The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-16
MURDERED OUTOF SPITE.
" DICK" DAVIS KILLS A WOMAN
BECAUSE SHE DID NOT LIKE HIM

A Negro Ravisher of His Little Niece
Assassinates Sallie Smith at Her
Home-The Fatal shot Fired Through
an Open Door at Eight-Dsvis Rec
ognized as He Was Leaving the
Plece-The Coroner's Inquest and the
Jury's Verdict.
An outrageous murder was committed on
the Springfield plantation, near Laurel
Grove cemetery, night before last. About
month ago "Dick" Davis, a disreputable
negro living in the neighborhood of Laurel
Grove, ravished his sisters little S-year-old
child, and night before last followed that
crime with murder. The outrage upon the
child created a great deal Of excitement
among the colored people on the
Springfield plantation, and Davis
life was threatened. Warrants were
issued for his arrest and several
colored men announced their intention of
arresting Davis if possible, but he was not
caught.
SCENE OF THE MURDER.
Giles Roberts lives right back OF Laurel
Grove cemetery with his wife, Daphne
Roberts, and Sallie Smith, young mulatto
woman, has been occupying room in their
house. Roberts had been active in his
efforts to arrest Davis, and had announced
his intention of warning DAVIS mother
against harboring her son. Night before
last Roberts was asleep in his house, and his
wife and the Smith woman were sitting in
the next room talking. They were discuss
ing Davis outrage upon bis niece, whlcn
they both denounced most emphatically.
The Smith woman had just said that the act
L.
a shot was fired through the open doorway,
and she fell with load of shot in her left
arm and breast. Roberts was awakened by
the report of the gun and by mis- wifes
screams. and ran out Just in time to see
Davis jump the fence few yards away.
bright light shone from the railroad. and
Roberts is satisfied that he was not mistaken
in his man. Davis had gun in his hand.
The woman died In five minutes.
THE CoRoNER's INQUEST.
The murder was not known in the city,
but Coroner Dixon was notified early yes
terday morning and went out and held an
inquest. There are only two witnesses to
the killing, Giles Roberts and his wife,
Daphne
Daphne Roberts testified that the Smith
woman had lived with her about four
months; that she and Sallie were talking
about Davis Thursday night about
8 o'clock; that Sallie had just said, THAT
was es low as a dog would do" when gun
was fired, and Sallie screamed and fell.
Daphne called to her husband that Sallie
was shot and nobody had done it but Dick
Davis. She said that Davis met the Smith
woman on the bridge near her house last
Sunday aud had some talk with her. He
| wanted to come and see her, but she refused
| to have anything to do with him, and went
| back to the house.
(Iilas Pnhartu tocfiHad that altar Yino
his supper Thursday night he lay down and
went to Sleep leaving his wife and Sallie
| Smith in the next room talking about
Davis. He was awakened by scream and
heard his wife exclaim that Dick Davis had
shot Sallie.
SAW THE MURDERER LEAVING.
He jumped up and ran to the win
dow, aud saw Davis crossing the
yard about sixty feet away, and
| jump the fence into the road. He had no
gun himself and did not attempt to follow
| him. He had said that he knew Davis was
about and that he would have him caught,
and he supposed that Davis was hanging
| around the house looking for him.
| The coroners jury came to the decision
that Sallie Smith came to her death from a
gunshot wound in the left breast inflicted
by Dick Davis, and that they considered it
murder.
| Eodllle OLlitu was OflBuO IuuldJCO WoIuAu
about 30 years old. The woman showed the
charge to have been mostly small shot, with
two or three buckshot.
The conclusion, from all the testimony
| and circumstances of the case, Is that Davis
was hanging around the place, intending to
shoot Roberts for what he had done against
him; but not seeing Giles and hearing the
woman talking about him, he satisfied q
petty spite against the Smith woman be-
cause she would not live with him by pour
ing load of shot into her.
Davis is probably hiding out in the
swamps not very far from Savannah.