The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-14

JRRF COATES SHOT. DEAD IN a
BIvER eTRERT BARRoOA

B1VER 6TREET Barbour.
Lncius Dodson, His Slayer, After an
Exciting Race Is Captured and
Lodged In the Barracks-The Muir
derer Couldn't Wait TO Drink the
Beer HIS Victim Was Treating Him
To-stetements of the Barkeeper
Who Witnessed the Bloody Deed
Conflicting Statements About Coates
Drawing a Knife from His Pocket.
JEFF Coates tcoloredl was shot and almost
instantly killed by Luclus Dodson tcolored)
in James Barrett's barroom Oh River street
about 9 rs O'Clock last night From the state
ments of eye witnesses the shooting was
entirely unprovoked and without cause.
DEAD ON THE BARRooM FLOOR
A MORNING NEWS reporter reached the
scene of the shooting shortly after 1t oc-
CURED, and found the place surrounded by
a crowd of negroes, the saloon having been
closed. The reporter was admitted, anu anu
found the body OF the dead man lying on the
barroom floor. Several policemen and half
a dozen negroes were in the barroom, at
trected by the killing.
Mr.. James Barrett, who is the proprietor
of the place. and who witnessed the affair,
gave the reporter detailed statement OF It,
Mr.. Barrett says he was standing behind
the bar when JEFF Coates, Lucius
Dodson and four other negroes
came in together. Coates seemed
to be under the influence of drink
somewhat. but none of the party, he says, !
were drunk. Coates called for five beers |
for the crowd and a cigar for himself. Mr. |
Barrett turned to fill the order when bod |
son began to curse Coates, and said to MIN, |
"In thump you when / get you outside"
The crowd was apparently 10 a
seemed to be uncalled for. Coates said !
nothing, but Dodson continued cursing and |
threatening him
THE DEADLY REVOLVER
The beers and cigar had been placed upon |
the counter, and Coates picked up his cigar
and drew a knife from his pocket, as Mr.. |
Barrett thinks, TO cut off the end OF the |
cigar. Just then Dodson exclaimed |
II can do you right here" and suiting |
the action to the words drew pistol, and, |
placing it at Coates breast, fired.
Coates fell and Dodson ran out Of the sa- |
loon aud down River street. Mr.. Barrett |
ran from behind the counter and out Of the |
saloon after him. crying stop him; he has |
killed a man,
Dodson turned out of River street into |
the lane between the Savannah brewery |
and Wards row Of buildings and ran down |
the lane. At Wards saloon Mr. Barrett |
met his brother. William Barrett, and an |
other man coming out, and calleq !
on them to help him catch |
DodsoD. Two of the men ran down Ma |
guire street and James Barrett ran down |
the lane. William Barrett met Dodson |
coming out of the door of house which he |
had entered from the lane, and arrested |
him.
THE MURDERER SECURED.
Dodson's pistol was not found upon him,
and party went out and found the pistol |
in the lane where it had been thrown. The |
glasses Of beer were left untouched on toe |
bar counter, as was also Coates' cigar.
The party carried their prisoner lack to |
Barretss saloon, where he was turned over |
to Officer Grower Of the Central railroad |
police, who had come up from the wharf |
after hearing the shots. The officer took !
charge of Dodson and lodged him in the
barracks.
The shooting was reported to the barracks |
by telephone Immediately after Its occur
renee. and Sergt Killourhy, who was on
duty, sent out she ambulance and squad
of police, who collected the witnesses, with
Mr.. Barrett's assistance.
SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
Coates was struck by the pistol ball in the
ieIb pTeasr, Lnreo or tour lECneS below the
shoulder blade, and the ball appeared 10
range downward, doubtless. penetrating the
beart. He died in less than ten minutes,
and without speaking. The wound OPP
peared to have been made by a SS-cslibsr
ball
Coates has been working at the Central
railroad yard. and Dodson has been ON
ployed at the Gordon cotton press. eddie
Thomas and John Styles are the names Of
two Of the men who were with the party
that came in with Coates and D0dson.
CONFLICTING TESTIMONY.
Some OF the witnesses who were carried
TO the barracks said Coates drew no knife
for any purpose before he was shot. They
said they had Just come from another bar
room, where there had been a rattle for a
watch. JEFF Coates had o chance,
but was not present at the rattle
and some one else threw for him and lost.
This made him angry with the crowd, aud
he talked rather roughly for awhile, but
soon cooled off. This was the only foun6a-
ton for the difficulty that the witnesses
knew of, but the reporter was unable to
connect Dodson with the rattle
Coroner Dixon was notified, and after
talking with the witnesses at the barracks
decided 10 hold the inquest at once, He
proceeded with the witnesses to the scene OF
the killing and secured jury and began
upon the case after 12 o'clock.