Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-04
MURDER ON THE WHARF
THE MATE OF THE STEAMER
"KATIE" KILLED.

ATorris Bell, the Waterman, Thought to
be the RIurderer-His Flight and Pur-
suit to saloon near the Market
where all Trace OF Him was LOst-An
old Fsud the Csuse of the Fatal
Affair.
Three shots fired IN quick succession
and cries Of murder aroused the sleeping
hands on the steamer Katie, lying at her
wharf Mt the lower rice mill at 2:45
O'Clock this morning.
A few minutes later the body OK William
shackleford, the mate, was found dead on
the wharf a few feet distant with bullet
wound in the pit Of the stomach.
BY his side lay a Smith Il Wesson six
shot revolver with one chamber dis
charged. The last shot had
hardly been fred when one
of the deck hands reused up from
a pile of freight where he lay asleep,
saw Morris Bell, the Waterman, bend
down and pick up pistol which lay
near the wounded man, and putting it in
his pocket start on a run up the wharf
under the long row Of sheds and disap-
pear.
officer Spann was patrolling Bay street
and heard the shots. He ran down the
steps leading under the factors walk
and found the man lying on his back gasp
ing for breath. He was in his shirt
sleeves. A glance showed that
he had been mortally wounded. The
only one near was anegro deck hand who
SAID he heard the two men lighting
on the wharf and moment
later the shots were fired. The watch
man did the shooting and then
ran. Word was sent TO the po-
lice barracks, and Officers Durham
Russell, Fleming, Collins and Morgan soon
arrived. The man was still alive and a
messenger was sent for DR.. Elliot, but be-
fore he came the wounded man died.
The wound was made by 32-calibre
bullet piercing thearteries near the back
and causing death by hemorrhage. officers
Collins and Morgan started in pursuit of
the murderer, who was traced up the
wharyes 20 the Exchange Building, and
TO a saloon near the Market, where all
trace OF him was lost.
The murdered man was about 30 years
Of age, and had been mate OF the Katie for
about two years. lie lived in Augusta,
where ne had a wife and two children. lie
was generally regarded as sober,
industrious man, OF temperate habits.
Bell also lived in Augusta, but
had no family. He was formerly
a member Of the Ocean Steam
ssip police force in Savannah. The two
5nen had not been on speaking terms for
some time, and the fatal quarrel was
the result Of an old feud.
shackleford was on South Broad street
late last night with several companions.
When last seen he said he was going down
to the boat and went towards the
river. He had evidently not gone on
board on the boat when the shooting oc-
CURED. Bell was seen a short time before
sitting on pile OF freight under the
storage shed on the wharf. 1t is evident
that the men exchanged shots, as one
chamber IN Sbackletord's pistol was
empty and lay by his side, where he had
dropped 1t.
The Coroner was notified and took
charge of the remains. Several negro
deck hands and employees on the boat
were held as witnesses and taken to the
barracks. The police were kept
on track Of the murderer,
and are confident of his arrest to-day.
The Coroner Will begin his investigation
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