The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-25
TIRED OF BEING AFUCITIVE
Joe Richardson's SLAYER S8GTeR19IS
10 the Police.

Jerry Holmes AFTER BsinS Hunted for
Nine Months Walks Into the Bar
racks and Tells His story OF the
Tragedy at the Lovers Lane Hall
He SAYS the Shooting was Acct
dental and BE Is Ready 70 stand His
Trial.
Jerry Holmes, q Savannah murderer,
who has been missing for nine months,
walked into the police barracks last
night at IL o'clock aud gave himself up.
Holmes shot Joe Richardson at a negro
ball. out near Lovers lane Monday night,
july 81. Richardson was shot through
the left lung, and died from the
effects of the wound four days
later. The corouer's jury, which investi-
gated the case, said the crime was muir
der
There has always been something Of
mystery about the killing. 1t appeared
at the time to be a very causeless affair,
and without any reasonable provocatiou.
Holmes says now that this killing was ac-
cidental, and his story may be the true
one.
THE SHOOTING AT THE BALL.
Inc witnesses at lDe inquest SdIu lHdl
Richardson had been drinking. Holmes
had brought Mary Mills TO the ball About
midnight Richardson had quarrel with
the woman. 1t appeared that he had
asked her to dance with him and she re-
fused. He then cursed her and one of
the witnesses, said kicked her She COM
planned to Holmes Of Richardson's con-
duct. Holmes was calling the dances
and took no immediate steps to resent the
insult TO his sweetheart. About an hour
sfteward he left the house
for awhile and presently came
back, and calling the Mills
girl and Richardson to him, walked over
to the staircase. Richardson sat down
under the staircase.
Almost Immediately there was pistol
go shot and Richardson fell forward on
the floor Holmes had fired through his
coat pocket, as his coat which he left be-
hind him showed. He left the house i'm
mediately and was not heard of until he
walked into the police barracks last night
and gave himself up.
WANTED TO COME BACK.
A MORNING News reporter was at the
barracks when Holmes talked readily.
why did you come backl" he was
asked.
because l was tired of knocking
around, and wanted TO have my trial, >" he
replied. Il intended to come back five
months ago, but have had hard time,
and have not been able to get the money.
! wanted to get some decent clothes be-
fore came back, as | had no clothes but
those l had on my back when I left here"
"Where have you been all this timeln
SAT Sumter s. G. 1 left Savannah as
soon as / heard Richardson was dead. l
hid out until then. l made my way to
Sumter, where l have been since. Work
has been hard to get in South Carolina
"a As
as l made enough money to buy
some clothes and pay my railroad fare
] came back tonight from Charleston and
knocked around town awhile to see
how things were looking and then came
here to give myself up"
HOLMES STORY.
Holmes tells this story: Joe Richard
son and / were friends. We ran together
all the time We were together all that
Monday afternoon. / never had any
trouble with him at the ball and
did not carry that pistol
there. The pistol was taken away from
fellow who was lying drunk outside
the house by some of the boys, 1t was an
English bulldog No. 3S. 1t was cheap
pistol and like TO shot myself with II.
] had had some trouble with a crowd of
boys that threatened to Jump on me, so /
got the pistol and put it in my pocket.
There was no trouble between me and
Richardson at the house. When | came
back into the house / walked over to the
staircase with Richardson and Mary
Mills. She was sitting down on the stair
case, and there was another woman there
beside her. / was leaning against the
staircase. l reached in my pocket for
match. and was fun bling for il when the
pistol went of. felt the pistol pressing
against my side, but had no idea it was
going off,
SAID IT WAS ACCIDENTAL.
1.-THE shooting was an accident them"
ayes, sir, it was an accident. l had no
idea of shooting him. l had no cause to
shoot him"
There had been no trouble between
you and Richardson about the girl,
them"
mo; we had had no trouble"
Holmes said that as soon as he saw
Richardson was shot he got frightened
and ran OFF. When he heard Richardson
was dead he thought he had better leave.
He said he threw away the pistol
because he came near shooting
himself with it afterward Holmes
told his story in straight
forward way and seemed to feel confident
of his innocence
He was taken over TO the Jail by De-
tective Bossell and was given a cell He
will probably be given an early trial