The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-02
TRAoEDY IN cTNCINNATL,
Viiiie Black, an Influential Merchant, Fatally
shot by "A Muiatto.

viuio Black, nm Influential Merchant, Fatally
Shot by Nulatto.
t,,.a n, Cincinnati Enquirer.
At about 100 o'clock yesterday morning
| Willie Black. II wcll-known Wholesale tobac-
conlst, shot while sitting Mt his desk in his
Office, at SO West Front street by George Price
a colored laborer. who has been in Mr.. Blacks
employ for eight years. SONG time in Deem
Der last n hogsncad Of tobacco was stolen from
the warehouse Of Mr.. Willie Black. at Sc West
Front street About three weeks ago two more
hogsheads were stolen. For the three h ogs-
heads Mr.. BlAck had paid $500. Detective
Amihnncr. having been engaged to ferret out
Thr thieves. found enough evidence. rs he says
10 convict George Price. the cOlored man who
did The shooting. of the tneIt Price WIS ac-
cording!y locked ub Bqt Black refused to
/ ploy for eight years he has u family to sup
port. and ~ never before knew Of his being
dishonest I'll not prosecute him :" and so Price
was discouraged. The terrible tragedy shows
bow mistaken was this kindness on the part Of
Mr.. Black.
The office in which the shooting was done is
in tho second story. There were In the office
besides Mr.. Bnck. Messrs. George Green and
John Hight. both connected with the firm and
4, young man named Joseph Kassidy. Mr..
Black was sitting Mt his desk whore he had
been writing. but Mt the moment of the shooting
he WINS turned around nearly facing the door at
which the nssassin entered. and was talking
with Mr.. Hight who was sitting about ten feet
away from him. Mr.. Green was working Mt n
desk ut the other end OF the office. probably
twenty feet distant. and Knssidy was sitting
near the window. No one about the warehouse.
eNcept small boy in the first story. saw Price
until he entered the Office He had an ordinary
market basket on his left arm. over which was
spread cEild's gown. As soon as he entered
the otllce and caught sight OF Mr.. Black he
reached into his basket. drew forth n large pis-
tol. and. dwelling II at Mr.. Black fired three
times in rapid succession. After the first shot
which went wide " its mark, Mr.. Black Jumped
up from the chair in which he was sitting and
hurried out Of tho Office by another door. Be-
fore he got out Of the Office Price had fired the
second shot without effect. and was following
Mr.. Black through the tobacco hogsheads. who
was endravorng to reacl. the stairs. Price was
close upon him. and watching for an oppor-
tunity 70 shoot. Mr.. Black ran down the stairs
negro fired the fatal shot. Mr.. Black fell for
ward upon his face. exclaiming My God. I'm
The murderer continued down the stairs.
stepped over the PROSTATE form Of his victim
and Jumped out upon the sidewalk In Front
street. The pistol shots had attracted a crowd.
and Price swung the pistol above his head in u
Vilhc Black. and I'm id glad OF itl' lie then
ran down Front street. still hourishing his piss
toll with the crowd at his heels He kept them
ut bay for some time. threatening to shoot and
pistol Of his own accord 10 Mr.. f. A. Prague. Of
Prague MHt-on. at "a West Front street. He
walked INTO Mr.. Prague's office. and that gen
toman. then not knowing Of the tragedy. said
10 him. Price, that's an ugly looking weapon.
Give Il to me- III surrender myself to
gentleman" Price answered. and handed over
the revolver. just then AN officer came up and
took Price into custody.
Mr.. Back was picked up from where he had
fallen nj the foot OF the stairs aud carried into
Harrson's drug store. SO West Front street. He
was suffering acute pains, and the blood was
spinal column. He was laid on sofa and the
wound was prohed. but the ball could not be
reached. Mr.. Black bore the painful operation
without murmur. The crowd could with DIM
Guilty be- kept back. and DR.. Dawson requested
mat the patient be borne TO his home. at 35 West
Fourth street. Covington. carriage was called.
and the wounded man. stretched at full length
on the sofa. was lifted into the vehicle and
driven carefully to his home.
Mr.. Black was highly respected. and indigna-
lion against the would-be murderer ran high.
And so It did in the neghborhood whore the
lie ought 10 be taken out Of the station and
strung 20 lamp post" &C.. are samples Of the
cred about Mr. Blacks warehouse.
The physicians thought that the wound even
would cause paralysis The attendants were
constantly on the alert for any indication OF
this. and their worst fears were realized when
DR.. Dawson punctured Mr.. Blacks limb and
asked him whether II caused him any pain.
Mr.. Black WIS perfectly conscious but said he
coul feel no pain. A thorough test was then
bail had touched the spine sufficiently 10 cause
PARALYSIS. and that the, wounded man was al
ready paralyzrd In his lower limbs.
An Enquirer reporter found the murderer ~
ms on the bench in his cell at the Third street
station: " You have gotten yourself into an
ugly scrape." the reporter said.
don't care II have" Price replied with
an oath. He had ruined my reputation. and
wanted to get revenge"
How did he ruin your reputation ?"
He said stole his tobacco. and am IA In
nocent NJ It as any man IN the world. | never
thM ne did not allow me to take"
DID he allow you TO take this tobacco that Is
now missing ?"
Certainty not and didn't take 1t. He said
l. did. though. and refused TO be convinced to
the contrary. and tried my best 10 XIII him for
IT, TINS sentence was interarded with oathsl
ION went 10 HIS office 70 XII him, then Z"
You can Just bet your life ! did"
Where did you get your pistol ?"
u got II nj home. | loaded II before left. and
put il into the basket could carry H. as IL is
too big 70 put into my trousers pocket"
" Don't you regret the Occurrences ?"
OF cours" don't II n man doesn't care for
went 10 his Office 20 Kill him. and Tn only sorry
didn't do II. I'm mighty sorry, too | didn't
get shot at that Ferguson. He's lying
thieving sconnlrel. and oughtn't to live. He
got me- into all this trouble The detective Of
fered money To any one who would toll ANYTHING
about the stealing Of the tobacco. and so he
picked me out as a victim. and probably got SIS
or $50 Tor IT, can prove that he isn't RESPONSE
BILE for anything. He drinks and lies and
don't believe he has good sense. Sometimes he
leaves his team standing in the street until
somebody sends II home"
Did Ferguson ever haul anything for you 2"
No. sir. he never did"
At this point OF the interview an officer came
IN and sud Ferguson was coming down street
in his dray. and our reporter left Price and
went out and hailed him.
You had q narrow escape this morning"
said the reporter 10 him.
That's what I hear" replied the coiored
drayman. Rrinning in n ghastly manner
Price says he was laying for you with pis-
" And l didn't know anything about it.
either" with shrug Of the shoulders and an
Mr.. Black made his will yesterday afternoon.