The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-24
MURDERED FOR A SLAP.
WILLIE MYERS SHOT THROUGH
THE BODY BY JOHN HARRIS.

THE BODY BY JOHN HARRIS.
He Beat Her With a Stick Saturday
Afternoon, Made Up With Her at
Night. Renewed the Quarrel and
When She Slapped His Face Yester-
day Morning sent Bullet into Her
side-Harris, While Trying to Escape,
Runs Into Officer Daniels Arms.
He Claims the Shooting to Have
Been Accidental, But the Coroner
Jury Returns q Verdict of Murder.
Willie Ann Myers, an 1S-year-old colored
girl, was killed by her lover. John Harris,
yesterday morning about 3 O'Clock in
house at Bay and West Boundary streets.
Harris sent 3S-calber bullet into the
girls right side as she lay upon a bed, aud
after half hours agony she died without
speaking word.
Harris was arrested as he was leaving the
scene of his crime an hour later by Police
man Daniels. He claimed the shooting to
be accidental, but the facts as brought out
at the coroner's inquest make out clear
case of murder.
The murderer IS a notorious character.
About two weeks ago he stabbed his former
mistress, Manda Brown, and she left him.
Then he struck up an acquaintance with the
Myers girl, who lived with several other
women in the house in which she met her
tragic death. The pair got along together
fairly well until Saturday afternoon, when
quarrel arose between them. Harris beat
the girl with a stick, and only des sted when
her cries brought other people TO the scene.
WENT TO PREPARE FOR HIS CRIME
Harris left after the row and was not seen
Il L. a H..
girl and companion named Maggie Mid
dleton met him at the corner Of an alley
way, near the house, as they were about TO
go IN. Harris spoke to the girls, and both
saw that be had a pistol wrapped up in a
black silk handkerchief in his hand. The
Myers girl remarked that ne ought not to
prank with a pistol, and he replied in sui
len manner: at is my pistol"
The girls then left him and went into the
house. Harris followed few minutes later,
and walked directly to the room where they
were. He was more pleasant this time, and
walking over to the bed showed the pistol
under the pillow. His next move was to
make up with the Myers girl, which he
succeeded in doing in a few minutes Mag
gle Middleton left them together and went
TO her room and retired.
LAUGHING AT DEATH.
The room which Harris and the girl oc-
cupied opens into all the other rooms IN the
house, and the other inmates had to pass
through it TO get to their apartments. Ella
Manor was the last person who. saw them
before the fatal shot was fired. She passed
through the room after o'clock and Har
ris and the girl were sitting on the side of
the bed laughing and talking as if in good
humor. Awhile later the laughing ceased,
and was followed moment later with the
sound Of a slap.
The Manor woman was satisfied that the
pnfA he ~fg,44e IuN
newed and she listened for further develop
ments. In about minute she heard Har-
ris say In an angry tone: willie, you have
scratched me-" and then in an undertone,
as If talking to himself: "Where is my
pistol" She heard Harris walk across tie
room toward the door almost Immediately
afterward and an instant later the
shot was fired.
The women Jumped from their beds at the
sound of the shot and hurried to the Myers
girls room. Harris ran quickly past them
into the street. and when they entered the
girl was writhing on the bed, with blood
trickling from q wound in her side.
CAME BACK TO VIEW HIS WORK.
Two of the women ran out to look for an
officer to report the shooting, and the others
turned their attention 20 allaying the pain
OF the wounded girl. Nothing could be
done for her, however, and in half an
hour she was dead. When the police
arrived there was no trace of the muir
derer, but Officer Daniels determined to re-
main in the neighbOrhood of the house until
daylight in case Harris might return He
did return, but entered the house from the
rear. When Harris saw his victim dead he
tried TO appear very sad and said he did not
mean to kill her. Turning to Katie Smith
he asked her for knife. saying he wanted
to cut his throat, but suddenly he seemed to
change his mind when the girl remarked
~ nfs i'm 10
said he might give himself up and hurriedly
left by the front entrance.
Officer Daniels recognized Harris from
the description furnished HIM, and he saved
the murderer the trouble of surrendering.
AS Harris stepped off the porch to the side
walk the officer stepped in front and LEI
him run into his arms.
THE MURDERER SURPRISED.
That Harris had no idea Of surrendering
voluntarily, but was bent on escape, was
plainly evident by the surprise he
manifested and the effort he made
60 free himself from the clutches
of the officer, but the dangerous
proximity TO his head of a 3S-csllber
revolver caused him to submit without re-
sistance. Officer Daniels at once searched
Harris and he found the pistol with which
he murdered the girl in his hip pocket
AT the barracks Harris admitted the kill
ing, but claimed it was entirely an accident
He said he started to leave the room and
was in the act Of putting the pistol in his
pocket when she caught hold of it and tried
to wrench it from his hand. In
the struggle for its possession, he
claimed it exploded, and when he
saw that the girl was shot he became
frightened, and showing the weapon into his
pocket hastily LETT the house. Harris told
the officers that he had returned with the
intention of surrenderlng If the girl was
seriously hurt.
The circumstances surrounding the
tragedy, however made Harris story APP
pear doubtful to the corouer's Jury. which
was composed entirely Of negroes and a
verdict Of murder was rendered ngaiust
him after few minutes elaboration. Cor
oner Dixon committed Harris to Jail yester-
day afternoon.
THE NEW GRACE CHURCH.