Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-16
SHOT DOWN INTHESTREET
TWO BROTHERS WOUNDED FA-
TALLY IN A DRUNKEN FRAY.

A Negro Fracas in RObertsville Ends
in the Probable Killing of Two of the
Participants-The Wounded Men Dis
close the Name of the Negro Who
Fired the Fatal shots-The Police on
His Track-ParticuI2rs OF the Shoot
ing.
The western part Of the city was the
scene, between-9 and 10 O'Clock last night,
of a bloody ARRAY, in which two negroes,
JEFF and William Payne, were shot and
fatally wounded.
Shortly after o'clock Policeman t. F.
Durham, while patrolling Little Jones
street, was attracted by the flash
of a pistol, followed by a shot,
in the direction Of the canal.
Almost immediately after the first shot
the firing became general, and several
shots followed each other in quick sue
eession from opposite sides Of the street.
The officer ran to the corner Of West
Boundary street where the shoot
ing was going on. Lying in
the sand few feet from the sidewalk,
was the body Of young negro with bull
let wound in his neck, from which the
blood was pouring in a stream. Across
the street, at pump, was another negro
washing the blood from his face.
BY the time the officers ar
rived a crowd mad collected and
the most intense excitement prevailed.
Securing the negro at the pump the officer
blew his whistle for assistance. Mounted
Policeman Davis rode up and the prisoner
who was bleeding profusely from a bullet
wound in his head was placed in his
charge. The wounded men gave their
names as jef and William Payne two
brothers living in Little Jones street lane,
near Prendergast street. A wagon was
procured and they were taken to their
home. Word was telephoned to
the barracks and DTs. Chisholm and
OliyerOs were summoned. The wounded
men We're placed, one of them on a bed
and the other propped up on the floor.
william, the younger Of the two, who was
shot in the neck, was about II years old,
and was employed in Bakers wood yard.
The bullet entered under the chin, and,
just missing the coFotid artery, passed
through and lodged in the flesh at the
back OF the neck. jeff, the older brother,
WAS D years Of age, and up to about two
weeks ago was employed in the market
as a butcher. The ball which struck him
entered on the left side OF the nose
and, passing over the palate, lodged in
the back of the head at the base OF the
brain. A probe inserted its fun length
Before being taken from the street both
men charged the shooting upon Louis
Henderson, negro driver for Puder &
Downs, who fed before the officers ar
rived. tt was evident, however, that
more than one was engaged IN the atfrav,
as the shooting was from opposite sides
of the street. 1t is thought by the police
that both the Paynes were implicated,
and had as much to do with the shooting
as anyone.
Immediately after being removed to the
house they lapsed into a cOmatose state,
and were unconscious up to O'Clock
this morning. The younger brothers.
wound was not probed, and the
location Of the bail has not been
determined. Both men were pronounced
by the physicians to be seriously and,
probably, fatally wounded. A further
examination, however, will be required
TO determine the exact location of the
bullet and the fall extent Of the wounds.
IL was not thought last night that either
OF the men would live until this morning
They were lying At o'clock in the same
position in which they were placed after
being removed from the street. Neither
OF the men were married.
The father Jef Payne, ST.. an old gray
haired cook, is well known in the hotels
and restaurants, where ne has worked
The police are on the track of Hender-
son, who Is supposed to have done the
shooting, but up 10 a late hour last night
he had not been arrested.