Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-20
a TRAGEDY IN THE OLD FORT.


Shortly before midnight Saturday the Old
Fort precinct was the scene OF q bloody
tragedy, and, as is unfortunately the case in
numerous instances, the guilty party has
escaped. The particulars in regard
to the affair are very meagre, and so sud
denly and Unexpectedly was the crime per
| petrated, that nothing was known OF IL ex-
cept In the immediate vicinity.
From what could be learned, however, 1t
| appears that a dance was given at the sa-
loon kept by John Lawson, on Reynolds
street, near Broughton, known as the Nor
wegian Dance House, :" at which were present
a number Of characters, among them several
seamen from vessels in port. There had
been no disturbance in the house so far as
could be ascertained, and the dance was in
progress when the report of pistol was
heard, followed by the cry, ga man is
killed" This occurred outside of she house,
and Of course very abruptly terminated the
dance.
The parties scattered in every direction,
and when the policemen arrived there were
but few persons to be found. The body
of a white man lay dead on the side
walk, and as soon as assistance could
be obtained the corpse was removed into
the saloon and placed upon the floor. 1t
was then discovered that the man had been
shot In the left breast, Immediately above
the heart, and the ball evidently pene-
trsted the heart, killing him instantly.
Two men, a white man and a Chinsman,
giving his name as John Williams, who is
steward on board the schooner Nellie T..
Morse, at this port from Bath, Maine,
were arrested as witnesses and carried to
the barracks, but nothing could be CLEANED
from them. They alleged they had not
seen the shooting, and knew nothing of the
occurrence until after the report that man
had been killed. They stated there had
been no trouble inside the house, and the
difficulty, whatever it was, must have
originated on the street.
Lieutenant Howard, who was on duty at
the barracks when the report Of the murder
was made, at once started out to investigate
the case, and endeavor IL possible TO appre-
bend the criminal, and the policemen on
the beats were instructed to exercise every
/ effort to gather information in reference
/ to the mysterious murder.
In the account of the affair which ap-
peared In the Sunday telegram mention was
made that some Of the parties accused a
colored constable named Kittens Of having
| done the shooting and stated that he had
been in the saloon during the night.
| This proves to have been a mistake, as
the constable was not present and had not
been in the house, and knew nothing what
ever Of the occurrence. Coroner
sheft3ll was perfectly satisfied
| of this, and as soon as he was
notified Of the murder, proceeded to
hillens' house, and without informing him
/ Of what he wanted carried him to lawson
saloon, where he asked the parties If XII
lens was the man they had seen. They
promptly replied he was not, and that he
had not been in the house, thus completely
generating Killens from all suspicion.
II ,4,Ns
ING News visited the scene at half
past one o'clock yesterday morning
there was no semblance of excite
ment whatever. The dance house was
| closed, and only glimmer of light through
the windows gave evidence that any one
was cup" On entering the place there
were found only three persons present
beside Lawson and his wife.
On the floor lay the dead man,
half hour before was the scene of
reyeiry and excitement, was almost de-
serted, and was silent in the
shadow of death. 1t is to be hoped
| that no effort will be lacking
to secure the arrest Of the party, who, from
all the circumstances that can be CLEANED,
committed an unprovoked and diabolical
murder.
Coroner sheftalI found in the pocket Of
the deceased an envelope postmarked
Milton, Mass, February 18TH" and ad-
dressed ''Msrtin L. Jensen, schooner Nellie
/ T. Morse, care Mr.. James Walter, 81 Bay
/ street, Savannah Ga" The writing was In
a female hand, but there was no letter in
the envelope, hence it is not known who It
was from.
An inquest will be held at five O'Clock this
afternoon at the court house, when, posi-
| bly,, something will be developed which
may throw light upon an atrocious crime
| that is now shrouded in mystery. The ju-
rOrs who have been summoned are desired
/ to be punctusl In attendance.