The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-08
STRUCK IN THE DARK.
FRED DIXON MAY DIE FROM =
FRACTURED SKULL.

policeman Arnold's Prisoner Gets "S3
or Five Days" For Lying Drunk in
the Street, and is Taken From the
Jail to His Home With a Broken
Head - He Says That he Was
Knocked Down With Club - His
Condition Is Serious.
Fred H. Dixon tcoloredl, late light house
keeper Of the Fig Island lighthouse, is lying
in critical condition at his home, No. 81
Reynolds street, with fractured skull, aud
the circumstances in the case show how
prisoners are sometimes rallroaded through
the mayors court without that inquiry
which in this case may result in the death
of the prisoner.
Last Tuesday night telephone message
vas received at police headquarters that q
man was lying 6runk on tue Bay, and to
send an officer for him. This is not an ua-
usual call, and Officer Arnold, who was the
sentinel at the sallyport al the time was
sent down for the mau by Acting Sergeant
Mock, who was on duty at the time.
FOUND IN A GUT ER.
Officer Arnold found Dixon lying in the
gutter at Bay and Habersham streets, un-
conscious, and q the sleeping man smelled
OF liquor, he was with difficulty arou ed
assisted 70 the barracks, AMI the charge OF
drunk, lyil C in the street" a stereOtyped
phrase, ents ed opp site MS mama, and he
was dyed In the barracks.
Wednesday morning ne was arraigned be-
fore the mayor, although in a dazed con-
dltlon, the officers sta ement was taken,
the hatless prisoner was fined s. or five
days, and he was committed TO the jail
hCr- -, --f- ,f h.
city court LEANED of Dixon's
arrest and commitment, and obtained
an order from the mayer for the
prisoners discharge. Dixon visited the
city court clerks office, and was unable to
give any clear account OF what had oc-
CURED. He did not mention his injury
Capt. White advised him 10 go home and go
to bed, as he was looking bad and his mind
was wandering.
HIS SKULL FRACTURED.
When Dixon reached home ne got worse,
and in one of his sane moments told his
wife that white man had struck him on
the head with a stick. At ? o'clock yester-
day morning be had a spasm, ald other
paroxysms followed no to IL o'clock yester-
day forenoon DR.. Wegefarta was sum
moned, a after examination pronounced
Dixon's skull fractured by blow from a
billy. At 9 O'clock last night Dixon was
UNCONSCIOUS. y CONSULTATION Oh PHYSICIANS
will be hell to-day, If Dixon survives, and
if he can be removed with safety ne Will be
taken to the hospital for treatment.
Officer Arnold, when interrogated by
Sergt. Killourny last night, said that when
he reached the place wuere Dixon was
lying a white man with a long black coat
on was standi z near and said, That man
is in a bad hx.n
A STRANGER NEAR BY.
The officer did not recognize the stranger
Arnold says that Dixon was lying IN po-
sitlOn as ii his head mad struck on the stone
curbng of the gutter in falling, AMI that
there was blood upon the coa1 sleeve of the
arm upon which Dlxons head was lying
He thought if the man was hurt it was by
the fall.
Who sent the telephone message has not
yet been ascertained, and a bi-sful ignor-
ance of the circumstances pervadsd the
police headquarters until a MORNING News
reporter began his inquiries there for the
name of the arreStIng officer.