The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-29
BULLETS FLY IN FRoGTowN.
Two Negroes Wounded and Police
man Shot 1t.

man Shot at.
| Robertsville had an incipient riot yester
day. but it was sat down upon before it got
under Roadway Two negroes we're shot but
! their wounds are not likely to result fatal
! ~ Silas Williams who did the shooting
| was arrested last night and lodged in the
| barracks Jail. The trouble grew out OF q
! Quarrel and dispute over game Of cards,
! The game was in progress at the corner
of West Boundary and Sims streets be-
tween Willie Griffin and several others
when the row began between Griffin and
one of the men, Silas Williams, who was
supposed to have been intoxicated, arrived
just as the quarrel was about TO eliminate
in a set-to, and whipping out his pistol, en-
livened affairs by lodging ball in Griffin's
side, just below the ribs. The party dis
persed in confusion, and Williams secreted
himself until later in the afternoon when be
endeavored TO renew his attack on Griffin
and was arrested by Officer Baughn.
The officer had some difficulty and barely
escaped with his life He was informed of
the trouble at the corner of Railroad and
West Boundary streets two hours after the
occurrence, and hurried to the scene.
Williams had been parading the
to the muzzle, hunting Griffin. He
ran up and down the streets with the gun
r ady for use, and bad the whole Of Frog
town in an uproar When the officers
arrived, however he had hidden himself in
his house in Wilson street lane, between Sims
and Little Jones streets. Griffin and COM
panion named Jim johnson directed the
officer TO the house Upon reaching it
Griffin asked il Williams was there, when
the latter jumped out Of the house saying,
you - - - don't come any
farther and he drew the musket on
Griffin.
The officer endeavored to make Williams
put the musket down, but he was unable to
do 80, and thinking every minute that Will
Jams was going to Kill Griffin the policeman
fired on him. When the officer fired viii
Jams turned and ran down the street toward
Little Jones street, followed by the police
man, johnson aud Griffin. At the end of
the street Williams attempted TO jump over
fence into yard to escape, but his pur-
suers were too close on him, and turning on
them be shot at the policeman, but the load
took effect In Johnson's arm. The officer
returned the fire. but missed his aim, and
Williams ran back up the street to hi house
and running in closed the door. Officer
Baughn forced the door open and arrested
Williams
Griffin, the most seriously wounded Of
the two men, followed the officer to the
dChS, huu III us SlaltlIltlb he Stils
civilians was not involved in the dispute
and quarrel. We were not gambling, but
a dispute arose over some other matters
when Williams came running up and shot
me- ran up TO the house to get my pistol,
but he had gone when l got back. l vent
then to hunt n doctor and policeman, and
while l was gone, Williams went to my
house and broke open the window and shot
into the house twice. He hunted all over
Frogtown for me then and not finding me.
he stood in the middle of Sims street, near
West Boundary st eet, and said that he was
wsiting for me to come along, that he was
going To flash me. He got wind that a
policeman had been sent for and he left"
Jim Johnson corrobOrated Griffin's state
ment. Williams assigned as a reason for
y hat he did, Griffin's conduct to his wife
He said taaJ Griffin had broken open his
house in his absence and had abused his
wife who went with him to the jail and cor
rOb0rated his statements Williams dis
C aimed any intention Of shooting the
policeman, aud said that ne shot at Griffin
He said that he would bring out in the trial
Of the case more than he was willing to tell
last night.
Williams is employed on the Central rail-
road wharf most Of the time He is consid-
cred one Of the "bullies' Of FrOgtoWn
Griffin IS employed nowhere at present, but
says he sometimes works for the Ocean
Steamship Company. He is a young negro
and Is also considered d dangerous char