Evening star., 1933-02-20

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Miss Virginia Ritchie, and John
McCauley of Falls Church
Mrs. Oliver and Holbrook we're said
to have been alone at the time, the
other two having gone to a nearby
store for sandwiches. Holbrook said
that when Oliver entered the room
holding the shotgun in his hands and
raised it to fire, he grabbed him and
during the struggle the gun went off,
several of the shot entering Holbrook's
leg.
During the struggle that followed,
Holbrook said that he stumbled, tenn
porarily losing his grip on Oliver and
that the latter then raised the gun and
shot his wife.
Holbrook then again started strug-
Cling with Oliver and neither of them
room until after Oliver had been sub
dued.
Runs for Help.
The young woman ran screaming
from the house toward the Fairfax
County Jail. Her screams were heard
by Sheriff E. P. Kirby and, State Po-
liceman c. B. Bullock, who rushed
from their living quarters in the Jail
and found Mrs. Oliver lying on the
pavement outside They carried her
into the Jail and placed her on couch
and then went in search of her assail-
ant while Mrs. Kirby bathed the
wounds and attempted to bring some
relief to the injured woman.
After circling the block, the sheriff
and State policeman found Oliver sit
ting on the terrace in front of the
house, where he was being held by
Holbrook and Carlton Sims. They
started to take him to the Jail, but he
tainted en- route from alleged injuries
received in the affray. 1t was neces-
sary to get car to transport him.
Today, however, he was apparently
suffering only from superficial injuries.
Details of Shooting.
The story as finally assembled by the
authorities was to the effect that Oliver
entered the living room of the Ritchie
home through the front door and is
was going to kill both his wife and
Holbrook. At the time Judge Ritchie
and his son, Lewis, were both absent
from the house. During the fight with
Oliver, Holbrook is said to have beaten
him on the head with two silver can
dlestickS that were on the mantel
The fight continued to the front door,
where Holbrook says that he succeed
ed in subduing Oliver. At this point
Judge Ritchie returned home and went
IN to call the sheriff. Judge Ritchie
then started in search of his daughter.
learning in a short time that she was
at the jail. The other two members
or the card party did not return to
tne mouse until the affair was all over.
VTo -
by Sheriff. Kirby in company with
McCauley and physician.
Refuses to Make Statement.
Sheriff Kirby stated that Oliver had
apparently been drinking. He refused
to make statement of any kind. When
asked for a statement by the sheriff
Oliver is alleged to have replied: IT
nave nothing to say. I want YOU to
eau my lawyer, Frank L. Ball of Ar
I'll discuss the matter with him -
The trouble between the Ritchie and
Oliver families dates back In the n,ar-
riage Of Judge Ritchie's daughter with
young Oliver about three years ago. The
Hitchie family is said to have objected
to the union
several months ago the couple sepa-
rated. A daughter was born in No
Vemoer. short time before the birth
OF the child young Oliver was arrested
In Baltimore when he is claimed to
nave made an attack upon his wife in
the nome of some OF her relatives
Wnere she was staying He was to have
appeared in court in Baltimore on
Ihursday to answer this charge.
Fatal Clash.
The same difference between the
families Is said to have resulted in the
recent death of former Senator Oliver
when he went to the Ritchie home and
became engaged in no alteration with
Lewis Ritchie, who is said to have
pushed Senator Oliver and the latter
fell, receiving injuries that resulted in
his death. When the case was presented
to the grand jury that body ignored it.
There IS a divorce case pending be-
tween Oliver and his wife, and there is
said to have been considerable differ
ences over the custody of the baby.
Oliver had been married before. his
wife having died several years ago. At
the time of his arrest his 10-year-old
daughter by the former union was
asleep in her fathers home, the only
| other person there being the cook.
Sheriff Kirby sent one of his men to
look after the girl