The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-11
SHOT WHILE FLEEING
WILLIAMS FATALLY WOUNDED IN
A GAMBLING ROOM.

Policeman Godbold's Story of tn
shooting-He Says Williams Drew
Pistol on Him-The Wounded Maj
Denies He Fad a Pistol and Said H
Was Trying to Get Out of q Window
When He Was Shot From Behind.
Godbold Under Arrest TO Await ths
Action Of the Coroner's Jury.
Robert Williams lcoloredl was shot by
Officer Godbold night before last and died
last night from the effects Of his wound.
Williams was in "Casty" Webb's place,
at Bay lane and Price street, gambling.
Edward Turner lcolore1 notified officer
Davis on st. Julian street that there were
a number of men in Webb's place
fighting and earousing and dis
turbing the neighborhOod and asked the
officer 20 put a stop TO it,
Officer Davis went up on Bay street 30
Officer Godbold's beat and notified him OF
what he had learned. and asked him to go
with him to the place, that they might
capture the crowd.
PLANNED TO RAID THE PLACE.
The officers, seeing gambling was going on,
planned to capture the party. Officer Davis
stood at the front door, while Officer God
J
house. He walked up to the rear
door and looking in saw the money and
cards on the table and men sitting around
the table with cards in their hands There
were five men around the table, Of
whom Williams was one, an old man
sitting on bed near a window
was another. and a mulatto boy in
the room. Officer Godbold stood at the
door and watched the men for three or four
mi Hp than Tlchah no
and with his pistol in hand commanded the
men TO surrender. They Immediately made
a break for the front door, where
they met Officer Davis. All Of them
threw up tteir hands as commanded
except Williams, who gave Officer Godbold
a defiant look and made dash for the win
dow. at the same time, the officer says,
pulling pistol from his pocket and pointing
it back toward Godbold as if he intended to
shoot.
FIRED AS WILLIAMS FLED.
AS he did so Officer Godbold fired. Will
iams, who was up on the bed, dashed out of
the window Us the shot was fired and disap-
peared, and the officer did not know whether
the shot hit him or not.
The other four gamblers were placed
under arrest three Of them being taken
TO the barracks by Officers
Davis and Godbolj. The fourth
was Ahti uSbSQ W a W L4Uo man, WHO Lall0Q 10
reach the barracks with his prisoner. how
ever.
The three prisoners gave their names as
Robert Holcomb, Washington Webb and
Renty Green. They were fined s. by Act
ing Mayor Mills yesterday morning for
gambling and disorderly conduct.
OFFICER GoDBoLD's STORY.
Officer Godboid told his story of the
shooting in court substantially as given
above
About an hour after the other prisoners
had been lodged in the barracks a negro
reported to Assistant Chief Klllourhy that
a man who had been shot by a policeman
had been found on the street and had been
carried to his house in Broughton
street lane, between Price and HaLersham
streets. An officer was sent to investigate the
report, and found it to be correct DR., Wege-
Earth was called in and did what he could
for the wounded man. Examination
showed that the bullet had passed through
the stomach. With such a wound there
was no chance for recovery.
THE WOUNDED MANS STATEMENT,
"A MORNING News reporter saw
williams yesterday. He reused UT
from stupor sufficiently to say
that he was shot by a policeman, but did
not appear inclined or was not able 70 talk
about it. He said he was Ia room
where some other men were gambling
and the police came in on them He at
tempted to escape with the rest. The DO
AceInan shot him as hs jumped out of the
window. That was about all he could cav
AS soon as Williams death was reported
at the barracks Chief Green ordered Officer
Godbold under arrest to await the result of
the coroner's inquest. The officer is not
locked In cell, but is confined to quarters.