Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-10
HAULING UP THE POLICE
AN INV FSTiG ALTON OF THE
POWELL MURDER CASE.

The Matter in the Hands OF the mayor
and the Council Committee on Police
Au OHcisI Investigation to be had
This Week-Hunting the Murderer
The Governors Reward.
An investigation will be held this week
by the city authorities of the manner in
which the police handled the Powell
Dixon murder case. The matter IS now
IN the hands of the Mayor and the City
! Council Committee on Police.
Capt. Fred Nj. Hull, at whose house the
murder was committed, has made state
ment to the City Council. After reciting
the particulars of the shooting he says
that policeman, whom he afterwards
learned was Private Fleming, came to the
house. "The officer was so feeble from
age and infrmIties that it was with diff
Guilty." he went on to say, shat he was
helped into the house. After he had seen
the girl who was shot l asked
him to go at once and report
the case to the police barracks. After
asking him twice and finally ordering
him out OF the house, he went, but shortly
afterwards returned. | said TO him at
once that he could not have had time TO
go to the barracks and return. He re-
piled that he had sent mounted man TO
report the case.
''Soon after this two mounted men rode
up. One, l believe, was Private Michael,
and the other a tall man with heavy black
beard, whom do not know. l told them
which way the. murderer had gone, and
asked them to try and catch him. One OF
them answered that il was the end OF his
beat and he could 20 no farther, and added
that 1t was no use TO look for the muir
derer, as he would probably leave town
at once.
81 replied that Powell had come from
Florida, and that ne would probably try
and get back there on the morning Train,
and asked them 70 watch the trains. The
next morning | went to the train, but
could find no city police, and had 10 get
Sergt. Leonard, Of the railroad police, to
search the trains with me. | cannot learn
that any notice was taken Of the case at
the police barracks or BY the city autnori-
ties, until Tuesday night, when a police
man came to my house to learn the par
ticulars."
The matter has been referred to the
Mayor and the Police Committee, con-
sistlng OF Aldermen OConnor, Hamilton
and Nell, for investigation. Policeman
Fleming has been on the force twenty-one
years and is one OF the oldest privates.
His intirmities unfit him for active patrol
duty and he was detailed to Forsyth Park
on the night the murder was committed.
When the case was reported to head
quarters Sergt. Lee, the officer on duty did
not enter it upon the blOGter aud made no
report to the officer who came on duty
after him. The case was not reported to The
acting Chief OF Police until the next day.
In the meanwhile the murderer had ample
time to get out of the CITY, and before the
police were at work he was beyond their
reach. Acting Chief of Police Green, as
soon as the case was reported to him the
next afternoon, detailed officer Kelly to
work up the case, and every effort is now
being used to secure PoweiPs arrest.
tits believed that ne has gone to Florida.
Photographs and descriptions have been
sent out both by the police and the county
authorities, and the police of the neigh
boring cities have been notified to be on
the lookout. Governor Mcdaniel has
offered a reward OF $3.50 for mis- capture,
and there is little doubt, with the effort
that is being made, that he will be ar
rested,