The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-25
A DUEL TO THE DEATH.
A SUNDAY TRAGEDY IN THE
CENTRAL PASSENGER DEPOT.

r -
Frank Barclay, Fireman, Shoots and
Kills J. E. Respess, a Clerk in the
Auditors Oface-Panic Among a
Thousand Waiting Excursions e
Houfeward Bound-The Origin Of
the Killing q Playful Joke a Few
Hours Retore-A Coroner's Jury Calls
1t ManslauRhter Barclays Mad Rush
for Liberty Foiied and He is jailed.
J. E Respess, a clerk in the auditors
office of the Central railroad, was shot and
almost instantly killed by Frank Barclay, a
fireman at the Central passenger shed,
about o'clock last night There was a
large crowd of people in the shed at the
time, awaiting the departure of trains, and
three passenger trains were on the tracks.
The Augusta special and Millen accommoda-
tion were both waiting to go out and the
excursionists were pouring into the depot
STAMPEDE OF KxcURsIoNIsTs.
About 1000 people were in and around
the depot. The crowd was suddenly startled
by the sound of pistol shot, aud irnme-
diately thereafter several more shots fol-
lowed in rapid succession. The sound Of
the firing came from between two trains
near the lower end of the shed, and the
crowd came rushing from that direction TO
avoid the bullets.
When the firing ceased a voice rang out,
"Boys, I'm killed. Those we're the last words
of Respess, VINO fell on the stone tagging
near the baggage room, aud Barclay, with
Q bloody hand and head, stood near by,
surrounded by friends
Respess was picked up in an unconscious
state, and carried into the baggage office by
his friends, where he died in less than three
minutes. The deceased had been running
on the road as baggage master for several
months, and was only recently promoted to
a position in the auditors office.
EXCITEMENT AT FEVER HEAT.
There was a large crowd around, and the
excitement was great. Everybody was
anxious to find out what the trouble was,
and it was almost impossible to learn any
thing. All the crowd seemed to know was
that somebody had been shot. and many
left the shed without knowing that anybody
had been killed.
A MORNING NEWS reporter was in the
shed at the time of the shooting and heard
the pistol shots, and from eye witnesses of
the tragedy an account Of it was obtained.
Respess and Barclay boarded at Miss
Davis boarding house, on Montgomery
and Stone streets. They had a diff
Guilty at the house about 1870 o'clock
yesterday afternoon, arising over a trivial
matter, and Respess is said to have struck
Barclay over the eye Friends separated
them and prevented further difficulty. Both
men were angry. though, and Barclay told
Respass that he would see him again.
TIE FATAL MEETING.
Last night Respess and Barcley met in
the Central depot passenger shed and re-
newed the difficulty. Barclay approached
Respess and told him he must make
amends for what be had done. There were
some hot words between them and Respass
called Barclay liar. They came together
and blows were passed Friends endeavored
to separate them, but were unsuccessful
Barclay struck Respess, knocking off his
hat, when Respess drew bis pistol aud fired
two or tree shots. One shot struck Bar
clay in the wrist of his right arm and an
other took effect IN the left shoulder, both
making slight wounds. His forehead was
also grazed with bullet, or the mark is
from blow.
WAITING FOR HIS VICTIM.
The crowd was too excited to know ex-
actly what happened next, but it appears
that RespesS ran around the accommoda-
tlon train, which was on the southern track,
and on around train on the middle track
Barclay followed him, stopping between
the two trains. He had his pistol in bis
Atillu anu seeLubu TO Dc In
~aiting. Presently Respess returned
the way he had gone and walked up to
where Barclay was standing. AS no ap-
preached Barclay the latter raised his Dis
tol, and when RespesS was within about two
steps of him he fired several shots rapidly,
one of which struck Respess in
the right breast. Respess threw his
hand to his breast and staggered
past where Barclay stood. and around the
end of the accommodation train to the
south side Of the shed. where he had shot at
Barclay, and exclaiming, Boys, I'm
killed" fell.
WALKED LEISURELY OFF.
Barclay did not hurry away from the
scene after the shooting, but in a little
while afterward left the shed with a friend
on each side of him, passing out the main
entrance. Not one person in a hundred
knew he was the man who had done the
shooting, and he passed a policeman without
being questioned. He went straight to his
boarding house, where he was arrested by
Officer G.. L. Durham of the city police
shortly afterward.
Sergt. Owen Reilly arrived at the scene
of the shooting in few minutes and took
charge of affairs A number of witnesses
were detained i'll the baggage office, and
policemen stationed there to keep back the
crowd.
BARCLAYS DASH FOR LIBERTY
Policeman Durham, the arresting officer.
having heard that there had been some
trouble at the depot, hurried thitner. and
was informed that man had been shot, and
that he had gone to his boarding
house on Montgomery and Stone streets.
The officer visited the boarding house
and asked to see the man who had been
shot, not knowing that any body had been
killed. When the door WAS opened and
Officer Durham had walked in, Barclay.
who was inside, made break to get out of
the house, and jumped through
window into the back yard. Dun
ham rushed through the house and
caught him in the yard. Barclay declared
that somebody had shot him at the depot
and that he wanted to get his wound
dressed. Durham was somewhat at a loss
what to do, when he was informed by
colored man that a man had been killed at
the depot. He then conveyed his prisoner
to the barracks.
FRIENDSHIP TURNED To hate.
J. L. Respess came to Savannah from
Barnesvilie, where his people live. He was
quiet young man about ~ years of age.
and had many friends. Frank
Barclay comes from Gordon, where his
father lives. He was about 81 years old
Tho two men boarded at the same place and