Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-14
Police OFFICIALS
HOLD REALTY MAN
(NIMIJRDER CHARGE
Mrs. TheIma Richardson
Who Formerly Lived Herel
Killed in ScuffIe-LocaI
Relatives Shocked at News


RICHMOND. Va. Dec. 13.-For-
NAL arraignment of Thomas Pollard,
real estate and insurance man, on
a charge of numbering Mrs. Thelma
Richardson. his former stenographer.
was postponed until Thursday when
the case was called in police court
today.
This action was taken in order to
allow time for the holding of an in
quest over the body of the young
woman who was killed, detectives
stated. when she went to the POI,
lard home presumably to seek IAN
understanding" with her late EN-
rloyer.
The detectives reiterated their be-
lief that Mrs. Richardson died from
a bullet from a pistol which she car
ried with her.
Pollard is at liberty under $4,000
bond and J. Mosby West, who &C
companied the woman to PoIGrds
home is under $500 bail as an aces
sorry.
Detectives Theory
Detectives working Wednesday on
the case said they had virtually es-
tabIished that the girl was killed
with a pistol which she carried with
her to the Pollard home Monday
night and that the shooting followed
a brief struggle in front of the house.
Mrs. Richardson had gone to the
Pollard home, the officers assert.
with J. Mosby West, presumably for
ian understanding with Pollard.
After a few minutes conversation.
the authorities said, Pollard and the
girl engaged in a struggle. A shot
followed and the woman crumpled
TO the lawn with q bullet in her
heart.
Detectives investigating the case
said they have information which
indicates an infatuation on the part
of the girl for her employee. They
said they expect this alleged infatu-
alton to furnish the motive for the
killing.
Mrs. Richardson, it is said, had
been employed by Pollard about two
weeks. She was divorced about
three years ago from her husband,
Herbert E. Richardson, who lives
within a few blocks Of the Pollard
residence.
The Richardson's formerly lived in
Atlanta. Pollard has been separated
from his wife about a month, the
Woman's father said.
Witnesses Saw Lite
West also declined to make
statement or to answer questions
concerning the shooting aside from
the sworn statement which the pO-
Ice said he made to them whom
taken to headquarters. This state
mcnt. while not made public, was
said by officers to contain nothing
that will throw any light on the
case.
''West did not so into details
about the shooting" said Lieutenant
Bryant, who has charge of the in
vestigation. West was released on
$500 bond.
Witnesses who saw the killing of
Mrs. Richardson could tell little or
the affair. They said they saw a
struggle and heard a shot but they
could not say who fired the shot
Pollard was arrested in his home
by officers who We're sent to inves-
tiSate q report that a man had shot
himself in that vicinity. a search
of the house, it was said, revealed
that Pollards pistol was not the
weapon which caused Mrs. Richard
sons death. The officers found his
pistol III a room on the second floor
Of the home and they said it had
not been fired recently.
RELATIVES THINK JEALOUSY
CAUSE OF SLAYING
Jealousy is believed by relatives of
Mrs. TheIma Richardson to have
been the cause which led to the fatal
shooting Of Mrs Richardson Monday
night in Richmond and in cCnneC,
ton with which Thomas Pollard,
Richmond real estate man, is held
according to Mrs. H. G. Hamilton,
sister of the dead woman, who re.
sides here, at l Waverly way.
Mrs. Richardson was a former
Albanian. Her mother, Mrs. J. w.
Ham, resides here with Mrs. Ham
iIton. Another sister, Mrs. ] w.
Griffin, also lives here, as does a
brother, J. L. Ham, whose home is
on Marietta road. The mother is
.t-v,1t oH va of 1A