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| Obituary Index RILEY, Howard |
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| SOURCE NOTATION: |
| Johnstown Weekly Tribune, 13 Sep 1907, Page 7, Contributed by Kerry L. Miller |
| SHOT HIS FRIEND; TOOK OWN LIFE Frolic of Armstrong County Young Men Results in Tragic Error A COSTLY MIDNIGHT LARK Kittanning, Pa. Sept. 12. - Following the shooting of his friend, Robert Ramsey, jr., shortly after midnight Sunday morning, Howard Riley committed suicide by throwing himself in front of an express train near his home at Graff, between Ford City and this place, at 6 o'clock that morning. Saturday night the two young men started to join a crowd of friends at a selected meeting point in the rural district east of Ford City. When passing the residence of A. C. Bailey, at Graff, they decided to secure some eatables for a feast the party was to have at midnight. Riley went down to the chicken coop, and while he was inside Ramsey opened the door, striking a match at the same moment. Thinking it was the owner of the property, Riley opened fire with his revolver, the bullet striking Ramsey in the breast. Discovering his mistake, Riley was frantic, and, pointing the revolver at his own head, attempted to take his own life. Ramsey, although terribly injured, succeeded in getting the weapon from him. Riley took the injured man home, then hurried for doctors, remaining near the bedside until early Sunday morning. Then he went home, told his mother of the shooting, changed his clothes, and returned to Ramsey. Without saying anything, he left the house shortly afterward, walked out onto the railroad track, and when the express from Buffalo came rushing along threw himself in front of the engine and was ground to pieces. Ramsey is still alive, and it is now believed he will recover. Both young men are well known in this section. Some of Riley's friends think he did not commit suicide, believing he was walking down the track, brooding over the shooting, and did not hear the train approach. |
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