The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-03

Samuel Sampson Tries to Kill Steve
dOrs James Ward

1DA ? ce~A--Oo - al -
Shortly after noon yesterday Samuel
/ Sampson, well known on the Bay as a
watchman for incoming vessels, shot at
James Ward, the stevedore, but the shot
was wild, and before he could U.S. the
revolver a second time Capt Ward caught
his assailant's hand and wrenched tue
weapon from him AMI turned it over to the
officer who arrested Sampson and took MIN
/ 10 the barracks.
The shooting occurred on the Bay a few
doors east Of the cotton exchange, but the
dispute which led up to the shooting began
IN front Of the cotton exch inge, aud had
IT'S origin in a fancied wrong that Capt.
| Ward had done Sampson.
Capt. Ward was standing under the shade
OF the trees on the Bay talking with Hugh
Logan when, according to his statement
and that of other witnesses, Samson came
up and began abusing him. Capt Ward
told Sampson to go away. Mr.
Logan, seeing that Sampson was trying
to provoke a quarrel also tried to get him
to leave: but Sampson paid little attention
to MIR. Logan, and continued to charge
Capt Ward with having prevented him
from getting the JOB of Waterman on a
vessel, when he had recommendations from
Chaplain Gilmore o. the Seamenis bethel.
Capt. Ward denied that he had done any
thing 70 injure Sampson or prevent his OBJ
tanning employn en-. Finally he started to
leave, going down the street followed by
Sampson, and Capt. Ward said that Samp-
son told him he would never get to Rich
ards1n & Barnsrd's office, where ne was
going, as he would kill him before he
reached there. Capt Ward said that Samp-
son had stick in his hand, and he did not
suspect that he had pistol. AS Sampson
advanced on him, Capt. Ward took
him by the shoulders and rather
roughly pushed him away. SamDson
partly fell, but recovering himself, drew
his revolver and fired poilt-blank
at Ward, and to those who witnessed the
affair it seemed almost impossible that he
could have escaped without a wound. Capt.
Ward grasped the hand of the infuriated
man and wrenched the weapon away from
him.
Capt Ward said to MORNING NEWS
reporter that instead of doing anything to
prevent Sampson from getting employment
as Waterman on vessels, he prevented his
discharge from the steamship Scaw Fell, as
The captain of the vessel wanted to let
Sampson go and get another man in his
place, because Sampson is hard of hearing.
Capt. Ward said that he made a personal
request to the master of the vessel to keep
Sampson on account Of his age and his
necessities, which was done until the vessel
cleared. He said that the reason Sampson
did not get the position of Waterman on
the steamer was not because Of any
thing that he had to do with it,
but because the Waterman had been en-
gagged before Sampson applied, and further,
taat Thompson knows, OF ought to
know, that he has nothing to do with en-
ploying watchmen, but that his business is
to load vessels.
Capt Ward was cool throughout the
afRray, and could have turned the weapon
on Sampsol after disarming him, but made
no attempt to inflict any injury upon hlm
Sampson came to Savannah from Florida
three years ago, is "A or IS years old, and
served in the war wit ! Mexico.