The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-13
A KNIFE IN HIS HEART.
HOPEFUL GRANT KILLS TOBY ROB
INsoN IN A QUARREL

the Market Dock Ends in q Tragedy.
Robinson's Slayer Nearly 90 Years
Old and aCripple-Ee Claims the Kill
ing Was Accidental-The Coroner's
Jury Calls it Willful Murder-Grsnt
IN Jail.
Toby Robinson was cut to the heart By
knife in the hands OF old man Hopeful
Grant at the market dock AZ l O'Clock yes
terdsy. Both men were colored.
Robinson was fish dealer 10 the market
and Grant peddleq fish. The quarrel was
over lot Of fish which both were anxious
to secure.
There was the usual crswd OF hueksters
and fish dealers around the dock
at the time the killing occurred.
They saw Robinson and Grant quorreling,
but paid no particular attention TO them
until thsy began TO fight. Robinson, who
was the Younger and stronger man OF the
two, was striking with his first at Grant,
who is a decrepit old fellow, and Grant was
defending himself with his lsh-knife and
was striking back at Robinson. de did
net cut him, though.
CLINCHED AND FELL.
The two men finally grappled and fell
heavily upon the wharf, with Grant under
meath. Robinson wTenched himself loose
and picking the knife from the old mans
hands gave him two or three kicks and then
walked over to the railroad track, a few
feet away, aud dropped. he was seen to be
out and blood was pouring from a wound
in mis- chest. he did not speak after falling
and died in few minutes.
The police were notified and also the
coroner's office. The attention of Polios-
man HaineS, who was on River street, was
attracted by the crowd, and he came up
just as Robinson got up from the ground
where he had fallen with Grant. He saw
him kick Grant and then walk Off and fall
TO the ground. Haines arrested Grant,
who made no attempt to escape.
OLD MAN GRANTS STORY.
A MORNING NEWS reporter was on the
scene shortly afterward. Grant gave his
account of the killing. He said he had
bought lot of fish from Rowe, fisher
man, and went down TO the boat to get
them. There he met Robinson who also
claimed TO have bought the fish and en-
deavored to bulldoze Grant out OF them.
They went back to Rowe to settle the dispute
aud it was agreed that they should have
ten punches VI fish each. They went back
70 the boat again. when Graut claims Rob-
inson endeavored to take all the best fish.
leaving him only second choice, and they
began quarreling again. Grant remarked;
"You might as well take all now Robins
son threatened to bust him in the lip"
"Don'tyou hit me, " returned the old man.
''if you do there will be trouble"
I'm throw you overheard" was Robin
sons angry reply.
More words passed and Robinson struck
the old man in the mouth.
Don't hit me" exclaimed Grant, but as
he spoke Robinson struck him in the right
eye. The old mans mouth and eye bore evil
dence to the truth Of his statement by their
swollen condition.
SEIZED HIS FISH KNIFE.
Grant said be then stopped down and
picked up from the bottom OF the boat his
fish knife. the point of which has been
broken off for some time, aud struck at
Robinson to defend himself. II made a
slight scratch on his antagonists forehead.
Robinson then grapplsd Grant and tried
to wrench the knife out Of his hand. swear.
ing that he intended to kill him. In tie
struggle for the possession Of the weapon.
the skin was torn from Grants right thumb
and the two men fell to the ground, Robin
SON on top.
~ didn't cut him." said Grant. "he fell
on the knife and it ran up into him. Before
my God didn't intend t. kill Robinson.
but was oaly trying to protect myself. He
has had habit OF kicking aud beating me
around the market every time he got a
chance, and was afraid of him. I have
been sick long time and was only like a
baby alongside him."
Grants statement appeared plausible, as
The knife was in his right hand and the
wound was in Robinson's left side, the knife
going squarely into the heart It must
have been driven with considerable force.
as 1t penetrated its full length.
WITNESSES OF THE KILLING,
A number of bystanders bore out Grants
account of the killing, especially as 10
Robinson's attacking and striking him, and
to his getting up and kicking toe old man
after he had received his death wound.
A large crowd gathered around where
the dead man lay IN the street.
Acting Coroner Naughtin and Dr. Shef-
tall, city physician, arrived in q few min
utes. Dr. Sheftall examined the body and
found only one wound. a deem rash
penetrating the heart. Dr. Sheftau was
surprised hat Robinson lived as long az he
did after being struck
The knife which inflicted the wound WAS
a common butcher knife with blade about
four inches long. It was secured By Police
man Haines.
Justice Naughtin secured the witnesses
and ordered an inquest at his Office on BRYAN
street at O'Clock. He allowed Robiuson's
body to be removed TO his home at 32X
REYNOLDS street.
Robinson was a member of the ilonR-
shoremens union aud a well-known colored
man. He had had a stand in the market
for two or three years.
Grant Is an old man, probably close on to
oo years, andl confirmed rheumatic. He
ilmps badly and has to support himself with
with stick. He doesn't look like a nnur.
oereT, and from his weakly appearance
couldn't handle good-sized boy.
THE CoRoNERs INQUEST.
The inquest was held at Justice Naucb-
tins office. The following jury was Inn
panelled for the inquest:
John Martin, foreman; r. W. Ba1well.
Edward Coleman, Michael joyce. j. f. Sher.
wood, J. J. Cue, George W. Titcomb. ]. H.
HeImken. Thomas AcQuaid, Harry Palmer,
j. 81. Rose, w. s. Harris.
The first witness was T. MCKINNEY. an
old colored man who lives in the same
building with Grant in South Broad street
lane, near East Broad. He testified to the
quarrel about the fish. He said Robinson
threatened to slap Grants face
and Grant told him il be
did he would make him
pay for it. Robinson struck a back-handed
blow at Grant knocking a small cane out
OF his hand, which struck him on the nose.
Grant drew his sheath knife and made two
Iunges al Robinson, the firsh one striking
him IN the forehead. Mckinley testified
that Robinson was cut before he fell. and
not after the fall.
THE FATAL WOUND.
DIR. B. F. Sheftall testified as to the