Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-06
Row Preceded Shooting
OF Confidential Publisher
cIupAp TRUJMLo, Dominic

w AIAASboGo ptA W. NCOoy sAACA
was a loud quarrel over a story
in CONFIDENTIAL magazine just
before the publisher, Robert
Harrison, SO, was shot.
But police waited to get Mr..
Harrison's own story before de-
Gliding whether to prosecute
Richard Weldy, 35, jungle trap
per and guide. The New York
publisher was in hospital here
suffering from exhaustion, ex-
posure and a Slight flesh wound
IN the left arm.
{ Mr.. Weldy was under arrest
in this city on a holding charge.
He acknowledged to reporters
at police headquarters yesterday
that he had shot Mr.. Harrison
Tuesday in woods where the
publisher was hunting in the
8Jarabacoa mountain district
: about 10 miles northwest of
here. But he said the shooting
was an accident.
He said his rifle fell and went
of as the two were having a
sbig argument" over a story in
Harrison'S magazine. The story
told how Mr.. Weldy introduced
peruvian actress Pillar Palette.
Then his wife, to Hollywood star
John Wayne in Peru in 1852
fShe later became Mrs. Wayne.
S "SOre Because Of Story"
Il never had any intention Of
hurting Harrison" he declared.
although was sore because of
me story in the magazine"
ga. P. Govoni. managing editor
OF CONFIDENTIAL and Mr.. Harri-
sons hunting companion, said
last night "Weldy was shouting
and gesturing abuse because of
the story in the magazine"
He said he did not see the
shooting because he had Just
stumbled on a rock and fallen
On his face as he rushed I'D to
pacify the men. He told news
men he could not say whether
the shooting was accidental or
deliberate. Harrison will have
70 tell you that" he added.
An American woman singer
Gene Courtney, also was on the
hunting trip when Mr.. Weldy
happened upon the party. Mr..
Weldy and Mr.. Govoni left her
With the wounded Harrison in
the jungle.
Both were found yesterday. the
day after the shooting, suffering
from exhaustion, nervousness
and exposure. They were brought
to the same hospital in Ciudad
Irujillo. Doctors would not let
reporters or photographers see
them. They said Mr.. Harrison's
arm had merely "a flesh wound
nothing serious at ALL" But they
reported Miss Courtney near
nervous collapse.
Sorry Hes . Poor Shot"
Mr.. Wayne told reporters in
Hollywood that about the only
thing true in the Confidential
article was "that 1 was in Peru"
He added: "As far as Weldy is
concerned, I think he's a nice
enough fellow and l hope he's
not in trouble. But deplore the
tact he's such a poor shot"
Mr.. Weldy said he was good
friend of the actor.
Il cabled him about my
trouble" he said, land may
need his help"
Mr.. Weldy, who stands 6 feet
2 and weighs 2O5 pounds, once
was connected with Panagra Do
Brasil Airline.
Il He presently is director of
Amazon adventure tours in Peru
and a trapper of rare animals. 4
He came to the Dominican Re-
public to try to catch an unusual I
kind of ferret for the Sumac /
tropical fish hatcheries in Miami, II
Fla.
He said he first met Mr.. Har-
rison in Miami some two months 4
ago and talked with him of the
possibility of organizing a hunt
ing trip on the Amazon but re-
fused to discuss Mrs. Wayne.
Harsh Words Spoken
Mr.. Weldy said he ran into MIR.
Harrison again Sunday night at |
n Embajador Hotel here. The
publisher, an avid hunter, had |
come to the Dominican Republic /
Tor a vacation and to collect
Information for a story on Por- I
hrio iRubirosa, Dominican dip
lomat and playboy. 4
The trapper said he complained
Shout the story about Pillar and
fthere were some harsh words
spoken-but that was ALL"
4 Monday morning. he said, he T
vent to the Hotel Montana in
Jarabacoa and Tuesday morning
SET out for the woods beyond /
nhere toward Vega City. He in
Yestigated shots in the woods and I
ipund Mr.. Harrison hunting
With Nh. GoVoni and Miss Court