Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-01

On Christmas afternoon Saturday, 1859,
between three and four O'Clock, this com
munity was startled by the report that
fearful riot among a number Of drunken ne
groes had occurred near the corner Of South
Broad street and East Boundary, In which
one policeman had been killed and several
severely injured. The news few Ike Wild
fire throughout the city and oecasioned the
most intense excitement. A posse OF po-
Meemen were dispatched to the scene andtuc
cseded 10 dispensing the rioters and arrest
ing twenty-seven of the most prominent par
tieipators. The body OF the slain policeman
was removed to the barracks, and the fol-
lowing Monday sn inquest was held. when
the particulars OF the riot were developed,
and which were as follows:
On Christmas afternoon, 1869, a number
OF negroes were congregsted in the locality
named above, drinking and carousing.
About four O'Clock Policemen Taylor, Riley
and Sullivan, who were of duty and
who CHANGED to be in the vicinity,
observed two negroes engaged in fight.
Oae had heavy club in his hand, the other
a large butcher knife, the blade OF which
was thirteen inches long, and Policemen
TAYLOR and Riley started towards them for
the purpose OF stopping the fracas. On one
corner OF the street was a groggery
KEPT by Henry Fields, a negro, and
on the opposite corner similar shop,
kept by a white man named Burch.
As the officers reached the COM
bstants, who were surrounded by dozen
or so of negroes, and attempted to separate
them, the occupants Of che groggeries
referred to, composed entirely of negroes,
rushed forth yelling and swearing,
and made savage onslaught
with sticks, clubs, stones and
pistols on the policemen. The negroes,
maddened with liquor, would probably have
murdered both the officers. Riley was fear
fully beaten, but Taylor managed TO escape
the mob Just as Policeman Sullivan rushed
to their assistance with pistol In his hand
and commanded the peace. In an Instant
Sullivan was rowded upon by the negroes,
and one stalWart fellow wrenched the pistol
from his hand and fred upon him,
the bah striking him in the
ground dead. In the meantime word had
been conveyed to headquarters and rein
forcement of police arriving, the riosers,
demoralized by the fatal ending OF the dis
turbance, fle 4, but, as stated ,itwenty-seven
were captured. After q thorough investi-
/ cation by the Coroner, the jury returned
verdict that Policeman John Sullivan had
| and duplicating Bob Brown, James Wear
ing, ] ohm Williams, John Mapson aud Bill
Dickson in the murder. These parties were
| subsequently, tried, but there being nothing
positive against them, they escaped with
the infllction OF penalty for being con-
! cerned in the riot.
Since then nothing has been heard OF the
murderer OF this worthy policeman until
few weeks since, when some information
leaked out through the quarrel OF negro
woman with her bTevet husband that the
| murderer was in Savannah, and living on
Charlton street lane, near Est Broad.
Early Yesterday morning the negro against
whom the suspicion was directed wss
arrested by Policeman Mock, and was car
the name Of David Greene. Several
colored men and colored women
were also discovered who can
bear testimony to having seen Greene
seize the pistol and fire upon Sullivan. Up
on the information received by Policeman
Mock, an affidavit was 6led in Magistrate
Molina's court, charging CIR enc with the
murder OF Policeman Sullivan, and war
rant was duly issur d. Greene was brought
before Magistrate Molina Yesterday morn
| ing, where, in the presence OF
representative OF the MORNING NEWS,
| he gave several conflicting accounts OF his
| career during the past twelve years, leaving
| the impression, at least, that he knew more
about the crime than he chose ; } tell. He
| was committed to jail to await trial before
| the Superior Court. His wife, Rachael,
was a'so arrested on a warrant as &C
cessory, and committed to jail. Some
| three years ago Greene was arrest
ed for shooting at Policeman O'Keefe,
who attempted to arrest him for
| creating q disturbance on the street and
escaped. but was subsequently, arrested and
| fined $50, which he paid. His connection
with the terrible c. me OF 1859 was not then
suspected. He ackno Hledged Yesterday, In
conversation with the NEWS representative,
| that he had had some trouble with Police
man O'Keefe, but said he was
| drunk. Greene Is tall black
man, of powerful frame, and is
| evidently not as good as he might be. From
what we learn, the evidence against him in
this murder of Policeman Sullivan is very
strong and positive, and it is not unlikely,
after this respite of nearly thirteen years,
he will be compelled to expIate his crime on
the gallows.