Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-07
TEE KILLED CONVICT.
LnQuest on the Death OF Charles
Flowers-verdicts

Mention has been made Of the death Of
Charles Flowers, the notorious negro thief,
who escaped from the guard while being
carried to the convict camp, was pursued by
posse and wounded on the 21st OF Deem
Der, and recaptured. The particulars,
which have been given before, are
briefly that Flowers, with two
others who had been sentenced
to the chain gang for different terms. were
sent from the jail under guard of 7. L. Lee
to the convict camp. When about one mile
and half from the city they overpowered
the guard, robbed, beat and handcDffed
him, and then escaped. Mr.. Waring Rus
sell, the jailer, was notified shortly after
wards of the escape and Immediately In
formed the County Commissioners, but
being aware Of the bad character of the
escaped negroes, and fearing they would
get away, he ascertained the direction the
fugitives had taken, and sent two officers in
search of them. The posse came upon the
three negroes, with two others, in camp
near the ten mile post on the Charleston
and Savannah Railway, and called upon
them TO surrender. They started to run, and
were fred upon, and Charles Flowers, who
was more seriously wounded than
the others, was recaptured and brought
back to jail, where, after his injuries were
attended to by DR.. j. G.. BullOch, he was
removed to the Georgia Infirmary, where he
died on Wednesday night, as stated.
The Coroner was notified and held an in
quest. Some testimony was taken on Thurs
day and the inquest was adjourned over
until yesterday, when additional witnesses
were obtained. The evidence elected was
In substance as above given.
John Flowers, brother Of the deceased,
was sworn, and made the following state
ment, which was based upon information
given him by Charles Flowers, and was con-
sidered his dying deposition. We present
It herewith:
STATEMENT OF JOHN FLOWERS.
My brother told me before he died that
Mr.. Jones shot him first and Golden next; ;
don't remember Golden's other name my
brother said he did not have anything to do
with overpowering the guard; that two of the
other men did 1t and released him and told
him to come with them, which
he did one OF the other men
gave him eighteen dollars l saw
my brother January and did not see him
again until l saw him dead said Mr.. Jones
shot him In. leg with pistol, and then Golden
ran up on him and shot him with gun he
said ''For God sake don't kill me ~ and he
then shot him with the other barrel Of the
gun; Golden had gun and Mr.. Jones had
| a pistol said three shots were ired-two by
| Golden and one by Mr. Jones when in the
ditch he asked them not to shoot him again,
but Golden did Mr. Jones came up and
said, "What are you doing-are you going
to kill the MANI" he said that some one
sold the watch in town and it was after
wards recovered; didn't remember the
name of the party who bought the watch ;
said he was shot once in one thigh with a
pistol and twice in the other thigh; he said
| that both shots from the gun hit him In
about the same place.
| The jury, after considering the evidence,
| returned the following verdict:
We, the jury, do say, from the evidence
before us, that the said Charles Flowers
came to his death by a eunshOt wound
from a gun in the hands of John alias Sam
uel Golden, and we consider it manslaugh-
| ter. VIM. W. ROGERS, Foreman.
W. H. WoLTMAN.
8. s. STRICKLAND.
B. BORCHERT.
T. A. MOREL.
J. B. ASTON.
JAS. G. GUTMAN.
EDISON W. GLIDDEN.