The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-24
KILLED TO AVOIDAFIGHT
caAs. CUMMINGS SHOOTS DAVID
WILLIAMS AT FIVE NILE BEND.

A Midnight Gathering in South
Bound Railroad Camp Ends in a
KiIhng-An Evil Negro Runs Amuck
With a Club and Pistol, and Beats
Two Companions, Kills Another
and Walks OF Ummolested-
Chatham county has added another muir
der 10 its already long list
At m.dnigh. Saturday, David Williams
gcoloredl. about 80 years old. was shot and
instantly killed by another negro, Charles
Cummings, on the Augusta road, about e
quarter Of nile from the camp Of the
S nth Bound railroad. The murderer
escaped.
The scene f the shooting is about i've
miles from the city. The circumstances OF
the killing. As detailed % the coroneris jury.
show the crime 70 have been as dlabolcal
aad coeardly as any that has ever been
committed in this c7unty.
Coroner Dixon was notified # the killing
Yesterday morning, and went 70 the place
about II O'Clock BE found the body OF
Williams lying where il had fallen IN
field Williams was shot twice through the
body, both bullets having entered vital
parts
AFRAID TO TALK
1t ves with great difficulty that the
coroner could get any Information about
the killing, the negroes in the neighborhoOd
seeming - be afraid % talk.
Two witnesses we're examined, and the
Jury, which was composed entirely of
negroes, returned a verdict OF willful
murder against Cummings, after lew
minutes celebration.
II is habit with the negroes
at the railroad camp TO light a
fire IA the neighboring field every
night. and sit around. telling yarns.
Saturday night the usual custom was in
vogue. when Cummings walked into the
crowd with a pistol in one hand and a
stick iu the ether. He was apparently
sober, and was hourishing his pistol in a
prom iscuous manner. One of the men,
named McStewart, objected, because there
was danger II the pistol being exploded.
and some one getting hurt.
DIDN'T CARE IF HE DID.
Cummings replied with an oath that
ne didn't care if he did shoot some
one. Almost at the same moment
he commenced 10 belabor Nc
Stewart with his stick. McStewart ran
down the road, with Cummings in close
pursuit. After chasing him short
distance, Cummings started back to the fire.
He met Williams on the way, and inquired
if he had anything TO say about his actions.
Williams replied that he had not, and
Cummings started to beat him in the same
manner as he had done McStewart. Will
Jams turned and ran into the field and
around house. Cummings followed him.
and, finding that Williams was able to out
run him, be fred two shots, both taking
effect.
After satisfying himself that Williams
was dead, Cummings walked back to the
fire and stood there for several minutes,
holding bis pistol in his hand, and then
coolly walked off.
AFRAID OF THE MURDERER.
The men around the place were afraid TO
stop Cummings, for fear Of being treated as
Williams was.
Williams is said 10 have been a very
peaceable and honest colored man, who
always attended strictly to his own bust
ness. He was commissary keeper for Mr..
Wilkins, a contractor of the South Bound.
Cummings has the reputation Of being a
chronic disturber and a generally bad char
acter, being more or less all the time mixed
up IN rows of various kinds. Coroner Dixon
Issued warrant for his arrest, and every
effort viii be made by the authorities to ap-
pTehend him.