| Sources |
- [S38] 1880 US Federal Census.
Name: Nollie Veiock Home in 1880: New Brighton, Beaver, Pennsylvania Age: 7 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1873 Birthplace: Pennsylvania Relation to Head of Household: Daughter Father's Name: William Father's birthplace: Darmstadt Ger Mother's Name: Amlia Mother's birthplace: Pennsylvania Neighbors: Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Female
- [S927] Obituary.
From the Beaver Falls Tribune, Thursday, February 3, 1910
MOST COWARDLY MURDER IN HISTORY OF TOWN COMMITTED ON STREET LAST NIGHT
__________
ASSASIN SHOOTS WIFE IN THE BACK __________ Mrs. Mollie Hickman, Victim of Tragedy, Shot Down inCold Blood as She Was Returning Home From a Visit to Brother Death Shocks Community.
__________
MURDERED CAPTURED BY THE POLICE __________ Prisoner Refuses to Discuss Crime and is Feigning InsanityEyewitnesses Describe the Shooting and EvidencePoints to Deliberate Premeditation.
As a result of the most atrocious murder ever committed in Beaver county, Mrs. Mollie Hickman, of Beaver Falls, is lying a corpse and her husband, Chas. Hickman, is languishing in the county jail charged with her murder.
The shooting occurred last evening at a few minutes before half past ten o?clock at the corner of Ninth street and Seventh avenue and was the most cowardly ever recorded in the annals of the local police.
Mrs. Hickman had just stepped from a northbound car on the lines of the Beaver Valley Traction company at Ninth street and had walked directly across the street to the home of Mrs. Nettle Carrol, where she made her home. Just after she had left the corner and within a few feet of the steps leading to the door, her husband stepped up behind her and with the words, ?Now I?ll fix you,? fired four times at her from a revolver which he carried in his hand. At the first shot from the gun, the woman staggered forward, but the cowardly man without any human sympathy again shot her and this time with better aim, the bullet striking her beneath the left shoulder blade and taking a slightly upward course in all probability striking her heart.
The unfortunate woman staggered up the steps to her home and as the door was opened by one of the roomers of the house who had been attracted by the shots, she fell forward into his arms. Two men, eye witnesses to the shooting assisted Mrs. Hickman into the house after she had reached the porch, and rendered all possible aid to the dying woman and Dr. George Boyd who had been summoned, arrived within a very few minutes but the woman was beyond all human aid and died in the arms of Fred Koah one of the young men who had went to her assistance.
Immediately following the shooting Hickman darted across Ninth street, but quickly turning, he retraced his steps to the alley just back of Seventh avenue and ran toward Tenth Street. Both Officers Balser and Caler were in the neighborhood and hearing the shots were investigating when a young man, an eye witness to the affair, informed them that the man had run up the alley to Tenth street. The officers met the murderer as he emerged from the alley and placed him under arrest. He was quickly taken to the city building and locked up.
The gun with which the terrible deed was committed was found a short time later by Officer Balzer. Hickman had thrown it in the rear of the lot on which the Hamilton tailor shop is located. The gun was of a 22 calibre, Hopkins & Allen make, and had four chambers empty and the fifth loaded.
The evidence indicates that the murder was the result of considerable premeditation and not the result of liquor, or committed on the spur of the moment. A half pint of whiskey was found on the man when he was searched, and although he had been drinking some he was rational and was not noticeably under the influence of liquor.
When first confined, Hickman seemed composed and conversed coherently asking for a pillow on which to lay his head.
He was identified among a number of other prisoners by Clarence Javens an eye witness, but he later denied the shooting, and when Deputy Coroner J.K. White of New Brighton, entered his cell and said to him, ?Well, you have gotten yourself into a pretty serious scrape,? he replied, ?So they tell me.? He later denied having done the shooting to Coroner White. In spite of all actions of the murderer last night, the deed was undoubtedly premeditated.
Hickman stated to Chief Woods that until yesterday noon he had been employed by the Noss Hardware company at Aliquippa as a tinner, but since that time he said he had been loafing.
He stated that he had remained at his home all day until late in the afternoon when he had taken a walk in company with his little boy who made his home with his mother. He returned home for his supper and afterwards went to the Phillis House. He had a drink there and also at one or two of the other bars of the town. From his actions after being arrested the man desired the police to think the murder was on the impulse of the moment and that he did not realize what he had done but circumstantial evidence points too strongly to premeditation.
The couple have been married for a number of years but the union was not happy and for some time they have been separated. Mrs. Hickman doing light housekeeping at the Carrol home and keeping her two children. Hickman was shiftless and was always more or less under the influence of liquor. Since their marriage they have separated several times, the last time being while they were living in East Palestine, where Hickman sold all the furniture, the greater part of which was Mrs. Hickman?s, and then ran away with the money, leaving his wife and children in the middle of winter with no provisions. Since then (continued on Page Two.)
they have not lived together, and although several times he requested permission to return to her she refused and this is thought to have been his motive for revenge.
