The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-08
KILLED AT A DANCE.
A Riot Among Negroes Result in a
WOman's Death.

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The news OF a shooting sRair at Sandfy
Saturday night, which resulted IN the death
Of a colored woman named Celia Coleman,
was received by Coroner Dixon yesterday
morning, and he went to the scene soon
after to hold an inquest.
Although the woman was shot Saturday
night, she did not die until Sunday night,
and nothing was known Of it in the city
until the coroner was notified yesterday.
From the testimony it appears that the col
ored people IN that section had an enter
tainment. known as a bull and helfer"
dance, III hall at which an admission fee
OF cents was charged. The doorkeeper,
negro, named Jim Saussy, and
the latter fired at Smith. Saussy
had a crowd of negroes with him, who
had been creating q disturbance on the out
side, and when Smith and Saussy began
shooting the firing became somewhat pro-
mlscuous.
Jake Waldburg. a colored man on the in
side Of the hall, did not like the Interference
of the outside crowd with the rights OF those
inside and began firing out the window at
them. The firing was kept up from the
outside also. Jake turned to fire through
another window and while turning his pistol
went off ia the hall Celia Coleman fell
forward throwing her hand over her
| stomach crying that she was shot. She
called for Waldburg to take her home and he
| took her in his arms and carried her to her
| home short distance away.
| When he came back be SAID he saw Peter
| LRwton standing at the corner Of the fence
| inside with gun 10 his hand. Peter warned
| Waldburg not to come near him or he would
shoot. 1t does not appear from the testi-
mony exactly what motive Lawton had in
shooting, but as Waldburg passed back Law
ton let him have the contents of his musket
IN the thigh, a few slugs enteringsthe flesh.
| A stray shot or two struck negro named
Anderson but he was not seriously hurt.
1t is evident whisky was at the bottom of
the whole affair, but it did not appear that
Waldburg was responsible for the Coleman
womans death. She made an ante-mortem
statement before Magistrate Blois, saying
that 1t was accidental, and the coroner's
jury rendered a verdict to that effect.
Warrants we're issued for the arrest OF
Lawton, Waldburg, Smith and Saussy
charging them with riot
Detective Morgan went out yesterday for
the purpose OF making arrests OF the riot
ers. he had no trouble in getting Wald-
burg, whom he turned over to Jim Middle
ton, who accompanied him. Waldburg
was brought to jail by Middleton. De-
tectivs Morgan succeeded in capturing
phuSSy Iasb hlBub hlJor nOU JTdll. BduSBy
was trying to dodge, but he was run down
at Thunderbolt and brought to the police
barracks. 1t is said that the house was lit
orally riddled with bullets, most of them OF
3S-caliher.
The jury which brought in che verdict OF
| accidental shooting was composed entirely
OF negroes with but one exception. The
verdict does not meet with approval of
those acquainted with the law and the facts
| and at any rate it does not free the rioters
| from being tried for Celia Coleman's death
| Efforts will continue to be made to arrest
| the other rioters.