Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-20
A DIRK IN HIS HEART.
COWARDLY MURDER OF A
GREEK FRUIT DEALER.


stabbed and killed by a negro boy named
Abraham WaymSn On the corner OF
Price and South Broad streets a few min
utes past l0o'olock last night. Ruso kept
n truit and candy store on the northeast
corner Of the two streets.
At 10 O'Clock ne walked up Price street
10 Henry Precht's grocery store, al the
corner Of York street lane, and only few
faces from shop. While he was talk
jUgto Mr. Precht two negro youths, about
Us years old. entered the store followed by
I3Uso's young wife, who said to her hus-
band: "JOhn, one OF these boys
STOLE AN APPLE OFF OF THE COUNTER"
The Greek demanded thatthe boy should
pay for the fruit, which he refused to do.
Another negro LAD came in while Russo
was talking and joined in the CONVERSE
ti0n. Finally one of the lads, who ap-
peared 10 be the eldest, and was the
largest handed the Greek a nickel and
urged the other boys to keep quiet and 20
out without further quarrelng.
Two Of them, however, seemed disposed
to quarrel, and continued to abuse Russo.
Mrs. RusO went back to the store, aud
was followed in moment by her hus-
band. The three boys went out after him.
woman who was in the grocery store
remarked to the proprietor that one Of
the boys had
KNIFE IN HIS HAND,
aud she thought the lad meant mischief.
kuso had gone back TO his store and sat
down on the step Of the Price street door.
His wife was sitting inside behind him
and only a few feet away. The two had
just resumed conversation when two OF
the boys came up. AS they passed one of
them made a thrust at the Greek and then
3 turned and ran up Price street toward
York street. The other two followed.
The wounded man sprang to his feet,
and, Selling a stick OF sugar-cane. made
three or four steps as If IN pursuit, and
FELLoN HIS FACE
in the sand at the edge of the curb.
Precht had stepped TO his door 10 warn
Russo, and was Justin time TO see him fall.
The grOceryman also saw two boys run
ming up Price street. Precht thought
that his neighbor had been struck by
brick. and ran 10 pick him up. Russo was
lying on his face and gasping.
Nv hat is the matter? ~ inquired Precht,
but he received no reply.
cant you get up, John" anxiously
asked the wife, who had stepped out on
the street as her husband Jumped up
from the steps.
The body was turned over, and
RED STAIN WAS SEEN
on the bosom OF Ruso's shirt. He had
neither coat nor vest on, and the blood
oozed out Of small cut in the breast and
saturated the shirt. A crowd collected
in few seconds, but the boys had dsap-
peared,
The knife had pierced the base Of the
heart, and in less than half a minute the
wounded man was dead.
pr. stone was summoned. but before
the messenger was half way to the phv
elcian's residence RusO's eyes had closed.
and all who saw his body knew that he
was beyond the assistance Of a physic an,
Re be ever SO expert.
Policemen h. NJ. Morgan and Patrick
Russell hurried 70 the spot from the bar
racks bat could do nothing more than
keep the thong htless, curious crowd back
from
THE RIGID BODY.
Coroner Dixon was notified. While on
his Way 70 the scene the crowd turned TO
each newcomer to inquire II
TIE murderer mad been seen or captured.
No one gave chase, and no one no had
seen the bows know them. Mr. Precht
rememb ered That one Of the three that en-
tered his store was Of a brown color and
wore light blue shirt.
IHsthe crowd that pressed close 20 the
murdered mans body were two negro
women who whispered suspieiouslv to
each other. One was heard to say; "Rob
-
Their suspicious remarks caused them TO
lie interrOgated, and upon the strength OF
their statements Sergt. killOurhy believed
be had clue.
CLUE TO THE MURDERER.
he went at once 70 a house on South
Broad street, near AbercOrn, and enter.
ing be found Smith in bed. The yOuth
was pulled out and taken to the barracks.
lie admitted that he was one OF the three,
and accused Abraham Wayman OF the
crime. Smith had on blue percale shirt.
aod wRs the one that Grocer Precht re-
membered seeing.
smith stated TO a NEWS reporter that he
was standing several feet away from
Ruso's shop when Wayman stabbed
the Greek. Seeing the others run
Smith thought he had better
escape, and he ran of home ana went 10
bed. tie talked very calmly and laughed
little.
WITNESS OF TIE CRIME.
Gen. Anderson, Chief OF Police. ones.
stoned smith. and was satisfied that the
prisoner WAS nothing more than a wit
ness Of the crime. or at the most an ae-
cessory. The Chief ordered smith TO be
locked mp, and detailed a patrol to 20 In
search Of Wayman, the principal, and
Charles Bass, the other witness
Officers Kelly, Rogers, X. +. Davis and
house on Russell street, near Cemetery,
whore Wayinan WAS said 70 live.
Policeman Anglin was posted at the
rear The other three went TO the front
door and found man standing on The
steps, trembling like an aspen leaf. The
man started IL, but attempted 10 oppose the
entrance OF the officers. rheY followed
IN the door when the negro attempted TO
jump out OF an open window, but be was
caught by Officers Rogers and Davis. on
the way 10 tue barracks tue prisoner con
fessed that he was Wayman, and that he
stabbed Russo.
THE MURDERER CAPTURED.
Hehad in one pocket al ordinary pocket
knife, with horn handle and q blood
stained blad e inches long.
Coroner Dixon had the body removed
into the fruit store, and postponed the iu-
quest until this morning.
Rueo was about % years old aud has
been In America only few years. Last
year be was employed for q time at
eapelo quarantine station. For some
months ne was In the employ OF Dr..
Stone, who describes the murdered Greek
rs sober, steady and reliable man.
Three or four months ago Russo married a
young Swedish girl, who is widowed By
the murder Of her husband.
The rapid work of the police In follow.
~ a4HHa