He had been noticed several times of late following her on evening?s when she would be out and only Tuesday night his actions were noticed by two of her friends. Hickman followed his wife up Seventh avenue only a few steps behind until she boarded a street car for New Brighton and one of the ladies who noticed the occurrence remarked yesterday morning that she thought he was going to shoot her then. Yesterday afternoon while Charles, the only son, was walking with his father, the latter showed the boy a revolver and said that he was going to kill his mother. The lad pleaded with him and he promised to throw the gun away. Had he done as he promised, or had the police known of the threat the murder would have been avoided. Hickman is about forty years of age.
Mrs. Hickman was thirty-seven years of age and was well and favorably known and leaves a host of sorrowing friends to mourn her premature death.
She had been employed as a tailoress in the dry goods store of Wm. II Benson since last August and was general favorite with her companion clerks. Always cheerful and ready to do her share of work: quite and unassuming she won the respect and admiration of all her companions and her memory will long be cherished. In her home she was a model mother educating her two children and seemingly living her life that theirs might be the best possible.
When shot down last night by a merciless and cowardly man, she was returning home after a visit to the home of her brother, Thomas Veiock on Eighth street, New Brighton. Of late Mrs. Hickman had been spending the greater number of her evenings at the Veiock home and helping to care for Mrs. Veiock who is critically ill.
She is survved by her two children. Charles, in his fifteenth year, and Dorothy, aged fourteen years, also by her father and mother Mr. and Mrs. William Veiock, of New Brighton and three brothers, William, of Beaver Falls, Thomas and Earl Veiock of New Brighton.
Clarence Javens, an eye witness to the shooting stated to a representative of this paper that shortly after the tragedy he had been loitering in the neighborhood for some time and had also seen Hickman loitering on the corner opposite the scene of the tragedy, and that when he first saw Mrs. Hickman she was crossing Seventh avenue towards her home. According to Javen?s when she had reached the side walk directly in front of her home Hickman had reached her side and with the words, ?Now I?ll fix you,? he fired. At the threatening words Mrs. Hickman said, ?Please, Charlie, don?t? and started to run, but the man fired four times, the last time as she was running up the steps into her home. Javens stated that he first went to the aid of the woman but as there were several others there in a few moments, he went in pursuit of the murdered and catching sight of him, he ran and notified the police, with the result that the officers met the man as he left the alley to come onto Tenth street.
Another eye witness, Fred Koah, better known as ?Buster Brown? in speaking with a Tribune reporter said that he also had been in the vicinity for a short time previous to the shooting and hearing the sots ran from Roney?s restaurant where he was at the time, to the scene about a square below, and that he had, seeing Mrs. Hickman was in great need of assistance, ran part way up the steps and assisted her into the house. When the porch was reached the door was opened by A.A. Husted a roomer at the Carrol home who had heard the shots and was investigating. Mrs. Hickman staggered forward into the parlor of the Carrol home and just as she tried to sit down fell forward upon her face.
Brown said the woman was then tenderly lifted up and that he held her while Mrs. Carrol made an effort to loosen her clothing. Her only words Brown stated, were, ?My God, Charlie shot me.?
Mrs Carrol, with whom Mrs. Hickman made her home, in conversation with a reporter this morning, said: Mr. Husted had just left the room to retire and passing through the hall when the shots rang out, and that as he opened the door to investigate, Mrs. Hickman staggered through the door and into the parlor, and that there was a young man assisting her. Just after entering the room she fell forward on her face. The only words uttered by the dying woman were just as she entered the room and before she fell.
Her last breath was used in saying, ?He shot me, he shot me. Charley has shot me.? With this she passed to a sweeter and better life beyond and in her great reward from her Almighty Father in Heaven.
The prisoner was remorseful this morning and refused to discuss the matter with anybody and even when his little son, a great favorite with him, spoke to him he would not talk. Dejected and downcast he sits in his cell at the Central station. Early this morning he stated that he was ready for a good breakfast and that he did not recall the events of last night. He professed to remember nothing of the shooting.
The tragedy of last night calls to memory that of November, 20th, 1907 (Continued on Page Four)
when George Schaney shot and killed Prof. A. J. Rand at almost identically the same spot. Rand, a few weeks previous to his death had roomed at the Carrol home and was shot within a very few feet of the spot where Mrs. Hickman received her death wounds. Rand walked into the same house and into the same room where he also was ministered unto by Mrs. Carrol until death relieved his suffering. The scene of the tragedy of last night was visited later by over a hundred people, not only of this place, but also of New Brighton where Mrs. Hickman was well known and where she leaves a host of friends to mourn her premature death. Considerable indignation was expressed on the streets last evening and threats of lynching were freely made.
