The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-19
KILLED WHILE ASLEEP.
JOHN wEBB's BRUTAL Staying
OF ANNANIAS BILL

Ehe Murderer Finds His Victim in a
Drunken stupor and After Beating
Him Over the Head With a Club
Shoots Him in the Side-Webb' s
Voluntary Surrender to the Authori'
ties ead Ills story of the Killing
a Row at q Negro Dance the Cause
of Murder-The Coroner's Investiga-
tion-Webb in Jail.
John Webb or West, a colored man about
IS years of age, walked into Solicitor Gen
eral Fraser's Office yesterday morning aud
delivered himself up, stating that he had
killed another negro at Montieth, about
fourteen miles from Savannah, on the
Charleston and Savannah railway the day
before.
The killing and the circumstances Of the
murderer's surrender to the authorities are
one of the most remarkable instances on
record From the facts that have SO far
been brought out the killing vas a most de-
liberate and unprovoked murder, and the
wonder is that Webb should give himself
up.
wEBB's STORY OF THE KILLING.
In his statement to the solicitor general,
dance at Montieth he got into a difficulty
with Hill and some others about woman
with whom they were dancing. He KIN ,cked
one of the men down, but was surrounded
by the crowd, and several pistol shots were
fired at him. Hill, he said, was one who
shot at him and he was hit under the eye.
He showed the scar and said he had been
laid up ever since by the wound He saw
Hill Friday morning for the first time since
that trouble in a store at Monteith. As
soon as Hill saw him, he said:
''Thsre is the - - - shot and
did not kill three weeks ago, but l will fin
ish him up before the day is over"
Webb saw Hill draw pistol and wave it
In his hand. lie was afraid Of his life, and
went out of the store and tried to get gun.
He could not find ole and went back to the
store, where he saw one leaning up in Il cor
ner. He took the gun and went to
hunt for Hill, and found him In
a negro woman's house lying down
asleep. He struck Hill first with heavy
stick over the head and then shot him in
the side with gun. He did not see any
pistol near Hill, but was told afterward by
the woman that q pistol had been taken
away from him.
TO MAKE SURE HE KILLED HIM.
Solicitor Fraser asked Webb why be hit
Bill with a stick, and he answered, "The |
gun was an old one, and | was afraid to |
risk it.n
He explained that he believed his life to
be in danger. When he was shot by Hill, |
he said the only thing that saved him was |
that be managed TO get behind some -four |
barrels. Hill died Friday night and the |
coroner was notified and went out yesterday
morning.
Solicitor General Fraser said that Webb |
appeared TO be a simple minded fellow aud |
did not seem TO understand the enormity of |
his crime. He told very straight tale aud |
seemed to think he had a perfect right to |
kill Hill. He asked Solicitor Frazer to let |
nm 80 back home to his wife, who was
sick, which was of course refused, and be
was committed to Jail on the charge of
murder
Monteith is the place where so much
trou lie occurred last summer with negro
gamblers and thieves. Solicitor Fraser
says 1t is one of the worst places in the
county, and deeds Of violence of one kind
or another arc continually being COM
mitted there.
THE CoRoNER's INVESTIGATION.
Coroner Dixon was notified of the killing,
aud went out to Monteith yesterday morn
ing, where he held an inquest over the body
OF Hill.
The only witness who knew anything
OF the killing was Rena Williams (colored(.
who stated that she was in her house when
t1lll came IN very drunk and lay down on
tee floor on his face and went to sleep. S ION
after West came in with double-barrel
gun, and walking to the fire place, picked
up the piece of wood aud struck Hill over
the head twice. The woman grabbed the
stick, but West raised the gun on her aud
she ran out screaming. AS she
got outside she heard the report of a gun.
Some men came running, but when they
entered the house West was gone
HILLS LAST SLEEP
1t seems that Hill and a crowd were
drinking. Hill got drunk and was flourish
ing pistol. Re was advised to go off.
When he left he crossed the road and went
Into the house where he met his
death. West was about the place. but
there had been 10 fuss, and the men had no
words any time during the day
Three weeks ago a festival was held
at which Hin and West were present. A
row took place and West was cut. 1t is
supposed he thought Hill was the man who
did it, but the men with whom he worked
say he was not the man.
Hill. it is said, came from Waycross or
Fort Valley and worked for II. NJ. Baker.
cutting ties. West lives with bis family
near the station. The verdict of the cor
oner's jury was that Hill came to his death
by being struck on the head by stick of
wood by John West and the jury consid-
cred it murder.