The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-12-04
A SHOOTING AFFRAY.

Last evening about 80 o'clock, a young
colored man named Wyatt McKerney wan
shot through both thighs by young ne.
gro boy named George GRAY. The circum-
stances of the affair, according to McKer-
ney, are about as follows
He, McKerney, lives in small hut at the
north west corner of Eleventh and Poplar
streets. He had eaten hls supper and went
down Eleventh street toward Commercial
avenue on his way to a boat at the, landing
upon which he intended to leave. About
half way to Commercial avenue the boy
Gray, who is "a boot black, sat upon the
sidewalk McKernsy did not know him,
but yet he spoke to him pleasantly. The
boy replied with equal politeness, but when
McKerney had passed began to abuse him.
McKerney talked back, when Gray picked
upa brick and threw it at him, striking him
in the side. McKerney turned and ran to
catch and chastise the boy, who scampered
off toward his home and, when in the yard,
turned around, drew pistol and discharg-
cd il at McKerney, who was just in the act
Of opening the gate to follow him, but
stopped exclaming, ooh! you have shot
me-" lie said he would have followed the
boy into the house or anywhere else to pun
ish him. Mrs. McKerney confirms this
story in some particulars though she was not
present when the affair occurred. She ar
rived on the spot after the shot had been
fired and, with the assistance of negro
man, took her husband home and summon
ed medical attendance McKerney is but
slightly hurt and will be out again in few
days.
Young Gray isa bootblack about sixteen
years of aye. He was arrested right after
the shooting by officer Olmsted, and given
into the hands of Jailer Martin for safe
keeping. He did not know the extent of
the wounds he had inflicted upon McKer.
ney, but took the affair very coolly. The
BULLETIN man visited him Mt the Jail, and,
through the kindness Of Jailer Martin, was
permitted to hear bis side of the story. He
says that he was sitting ON the sidewalk, on
Eleventh street, when McKerney came
along in drunken condition, and ran
against him II said" continued Gray,
"lOok here. mister, don't run over me-"
But McKerney became angry and used in
sulting language to which Gray replied.
McKerney then came toward Gray who ran
home, and, when he arrived in the yard,
picked up piece of coal and threw It at
his pursuor, who was then near the gate
with an open knife in his hand, which he
intended to uso upon the fugitive. AS Nc
Kerncy opened the gate, Gray entered his
home, took pistol from a drawer, went
out aud discharged it at McKcrney, who
was coming toward him at
the time with knife in his hand. He
told the story with apparent unconcern; but,
when told by the iailcr that McKerney was
dead, he changed his tone somewhat. The
taller asked him IL he intended to kill the
man and he, at first, cvadcd the question
with troubled expression Of countenance,
but being pressed for a direct answer, be
replied somewhat faltcringly that he had
to defend himself. But then the iailer un-
deceived him by telling him that McKerney
was all right, and put him back into his
cell. He will be examined tomorrow.
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