The morning news., 1891-12-19
a NEGRE ss SHOT.
The Bullet Fired by Her Sister During
Quarrel

The Bullet Fired by Her Sister During
Quarrel
GRIFFIN, GA, Dec. 1S-This afternoon
Just after o'clock the report of pistol
was heard on Sixth street, near Isham Hills
residence, and IN a few moments it was
learned that a negro woman had been killed
by her sister. Investigation proved that
the parties were Hattie and Minnie Nelms,
two oolored girls, who were we'll known
here as of bad character, and that Hattie
had killed her twin sister. Rumor was rife
that it was a case Of jealousy and that a
young white man was the cause of the
quarrel, but the News correspondent
thoroughly sifted the matter and had the
main facts in the case in his possession long
before the coroner's jury was impsnelled.
A jury was impanelled by Coroner w. Il.
Lolita at dark. j. I. Manley was selected
as foreman, and after the jurors we're sworn
in the following evidence came to light:
Hattie Nelms and Minnie NelmS were sis
ters-twins. They lived at separate homes
one near she cemetery and thelother at the
scene of the tragedy on Sixth street. When
the killing occurred Minnie was visiting
Hattie at her home. Ransom Woodruff, a
carpenter by trade, had given up his work
at noon on account Of the cold weather, and
as he occupied one of the rooms, he got
Minnie to cook his dinner. He gave Minnie
and Hattie drink or two TO keep them
warm.
THE FAFAL QUARREL.
The sisters began to discuss each other
affairs, and while under the influences Of
whisky and excitement, Minnie tauuted
Hattie with being the mistress Of white
man who failed to provide for her as be
should. Then followed a prolonged discus
sion in regard 10 dress, etc., which ended in
Hattie admitting that she was bad, and
adding that she would not only kill Minnie,
but others II they bothered her. They thsp
cursed and abused each other, when Hattie
walked into her room and came back with
pistol, which was concealed under her
apron, and when her sister raised up she
threw up the pistol and hred,
the ball entering the corner of the
left eye near the bridge of the nose and
lodging in the back part of the skull The
evidence was somewhat tame when COM
pared TO the sensational runnors that were
afoat, which implicated young man OF
high standing, but which the facts did not
Justify. A thorough sitting of the case by
the News correspondent revealed the fact
that the tragedy resulted from a drunken
quarrel; that the young man in question
had no direct connection with the quarrel,
and was simply unfortunate in having his
name mentioned in connection with the
affair.
Hattie NeIms was seen in Jail by
the correspondent Of the NEWS and stated
that she positively did not shoot, but that
she struck her sister with chair. This is
an evident falsehood or the result OF the
loss OF memory from the result Of excessive
drink She does not seem TO recognize the
enormity of her crime and only thinks Of
the consequence of her act 10 herself, and
her greatest fear is that she may be in-
pFisoned for life or hanged. After q long
and tedious Investigation the coroner's jury
at 10 o'clock tonight returned a verdict Of
guilty of murder against the prisoner She
Is now in the custody of Sheriff Patrick at
the Spalding county jail awaiting the action
of the grand jury at the February term Of
courf