The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-12
KILLED By A POLICEMAN.
OFFICER CRoNIN SHOOTS A NEGRO
IN FROGTOWN.


James Brown Shot Dead in an Assault
Upon an Oficer-Desperate Fight
With a Crowd of Rioters-The Ring
leader Arrested and in Jsil-Mounted
Police Dispense the Crowd-Police-
man Cronin's Statement.
Policeman D. J. Cronin shot aud killed
James Brown, a negro, near the corner Of
Sims and Lumber streets, last night. The
locality where the shooting took place is
known as Frogtown. 1t is a black district,
and the police have had a great deal of
trouble there.
Officer Cronin was on duty in Walton
ward, and his statement as given to the
MORNING NEWS reporters is to the effect
that his attention was attracted by loud,
boisterous and profane language in front of
a house where dancing was going on, and
he went to the place, finding quite crowd
collected on the sidewalk, He told the
crowd that it must keep better order. The
negro who had been doing the loud talking
persisted in il, and finally the officer told
him he must either stop or move on, or he
would have to arrest him.
THREATENED TO KILL CRoNIN.
TIE negro crossed the street. and with an
oath said that the officer could not stop
he would kill the officer. Cronin crossed
the street and told the negro to consider
himself under arrest, and was about to take
him by the arm, when the negro caught
Cronin by the throat with one hand and
reached for the officers club with the other.
By this time a crowd numbering about 200
had gathered and Cronin found himself
backed up against the house. He called upon
the crowd to assist him but a number an
swered back with an oath that he would
get all the assistance be wanted directly.
The Negroes hold on Cronin's throat was
loosened in the struggle. but the officers
shirt collar and shirt were torn 10 shre9s,
the negro still trying TO choke him. The
latter, after three or four Intellectual at
tempts 10 draw his revolver, finally sue
ceeded and fired once. The negro loosed
his hold and started to run. Cronin or
dered him 70 halt and fred again at short
range, running as be fired. The crowd fol-
lowed with threats, and the officer hurried
over to Stewart and West Broad streets and
blew his whistle for assistance.
ALMOST RIOT.
The news reached West Broad street that
the negroes were killing OF had killed a
white man over in Frogtown, and q posse
of white men headed by Mr. Westcott with
q do lble-barreled gun, went to Officer
Cronin's assistance, and shortly after Police
men AcQuade and Floyd arrived The
timely arrival Of this forcs prevented
further trouble. Meantime Cronin, as he
came into West Boundary street, overlook
james JcAnson, a negro who was trying 10
stir I'D riot, and he said: The negroes
In Frogtown amt worth a -,
or they would have killed
you dead Cronia promptly arrested
johnson, and the latter tried to rouse the
negroes who began to gather, by saying:
Hes going 20 shoot me" and "ShoOt me
too Cronin then returned TO the scene of
the shooting and found a crowd gathered
around the dead body of the negro, near
the corner Of Lumber and Sims street. Up
TO that time he did not know that the man
was shot, and he was unable to say whether
the first, the last or both shots had taken
effect. johnson was lodged in the barracks
charged with melting a riot.
PREVENTING AN OUTBREAK
Sergt KiIlourhy was on duty when the
news of the trouble was received at the
barracks, and within five minutes ne had a
squad Of mounted police on the ground to
quell the incipient riot and prevent an out
break
Coroner Dixon was notified and found,
upon an examination of the dead mans
body, that the ball which produced the
fatal wound entered the left breast near the
collar bone. An inquest will be held to-
day. The negro kept a cook shop at the
corner Of Sims and Lumber streets.
Policeman Cronin, who shot Brown, is
said by Sergt Killourhy to he an efficient
officer, not dispo ed to rashness and he is
one who would prefer to disperse a dis
orderly assemblage quietly rather than
make an arrest. CrOnin was placed on tina
force Dec. 10 last, and is a sober and jealous
officer. He bore evidences of the desperate
struggle which he had undergone, and re-
manned in quarters last night.