Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-05
YESTERDAYS TRAGEDY.
JUsTTFIARE4E HOMICIDE THE
JURX'S VERDICT.

j Z - = rs ' 4 ANtBAA a.
Bell, the SLAYER Of shaclIeIford, Stiu at
Large-rhe Evidence At the Coroner's
Inquest Meagra-The killing the Re
suit of an old Feud.
Yesterday mornings early tragedy was
On every tongue all day. ShscSeSord
breathed his last at 3 o'clock on the wharf
where he TELL. Two or three dozen people
soon went down to the scene, and when
day dawned the curious visited the spot
In numbers.
The police searched the western section
of the city for Morris Bell. Shackcllord's
slayer, but he had made good his escape.
Numerous inquiries were made all day,
but nothing was learned OF his move
meuts from the moment he disappeared
after firing the fatal shots. The presump-
ton is THAT be left the city, and possibly
crossed the river.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner Dixon summoned a jury Of in
quest at O'CLOCK in the morning. The
evidence in the case was very meagre,
only TWO witnesses. VIM. Williams and
Albert Jones, being examined. AT 2:45 a.
IN. Williams was living asleep on the wharf
within a few PAGES of the steamer Katie,
on which be is employed. Jones was also
asleen on the wharf Bell. the Waterman,
was patrolhHg the wharf when Shackel-
ford. the mate ~ the steamer, came down.
There were some negro deck hands asleep
on the Katie, but they did not seem to
know ANYTHING about the shooting until
after IL was over Who started the quar-
rel neither Of the negro hands knew.
Williams was awakened by the loud
words OF the mate aed Waterman. He
stated under oath that he heard Bell say
"Y0u said 1 should not 20 up the river
on the last trip"
shackelford replied "If l had seen the
Captain IN time you would not have
gone"
Bell then charged Shsckelford with
trying to have him dismissed. and Shackel-
ford denied it. After more loud words
Shackelford appeared to become very
much excited, and pulling of his coat
said: eve might as well settle it here"
BLOWS AND PISTOLS.
Bell remarked that he was not able TO
fight the mate, and was answered:
ono: If one side OF me was paralyZed l
could whip you with the other"
Blows followed, but the witness could
not tell which struck first. He thought
that the mate had a pistol in his hand
when he pulled of his coat, The three
shots We're fired in rapid succession al
most Immediately after the fret blows.
The first shot woke Jones, who was lying
within ten feet of the combatauts. He
raised his head and saw the flashes.
Shackleford cried:
"Murderl am shotl"
Bel dropped his pistol, but came back,
picked it up. and ran of up the wharYes
toward the City Exchange. The wounded
man walked several feet,repeating that he
was shot, before he laid down on his back.
The two negroes were 50 frightened that
they did not assist the dying man, but ran
away themselves when Bell started off.
Or. w, II. Elliott stated that Shackel-
ford was dead when he reached the spot.
THE FATAL SHOT.
He made an examination of the body
but found only one bullet wound, and that
was in the middle line OF the stomach.
His hve-chambered revolver was picked
up near where he died. All of the barrels
we're loaded, showing that he did not fire
p single shot. 1t is supposed that BelPs
first ehot struck him or he would have
fired. The other TWO bullets missed him.
The jury rendered verdict Of justifia-
BILE homicide. basing their decision upon
Williams evidence. They considered
that as ShackelfOrd had pistol in his
hand when Bell cried out, ON you, you
hit me-" Bell mad reasonable grounds for
believing his life in danger.
There was a great deal Of gossip about
the shooting and the relations between
the two men. There was a report that
Shackeford threatened TO whip Bell about
a year ago, and that Bell then drew his
pistol and said: III you attempt to strike
me / will shoot you dead in your
tracks, Shackelford replied: "You
hold the best hand now, but /
will get even with you some time" The
Rffray was undoubtedly the result of an
old leud. An acquaintance of Bell stated
thar the quarrel was one of long standing,
and that the mate acted in an Overbear-
Ing manner toward the Waterman. The
latter is supposed TO have entertained
malicious feeling, but did not exhibit it
until provoked.
SENT TO AUGUSTA.
Shackeltord's body was shipped to his
widow in Augusta over the Central
railroad last night. Belps father lives
near Augusta, and he has a brother
in the same city. He is man of
medium size and said TO be 33 years old.
bone have inferred from his flight that he
believes that he fred without sufficient
prOyocation, and was afraid to give him.
Self up.
The Captain of the Katie says that the
pistol picked up on the wharf did not be-
long 10 the dead man, but is one that was
gut up by passenger recently for fare.
Shackeford was last night at 2:15 O'Clock
in a saloon on South Broad street. He
was then in good humor and did not
appear TO be intoxicated.