Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-13
HELD DOWN AND SHOT.


The meagro reports received in SaYan.
nah on Monday Of the tragedy at Josselyn,
near " althouryi.le, the day before, were
in some respects greatly exaggerated
/ The crime, however, was no less bloody
and horrible than first described. The
facts as obtained yesterday by NEWS
reporter from eye witnesses show that
Edward jordan, the negro who was killed,
was the victim Of a deliberate, cold
blooded murder, committed with the
slightest proyOcatlon and really from in
tense hate.
There was still considerable excitement
in the neighb)rhOOd Yesterday. although
two days had elapsed. About noon a
group Of a dozen or more in and about the
country store We're discussing the crime
for the twentieth time. NarTatOrs were
plenty. The story told was that on Sun
day morning "A number OF negroes started
a game Of cards. Some worked in Pap0t's
saw mill and the others were from the
country around. Ed. Jordan proved an
adept at the "skin game" and he soon
won all the money that the others had.
Naddened Mt losing their weeks earnings,
Andrew Hollngsw0rth, Robert VIM
and another, who is known as "GeOTge."
accused Jordan of cheating. a fight was
pistol with which to defend himself. The
others were unarmed except with knives,
and they backed out. fearing that Jordan
might shoot them in selt-deiense. After
more quarreling, the
WEAPONS WERE PUT Up.
The game and the quarrel occurred in
the mill quarters, not far from the rail
road.
Mr.. Papot and others we're attracted by
the noise, and, fearing serious trouble,
Mr. Papot dispatched a messenger for
Sheriff W. p. Brewer, who lives two miles
away. Mr.. Brewer was absent at church
when the messenger arrived.
In the meantime the excited negroes
seemed to have become quiet. 1t was
then about 8 80 O'Clock in the morning.
One hour later Jordan left his compan-
ions, went out of doors, and started to
walk down the railroad track in a south
erly direction. He was perhaps $50 yards
away from the sawmill when Hollings-
worth and VIM caught up with him.
The quarrel was renewed by Holdings
worth ana VIM, who were very threaten.
ing, and apparently in a dangerous mood.
They demanded their money, which was
refused. They then seized Jordan and,
although what occurred in the next few
minutes was witnessed by five persons,
no one seems to know Just what did hap
pen, except that jordan was shot. Henry
Aykin says that he was standing within q
few PAGES Of the three. He started to as
sist Jordan, when Hollingsworth turned
around and, pointing pistol at him, sad: :
Henry, If you come any further
WILL KILL YOU"
Both Holm zsworth and VIM are said
to have fred two shots piece. Only one
took effect, and that ia the forehead. J0r-
n "
moved afterward. Some say that Hol-
lngsworth was holding him and that
VIM fired the fatal shot. Others say that
Wnn held the victim, while Hollings-
worth placed his pistol in JOrdan's face
and fred.
Hollingsworth walked coolly up the
track toward the mill. A large crowd
collected and surrounded the murderer
while his accOmpice walked rapidly in
the opposite direction. Hollingsworth
was very much excited when captured
and denied having done the shooting. the
blame for which he laid upon Winn.
Several started in pursuit of the latter.
who had sufficient presence Of mind not
to run. He was OVertaken in a few
minutes and brought back to where HOl-
lingsworth was. When brought face tC
face each charged the other with the
murder. No weapons were found
upon either, but So or So were
taken from HolingswOrth's pockets
1t was known that he had only been paid
about SO on Saturday night, and the crowd
thought that Hollingsworth had rifled
Jordan's pockets either before or imme.
diately after the shooting.
THREATS OF LYNCHING
were made, but cooler heads advised that
4 be be delivered safely to the Sheriff. While
the people, who by this time numbered
more than a hundred, were eXcitedly dis
/ cussing what was best to be done with
/ HOllingswOrth, their other prisoner
! VIM, escaped unnOticed from the GROVE
and quickly disappeared.
Two little boys came up with two pts
tolls which they had picked up down the
track. One WAS hid under a freight cal
and was the one that HOllingswOrth used
as he was seen TO stop by the car as h,
left Jordan's body. Tae other pistol wat
found some distance aw y, where VIM
had thrown Il. Both are 32.calibre "Blut
Jackets" The one that HollingswOrtl
had is a nickel-plated weapon, and it /,
thought that it belonged 10 Jordan. bu
was taken from him during the scuillt
and that be was
KILLED BY HIS OWN PISTOL.
Three chambers are empty and two
loaded.
II is a matter OF some surprise that Jor
dan was struck by but ore bullet when
all were fired at close range.
I'm the afternoon Holllngsworth was
taken TO Hinesville jail and on Monday
he was given preliminary hearing be-
fore JUDGE AshmOre. who remanded him
70 jail. The negro George had been ar
rested as an accessory, II being reported
that he got "A pistol for VIM. He was
released for lack ofevidence.
VIM Is said TO be armed with a muskeI
and revolver, and deties arrest. II is more
probable that he IL unarmed. He is je
black and under medium size. The sup
position Is that be has gone 70 Jesup, from
which neighhOrhood he originally came
He and Holiingsworth have the reputa
ton Of being quarrelsome and notorious
rascals. Jordan was a quiet negro, ant
was last employed by Mr.. +. Il. Miller q
dip turpentiue. All three were about >.
years old.
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