Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-21
THE FATAL SHOOTING Of
YOUNG HENDERsON.
COroner's InvestIgation-The Testi-
monY Taken.

A-NCaNf9o~AO@-
mony Taken.
At ten O'Clock yesterday morning Coroner
sheftall opened an inquest in the case OF
young Edward P. Henderson, who died on
Saturday night last from the effects OF 3
wound inflicted by W. G. Fairchild on the
night Of the 18th December last on YORK
street, opposite Oglethorpe square.
There were a number Of spectators pres
emit and great interest was manifested IN
the proceedings. The prisoner, W. g. Fair
child, was brought into court, and was rep
resented by Mr.. Robert G. Erwin and Capt.
Robert Falligant, and the State by Solicitor
General Charlton.
The Jury were sworn and empanneled,
and the case was at once opened by the
examination Of DR.. J. G. Thomas, who
testified that he was summoned on the
evening of the 26th of December to attend
Edward Henderson, who was lying on York
street at Gleason's stable; found he had a
gunshOt wound in the left side over the
crest of the illium; the youth was suose-
quently removed to his fathers residence,
on Lincoln street; the cause OF his death
was q gunshot wound; found the Dali on
the last lumbar vertebra; the witness here
gave a brief description of the course OF
the ball.
Willie Starr testified: About half past five
O'Clock on the afternoon Of the 26th OF De-
cember, 1881, left my home, taking with
me lot Of fireworks, and proceeded TO Mr..
Esgan's stable, where l asked permission OF
the clerk to leave them for while; he
consented, and l then went over to OZle-
shor-a tho h0vS firing
of skyrockets; l returned to the stable and
got q large pepper, and obtained light
from Arthur Henderson; further down
Teddy Besselieu was standing, and | got
another light from him, and then commenced
shooting at the boys; Edward Henderson and
Young Bowling were there shooting;
my supply gave out and went
over to the stable to get more;
on the way 1 met Mr.. W. G. Fairchild, who
asked me II l could sell him q pepper; we
went into the stable and I sold him one and
took out another; after we got out Of the
stable he wanted me to give him match to
light his pepper; l told him had none,
and because l would not give him one he
commenced chasing me around the stable
with his pistol in his hand; after he chased
me q good while l ran towards DraYton
street. and when I got near the corner l
met Bowling, who grabbed me and said,
81 am going to take you around the corner"
by this time Fairchild was up to me, and
said, sob, don't let Bowling take me-" he
sand, "Oh, no; amt you with me?" and
said, eyes" Bowling then commenced
pulling me, and fell on the ground, young
Bowling holding me down; Fairchild pulled
out his pistol, and said to Bowling that he
would shoot him; Bowling plead with him
not to shoot, and said, 1--WE are only playing"
and he knocked the pistol from In front OF
him; Fairchild put the pistol back in his
pocket, and about this time young Ed.
Henderson came around Mrs. Schley's
corner, aud after be got up to us he said to
Fsirehild that he would be id If he
would have me; Fairehild said che be
id ii he should have me-" Ed. Hen
derson then said "come on" and wanted
me to go with him; Fairchild again pulled
out his pistol and put his left hand on Hen
derson's right shoulder and fired, the pistol
pointing to Henderson's breast; Hen
derson knocked his hand, and that shot
missed be pointed the pistol sgain and
fred, but Henderson knocked his arm away,
and the second slot missed; by that time
I got near the corner of DraYton street; l
heard the third shot fired, and hurried
around; heard Henderson cry Murder ~
snd "Oh for Gods sake don't shoot me-"
then ran down Drayton street to the cor
ner of the lane, and down the lane to Aber-
corn street, where I met Joe Bend and VIII
lie Proctor. They asked me where was
going, and tried to stop me. l said "Oh, let
me 90; Mr.. Fsirchild has shot Ed. Hender-
son." then ran around South Broad street
to Bull; then l went to the corner OF York
street lane and Bull street and saw Mr.. Fair
child running down York street to Whitaker.
