The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-02
A TRUCK THIEF KILLED.
DENIS SMALL SHOT DEAD WHILE
STEALING CABBAG9S.

Meyers Truck Farm on the Thunder
bolt Road the Scene of the Killing.
The Dead Man 90 Years Old and a
Paralytic-Shot by Eugene Kline.
Small Supposed to Have Been
Marauding Truck Farms for Years.
The Coroner's Jury Says the Killing
Was Justifisble.
Denis Small, a paralytic negro about 60
years old, was shot and killed yesterday
morning shortly before l o'clock by Eugene
Kline on William Meyers truck farm on the
Thunderbolt road. Small was stealing
cabbages at the time he was hurried into
eternity by 32-cahber pistol ball.
Nothing was known of the tragedy in the
city until about 6 o'clock yesterday morn
ing. when Kline and Meyers came into the
CITY and surrendered themselves at the
police barracks.
For several months the truck farmers along
the Thunderbolt road have been annoyed
bv depredations upon their fields. 1t was
suspected that Small was the Gull
prit. but the old negro was
shrewd thief and managed
70 elude detection. Sunday night Meyers
farm was visited and cabbages onions and
was an employee of Meyers, and Tuesday he
said he intended to watch the farm all night
and if possible catch the thief. Meyers de-
termined to stay with him for half the night
at least. They took their positions after
supper where they could get view of the
entire farm.
WATCHED WITH SHOTGUN.
Movers had a double-barreled shotgun
and Kline was armed with a pistol.
Av-ak
part Of the night and shortly be-
fore u o'clock Meyers wentd to sleep
Sometime after midnight Kline thought be
saw a shadow moving about in the cabbage
patch. He awakened Meyers. . man with
a bag on his back could be distinctly seen
walking through the patch. Meyers and
Kline called several times to him to halt,
but he only dropped his bag and Kept moV-
ing along as fast as he could.
Kline fired at the figure and missed and
Meyers let drive with both loads Of his gun.
His workmanship was poor and the man
kept moving. Kline then fired another
shot from his pistol, and the man dropped
without groan. He and Mey-
ers ran across at once and found
that the thief was a negro. They didn't
know who he was, as his face was buried in
the dirt He was moving his legs slightly,
but made no answer when spoken to.
Meyers and Kline went back to the house,
got lantern and brought negro boy back
with them.
THEIR VICTIM DEAD.
When they arrived the man was dead,
and they decided not to touch the body
until the arrival of Coroner Dixon. Both
men returned to the house and tried 70 sleep,
but couldn't, and as soon as daylight showed
itself they came into the city ana reported
the affair at the police barracks and asked
TO be locked up.
Coroner Dixon was notified and
went at once to the scene of the killing He
found the negro laying in the position in
which be fell aud died. As soon as the cor
oner turned the body over several parties
identified it as Small. By his side was a
sack containing rhirty-six fine heads of cab
bage and in his pocket was a large knife
which Small had used to cut the stalks. The
bullet which killed him had entered the
back Of the neck and ranged upward.
THE CoRoNER's INVESTIGATION.
Coroner Dixon impaneled jury and held
an inquest. There were no witnesses to the
killing except Meyers and Kline, and
their statements were taken down.
Meyers story was substantially as
given above and Kline's corroborated it.
Kline said he fired the first shot in the air
TO brighten Small, but he aimed at him
when he fired the fatal shot. He was
about twenty PAGES from the thief at the
time.
The jury returned verdict that Small
came to his death while stealing by a gun
shot wound inflicted by the hand OF iEugene
Kline, and that the killing was justihable
homicide. Coroner Dixon at once issued an
order for the release Of the prisoners and
they were turned loose.
Every farmer who has had his place
robbed in the vicinity where Small was
killed has found the track of heelless shoes in
the field. The fact that SmalIs shoes were
without heels seems to justify the state
ment that be has been the thief on all occa-
sions. Meyers had him in his employ once,
but discharged him because OF his stealing
proclivities.
Small lived near the Catholic cemetery
and had a wife, two grown daughters and
son. His right arm and leg had been
paralyzed for years. and he could no doubt
have been captured easily If the attempt
had been made.