The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-09
ALMOST GOT THE DROP ON HIM.
A Handcuffed Thief Tries to Shoot the
Witness Who Gave Him Away.

A Handcuffed Thief Tries to Shoot the
Witness Who Gave Him Away.
Justice NJ. Naughtin's Office came near
being the scene Of a tragedy last night.
Frank Murphy, colored messenger in
the Western Union telegraph Office, while
under arrest attem pied TO shoot Willie
Williams, a colored boy who was witness
against him.
Williams has been the recipient of a
number of valuable presents from Murphy
and his partner Landrum Cox, both West
ern Union messengers.
Among the presents he received from
them were two silk handkerchiefs, which
he wore around his neck and exhibited TO
his friends. Detective Wetherhorn, who
has been engaged for the past ten days fer
reting out wholesale robbery which has
been going at A. Falk 81 Sons, suspected
Williams Of being accessory, and in round
about way wOrmed out Of him where he got
the handkerchiefs which had been given
him.
Williams gave the snap away and the de-
tective traced the matter through the mes
6engers and back to A. MOrino, cOlored
porter for Falk & Sons Morino was ar
rested last night at 10 o'clock and lodged in
jail. He stouty denied the theft until he
was placed behind the bars, then he made
clean breast of the whole matter TO the de-
tective. Murphy and Cox, the
two messengers, were implicated
and half hour later Detective Wetherhorn
had arrested both of them. When he walked
into the Western Union office, Murphy, who
is sharp and shrewd boy, stole back into
the battery room and dropped a revolver
which he was carrying. When be came out
the detective placed his hand in the boys
collar and told him that he was under ar
rest.
"What did you leave in the room back
therel" the officer asked.
Nothing, boss, - replied Murphy, smiling
complacently.
LET us see," said the officer, as he
marched the messenger back into the bat
terry room. The first thing visible in the
little dark room was the shining pistol Muir
ply bad dropped there Murphy did not
deny leaving the revolver there, and De-
tective Wetherhorn led the boy
side, placed his hand on Cox,
the other messenger. The boys protested
their innocence, and said that it was
graduated" thieves that were taking ad-
vantage of poor workingmen. Murphy
was particularly wrought up over his ar
rest, and demanded to know who had pre-
ferred the charges against him.
II did it," said Williams, who was stand
ing back in the rear of the office.
Yes, you - - scoundrel, I'll fix you
too" said Murphy as he reached over on
Justice Naughtin's desk and picking up his
revolver aimed 1t at Williams' head Justice
Naughtin seized the boy by one arm and
Detective Wetherhorn the other and the
pistol was wrested from his hands. Murphy
was desperate and although handcufYed and
fastened to Cox, he swore and begged the
officers to let him get to Williams
manacled as he was He said that
If ever he got out Of Jail he would make the
last of Williams Before being taken to
Jail Murphy withdrew to one corner of the
office. and whispering TO one of his friends,
be pulled something out Of his pocket and
slipped it into the hand of his
friend, but Detective Wetherhorn
saw him and made him give it
up. 1t was what the detective suspected,
stolen property. In addition to the charge
of receiving stolen goods, and ''toting' con
cealed weapons, Williams charged Murphy
with assault with intent to murder. Some
of the stolen goods have already been re-
covered, and il is likely that a greater part
of them will be found to-day or tomorrow.
Murphy has bad record. He was ar
rested some time ago for assaulting police
man at the Savannah, Florida and Western
railway yards.