shoot. -~
Dabney was finally captured when
he left the farm and tried to escape
TO Alexandria. He was seized BY
Jafler 2. o Kern. OF Arlington, and
Deputy Sheriff O. F. Marcy. who,
with drawn revolvers, rushed toward
HIM and kuncked the shotgun from
h's nanr.. Dabn.v trlsy is safely
lodged in the Arlington county Jail
for observation.
SUFFERS BREAKDOWN.
Notified on April 20, the very day
after he received a letter from his son
announcing his marriage to a French
girl. that the boy had shot himself in
France, Dabney several days later suf-
fered nervous breakdown. Since
then he has had little sleep.
Yesterday afternoon the farmer
showed signs OF complete break
down. He grabbed his shotgun ran
into the yard and shot three chickens
Fearing for their lives, Dabney's
wife, sister and nve children ned to
the home OF Deputy Sheriff Arthur
Richard. just across the road. DR.. J.
r. Yates, of Del Ray. was called, and
with Sheriff Richard went to the
farmhouse
Dabney was found In his bedroom.
! the shotgun standing In one corner.
He had calmed down. DR.. Yates at
tempted to administer a hypodermio
and had almost succeeded when Dab
rey became suddenly violent. pushed
the two men aside, seized his gun and
ran from the room. The physician
and sheriff then left the house.
SHERIFF GETS AID.
Feeling that he could not handle
tne atOne, Sneflu ftfCnaTu ap-
pealed to Sheriff A. c. Clements, whe
sent JaiIer Kern and Deputy sheriff
Marcy to the farmhouse. These men
reached Dabney's place about
o'clock.
The three officers went to the door
and tried to persuade Dabney to leave
Dabney, holding the shotgun. ordered
them of the porch and out OF the
yard. threatening them IL they re-
fused to go. The men left.
A few minutes later Dabney came
out in the yard and called for his
sister. saying he would not harm her.
The sister went to him.
Tell those sheriffs that I am not
going to let them arrest me-" he said.
Let one of them come here. and
will talk with him alone"
THREATENS TO SHOOT.
The sister brought this message
| back and Jailer Kern went to the
| house. Moral persuasion did no good,
Dabney threatening to shoot at the
/ first attempt to come nearer than
twenty feet toward him. Becoming
enraged. Dabney few minutes later.
at the point OF his gun. ordered Kern
out OF the yard.
Sheriff Marcy went into the yard
and talked with Dabney.' Another
| tnTedt, ana marCey feTI Snerlu
Richard went into the yard and he
also was ordered out at the poIut of
the gun.
For the next hJur Dabney paced up
and down in front of his home, hts
gun on his shoulder. Every few min
utes, with the gun ready to shoot. he
peeped around the corners OF the
house, keeping a watch to prevent
anyone from creeping upon him.
Several ruses were tried by the Of
ncers, but all were frustrated by Dab
neys threatening shotgun. Dabney
permitted members of his family to
come into the yard. but pushed them
aside every time they attempted to
take his gun away.
STARTS DOWN ROAD.
1t was not until 7;15 that Dsbney.
firing of the long vigil of watching.
attempted to escape. He went to the
back OF his- farm and came out on q
side road. heading for Alexandria
CONTINUED on Page 2. colums ~