Wilmington journal., 1873-01-03
ARRAY Between P0lfcemen-A Murdc
In tho Barracks.

! It is our dreadful task. after the merry
/ bright and beautiful picture cf happy, in
| nocent and peaceful Christmas eve, to be
obliged to end the nights work ia portray
+; ing dark, mysterious and bloody tragedy.
/. The locality Of its occurrence, the peculiar
I circumstances aud surroundings, and the
| pcrso sonnet It the actor and victim, renders
! the event us:e Of sanguinary rarity.
| The certain facts Of the case are simply
and solely these That Two officers of our
Savannah City Police Battalion, alter hav-
! ing retired for the night to their quarters
in the same room, in the Police Barracks,
where the lights had been turned down,
ard the place was IL gloom, became in
voived in some unexpected trivial and per-
sonal difficulty, Clinch and struggle, and a
pistol is discharged, and One Of the COM
batants falls PROSTATE with mortal
wound.
There are several versions Of the horri-
bic calamity, but, SO far as the AdreTtise,
has been enabled to know, darkness at
present veils the truth in uncertainty.
From several Of these persons we ad-
duce the following:
At about eight o'clock last evening q
number of police officers, relieved from
duty, had assembled to their quarters in the
dormitories of the upper floors Of the Police
Barracks, and nearly all of them We're in
bed. The lights had been turned down
very low, as usual, and, according to strict
regulations, quiet prevailed.
officer McElligott had just entered the
roon1, was dressed, with the exception Of
his boots, which he had removed prepara-
tory to taking rest. At this luncture
officer W. NJ. Strong, who was in his shirt
and drawers, began. to scutlle with a COM
rade. McElligott and others made some
sportive remarks, and began to bet on the
combatantS. Several words were eXchang-
ed, and the two wrestlerS were but indis-
tinctly seen in the flickering light and shad-
OwS. Atlast they came near to McElligOlt,
and tor some unexplained reason Strong
left his former opponent, and either seized
or pushed, or III some way struggled with
McElligott. All of this occupied less time
than this writing, and suddenly a flash
was seen, pistol report was heard. and
body dropped heavily to the floor. At the
instant McElliSOtt's voice exclaimed: s'My
God am shot,"
At once all the occupants Of the room
were aroused, the lights turned up, and
McElligOtt was discovered PROSTATE, gasp
ing and wel.ering in his blood. Stone said
nothing, but came down stairs in his shirt
and drawers. He was at once put under
arrest, and the unfortunate victim was
taken down in the Recorders Court Room
and placed upon COZ, hastily prepared for
him. Swift couriers were Immediately dis
patched for medical assistance. Drs. Num-,
Charlton and Habersham soon arrived,
and proceeded to make an examination.-
They found that the bullet had entered the
bowels just below the naval, and inflicted
probably mortal wound.
The weapon which is supposed to have
caused his wound was secured. It is the
one registered on the police property list
One chamber Of the seven was dis
charged.
General Anderson. the chef of the force.
subsequently held an examination, and
consigned S.0ne to cell The officers are
very clOse-mouthed about the affair, and
none appear to be able TO testify to any,
thing except to hearing the scuffie, the
voices, the shot, and seeing the flash of
the explosion.
Both of the officers were of good charac-
ter. Stone Is son Of Judge Stone, of
Alabama. Neither of them are married.
The victim was one of the bravest and most
efficient officers in the depaltmeD There
had been 10 previous ill-feeling between
them.
Both are under forty years Of age. It
is said that Stone was under the influence
of stimuiants at the time.
At three O'Clock this morning the
wounded man was In a deep slumber Or
stucor.
The affair has cast deep gloom over
The fOrca