Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A candy store operator named Richard Traul chased a man to the sidewalk at Second Avenue and Monroe Street, drew a revolver and shot him.

“You’ve killed me,” moaned the victim.

“Yes, and I’m glad of it,” Traul replied. “You’ve ruined my family, and that hasn’t been the only one.”

Then he fired two more shots, missing with the second.

A bystander approached and tried to disarm Traul, who ordered him to back off. Then Traul calmly walked north on Monroe, sat down on a curb, and shot himself in the chest. He died instantly.

Traul’s victim was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital with serious wounds. He told bystanders, “I know of no reason why Traul would have shot me. I had just finished eating breakfast with him and had started off to work.”

He had been a roomer at Traul’s house.

Neighbors called Traul’s accusations groundless. They said that Traul had received a head wound in the Civil War, which caused him “frequently to act partially demented.”

When Traul’s wife learned of the tragedy, she “went into hysterics immediately.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1963: Britain’s “Great Train Robbery” took place as thieves made off with 2.6 million pounds in bank notes.