Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-30
The Vaudeville Homicide.

The following additional particulars in
regard 10 the homicide at Vaudeville, on
the Charleston and 2a-snnsh Railway, on
Saturday night, Of which mention was made
in yesterdays News, have been learned:
On Sunday morning when the train from
Savannah to Charleston arrived at Hariee-
vile, the body Of the negro who was killed
had not been removed from the platform.
Around It we're gathered a number
Of men and women, and one
white man, who was considerably under the
Influence of1iquor, and who was exceedingly
beiligerent IN his manner. He was flourish
ing q loaded pistol, and was inquiring
auxiouslv for the man who had shot the
negro. Whilst Conductor Slawson, who was
IN charge Of the train, was on the platform
attending to some business, this Individual
was cautioned not TO BFandish his pistol
about so recklessly, as he might shoot the
conductor, when he replied that he "didn't
care a d-n for anybody, and would Just as
soon shoot conductor as not" The name
OF this person was not asceTtained, but
efforts will be made 70 obtain it.
The particulars OF the cause Of the shoot
ing are as given IN our first account. The
name OF the negro killed was Harry Fields,
but the ringleader in the fracas and the one
who ofncisted prominently in taking off the
hand car, in violation OF orders, was named
Brown, aud he. as generally the case, es-
capped injury. There were six white men in
the party who vent up from the camp at
the bridge to Vaudeville on Saturday night
and were attacked by the negroes. They
are all from Baltimore, and are skilled
mechanics and have the reputation of being
excellent wOrkmen and peaceable, industri-
Gus men. The one who fred the shots
that killed Fields is named John King, and
ali the information obtained leaves 10 doubt
that the act was purely in self-defense, as
nearly all the negroes Ia the crowd were
armed and were excited by liquor. These
parties came into Savannah on Saturday
night, and were here Yesterday. King, how
ever. not willing to be subjected to the loss
Of time aud expense incident to
a trial, although not doubling its
favorable results, left Savannah, and
Il IS not known where ne has gone.
Mr.. Curran, the supervisor in charge of the
bridge work, arrived here yesterday morn
ing, and saw the other five men, and they
returned with him to the camp last night.
When the train passed Vaudeville yesterday
morning everything was quiet, and II was
understood an inquest would be held In the
afternoon.
Conductor Slawson was in charge of the
train on Saturday night coming to this city,
aud states that the negroes ordered him and
afterwards the engineer not to proceed with
the train, and he commanded them to leave.
Whilst he was having the broken couplings
put in some Of them threatened to take pos
session Of the train, and made a demonstra-
ton TO that effect. Conductor Slawson
warned them not TO interfere with the train
at their peril, as It was the United States
mail train. This had the desired effect.
Another party Of the rioters attempted to
enter the smoking car, but as stated in yes
terdaY's account, we're prevented by the
firmness OF few passengers.
The negroes were in q blood-thirsty
humor and greatly inf med with liquor, and
there Is no doubt, as they were armed, that
had they got the white men (Only one of
whom was armed) surrounded they would
have murdered them. From all accounts,
they are bad set.