The post mortem examination was held this morning in Lutton?s morgue and was under the direction of Deputy Coroner J. K. White of New Brighton. Dr. George Boyd and Leroy Townsend were present and made the examination.
The examination showed that the bullet that caused her death entered her back at the lower edge of the ribs of the left side and taking a posterial course passed through the left lung and then plowing on passed through the upper portion of the heart, severing the main artery, and then through the upper lobe of the right lung, through the breast bone and lodging beneath the skin. This bullet caused death almost instantly.
The only other mark on her body was a slight abrasion on the left arm, midway between the elbow and the wrist. This mark was that of a bullet shot at an exceedingly close range, as her clothing over the arm was badly scorched. The bullet had passed directly through the clothing but only produced the slightest abrasion on her arm. The bullet fired into her back as she ran up the steps was from a longer range as the clothing is not burnt. The statement of eye witnesses that he shot the death dealing bullet as she ran to safety is born out by the course which the bullet pursued.
The bullet removed from her breast was of a 22 calibre and corresponds with the calibre of the gun that Hickman threw away immediately after the shooting.
Shortly after the post mortem, Chief of Police Geo. Woods went before Squire Piper and made information against Charles Hickman charging him with the murder of his wife, Mrs. Mollie Hickman on Wednesday evening February 2, at the corner of Ninth street and Seventh avenue. A hearing in the case was held this afternoon at one o?clock.
Charles A. Hickman was given a hearing this afternoon before Squire Piper and committed to the Beaver county jail, at Beaver, for the next term of Oyer and Terminer Court. Hickman plead not guilty on the reading of the charge and his son Charles was the first witness sworn.
Charles testified to having met his father last evening about 8:30 o?clock in Beaver Falls and that they went to New Brighton together. The father told the lad he wished to get a divorce and for this reason wanted to see Mrs. Hickman, but when they arrived in New Brighton the father left the boy outside of the house of Thomas Veiock where Mrs. Hickman was helping to care for her sister-in-law, Mrs. Veiock, who was ill. The boy
went in and after a short time left again meeting his father. The two started up Third avenue toward the oevergrade bridge. According to the story as told by Charles, his father stopped at the Hotel Kenwood for a few minutes and they then resumed their walk. While on the bridge and near the Beaver Falls end, Hickman showed his son a gun and said he was going to kill his wife. The boy pleaded that he would not commit the rash deed and the father finally reconsidered and told his son he would throw the gun into the river. Taking a tobacco paper from his pocket he wrapped the gun in the paper and threw the paper over the rail into the river, but as the paper floated the boy was suspicious and asked to search the pockets of his father. This the man consented to and the boy stated that he carefully went through each pocket but did not find the gun. He described the gun and the description tallied with the gun used to commit the murder.
The two then returned to Beaver Falls and separated. Later about 10:30 while he was standing in front of Rooney?s restaurant the boy said he heard five shots and quickly ran in the direction from which the sound had come and that when he arrived at his home he found his mother lying upon the floor. He went to summon a doctor but was unsuccessful.
The witness was then excused and Clarence Javens, the eye witness to the murder, was sworn. His testimony in almost all respects, corroborates that given the reporter of this paper in an interview cited above. He also described the gun, the description tallying with that of the gun used in the murder. He stated that when Hickman first fired he said to his wife, ?Now, I?ll fix you, you _______? and fired. The witness thought the bullet struck her in the arm. She then exclaimed, ?O, Charlie, don?t shoot!? but the man fired three more times at her as she staggered forward.
Dr. G. J. Boyd was sworn and testified to being called to attend the woman but stated that she was dead when he arrived. He also told of the postmortem performed this morning an exact account of which is given above. Death he thought was caused either by the shock or the wound in the heart, and was almost instantaneous.
Officer Balzer was sworn and testified that Hickman was the man he arrested as he stepped from the alley on Tenth street, also that the gun which he found was the same as that produced in evidence, and that when he recovered the gun four chambers were empty and one loaded; that the caliber was No. 22. The gun was similar in the description given by the preceding witnesses.
Chief Woods also testified that the gun was in the same condition as when given to him by Officer Balzer.
County Detective Braden was then sworn and stated that he was present at the inquest and that the bullets, one extracted from the body of Mrs. Hickman, the other found in her clothing, were both of a 22 calibre. With this evidence Attorney McGown for the Commonwealth rested. The prisoner had no defense whatever and was held for court.
The funeral services over the remains of Mrs. Mollie Hickman, the victim, will be held on Sunday afternoon, the details of which have not been arranged.
Considerable curiosity is being aroused today in the minds of the public as to how one of the bullets went through the window of the Globe Trading stamp store on the south side of Ninth street. The man was facing north during the shooting and no solution has yet been offered as to how the bullet would pass through the window of the Trading Stamp store. The clerks of the store have as yet been unable to find the bullet but a diligent search is being made.
|
1873 - 1910 (36 years)
[1]