The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-31
NOT A POLITICAL CRIME.
STORY OF THE KILLING OF GAR
ROLLTONS POSTMASTER.

The Dead Man Parading the Streets
Drunk and Armed With Winchester
Rife-He Had Fallen Out With His
Slayer About the Price of Toilet
Set.
WASHINGTON, Dec 30.-President Har-
rison, with the assistance of Postmaster
General Wanamaker and Gen. Whitfield,
First Assistant Postmaster General, is max
ing an investigation into the recent killing
of J. P. Matthews, postmaster at Carroll
ton. Carroll county, Mississippi. Matthews
was the third appointment to
the postmastership of that town
since May 81 of last year.
R. C. Hansbrough was appointed on that
date, but bis commission was withheld and
r. Fl. Hansorough, the formers son. was
then appointed and took charge of the
Office. Soon after, however, his bondsmen
withdrew, and he was unable to again
qualify, and accordingly surrendered the
Office.
MATTHEW'S APPOINTMENT.
On Aug. 20 J. P. Matthews was appointed
and took possession of the Office in the fol-
lowing October. The records in the post
office department show that in 1875 one f.
A. Doss was appointed postmaster at Car
rollton. Some time later the Office became
vacant, in what manner the records do not
show, but among the applicants for the
place when Matthews was appointed was
Miss V. A. E. Doss. who, in her application
for the Office. states that her brother was at
one time postmaster at Carrollton, and
died for his republicanism."
SENATOR GEORGF,s ADvTcrs
Senator George of Mississippi has re-
ceived q number of letters relating to the
killing of Postmaster Matthews at Carroll
ton. Senator Georges home. The follow
ing epistle, given 10 the Star reporter
by Senator George this afternoon,
is from Baptist minister in that town:
"At the request of some of our best citizens
/ write to give you the particulars of the
recent unfortunate occurrence in our town.
At $3.50 p. M, on Dec. 25, j. P. Matthews,
our postmaster, was shot and instantly
killed by w. 8. Mcbride, our druggist
NOT A POLITICAL AFFAIR
1--WE wish to inform you, and through
you the postoftice department, that there is
not the slightest political Importance to the
unfortunate killing. 1t was simply and
purely personal difficulty between the two
young men. Mr.. Matthews has been drinking
much of late. He and Mcbride were warm
personal friends. But on the night of Dec.
"A Matthews was in McBride's drug store
making some Christmas purchases, and
they fell out and had an alteration about a
plush dressing case, worth few dollars
Matthews became exasperated and struck
Mcbride on the head with his pistol, inflict-
ing an ugly flesh wound.
MATTHEW'S ON A DRUNK.
son the morning of Dec. 25, Matthew'S
was drinking and walking up and down the
streets with a Winchester rife in his hands
He was arrested by Sheriff Mccain and put
up forfeit of 500 for his appearance at
the mayors Office the next morning, and
was enjoined to stay In his store. He had
just short time before passed the drug
store and stopped at the door and looked in,
and, in loud tone, told Mcbride he was
ready for him.
MATTHEW'S GETS HIS GUN.
"When released by the sheriff, upon his
putting up forfeit, he went to his store
the postoffice-but in a few minutes seized
his gun and came out on the streets with
the gun in his hand and proceeded toward
the drug store. When he reached the south
corner of the hotel gallery, at the north
corner of Jackson's grocery, Mcbride
stepped out of the drug store
on the pavement and shot him in the breast
with load of buckshot, killing him in
stantly. Mcbride surrendered to the au-
thorities and gave bond to appear before
the circuit court"
The other letters are strongly corrobora-
tive of the testimony Of the minister.