On cross ex animation the witness merely
eOrroborated his previous statement, and
said further that he did not kcow how
greatly Fairchild was intoxicated at the
xp& fhfnly EofrnhflS uOT1lH have
run after me with a pistol II he had not
been drunk; when not drinking he was al
WAYS peaceable; he recognized me st the
stable; knew what he was doing when he
bargained for the fireworks; - I know
about him is that he is peaceable Aen sober,
and violent when drunk; he gave me ten
cents for the pepper.
John E. Bowling, sworn and testihed: L
was In Oglethorpe square about O'Clock;
there was large crowd OF US there; there
was large pepper fred of in the crowd;
Ed. Henderson said Willie Starr did It:
said I would go around and catch bin, and
I started: went down President to Drsyton
street, to York; down York about twenty
steps l met Willie Starr, and passed him
about three feet before l knew it was him;
turned around and caught hold OF him and
told him he was the boy wanted; told
bin to come in the square; he laid down
and told me he would give me big pepper
IL would not take him; | told him that
would not do. to come on as far as COnstan-
tines house, the house facing the square:
he got up and started with me, and Mr.. w.
g. Fairchild met US after walking about five
steps: Willie Starr says to Mr.. Fairchild,
"Cousin Willie, don't let them take me-"
Mr. Fairchild stepped between w. Starr and
myself and said, willie, you are with me,
amt you!" and he said Eyes," Fairchild
pulled out his pistol and told me to leave him
alone: If he bad not pulled the pistol l was
going to strike himi If he had given me
cause / would have struck him for interior
ing: W. Starr then hallooed out, "f0u
want to take me in the square, but you are
not going to do IL, anyhow" Ed Henderson
came up in the same direction | did, and
lust as W. Starr said, "You won't take me,
anyhow" Ell. Henderson said, "The HI
we WON'T" Henderson was about ten feet
from Mr.. FsiIchild. coming toward US; as
he came near, Fairchild pushed me off
with his left hand; W. Starr stood behind
Mr.. FairchIld; Mr. Fairchild pulled his pis-
toll out of bis back pocket with bis right hand
and put his left hand on Henderson's right
shoulder: Henderson caught hold of q horse
rack with his right hand; Fairchild put his
right hand, with the pistol In It, on Hender-
sons left shoulder, with the muZzle point
ing In the air. and fired; Henderson struck
with his left hand and knocked Fairchild's
la00 DIS leIb anu edtus EoE
Gods sake, Mr. Fairchild, don't shoot me-"
Fairehild then lowered his pistol to Hender-
sons breast and fired again; Henderson was
still standing up at that time; Mr.. Fairchild
then lowered It to his hip; he fired again;
Henderson said after the first shot, "For
Gods sake don't shoot me-" he said moth
ing else; there was no one there but Hen
dersou, myself and Fairchild and Starr;
did not see any one else; heard Fairchild
say nothing else but s'Willie, you are with
me-" and then he commenced shooting;
Henderson was an inch taller than MYSELF
after Henderson said "The Ill we won't!'
he kept on advancing towards Fairchild,
but do not think he saw him; the bonfire
threw a shadow on the spot where the shoot
ing occurred on account Of the large board
ing house; l think It was the third shot that
took effect; think that Mr.. Fairchild was
under the icfluence of liquor when he fred
the shots.
William Proctor, Jr., sworn and testified:
/ was standing on the corner Of York street
lane and Abercorn street: l saw Starr COM
ing down the lane crying, aud l asked him
what was the matter; as | was going to the
square a man came over the railing and
asked whether was In the square; he said
there was a young man in the stable shot,
and he was calling for me; l went to the
stable and saw Ed. Henderson lying down
on a board; then two policemen came up
and wanted TO know who did the shooting;
| saw he was shot In the side; did not see
Fairchild there; | went to the door of Mr..
Fairehild's house and asked IL he was there,
and lady came ont and told me he was not
in lust ther: Charley 9assman came up aud