The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-19
PHIL HICKS AND HIS PISTOL.
The Desperate Snaps It in Detective
Kavanaugh's Face and Escapes.

inc SlBIddO snaps II IN O6LeCJlVG
Kavanaugh's Face and Escapes.
Detectives Bosseu and Kavanaugh had
an exciting chase after Philip Hicks, the
much-wanted negro desperate of South
Carolina, on West Broad street night be
fore last.
Hicks was sentenced several years ago
to a life term in the South Carolina
penitentary for burglary. The penitenti-
airy officials have had great difficulty in re-
tanning his services however, as he has
escaped from the penitentiary three times.
He escaped about two years ago and came
to Savannah in company with another es-
capped convict from South Carolina. VIII
Eady, Detective Margan's spotter, found
Phillips in Lawson's free and easy on
West Broad street, and attempted his ar
rest. Eady got the cuffs on his man
when Hicks made a dash for liberty,
knocking Eady down. Eady shot and
Hicks fell. 1t was thought that he was
killed, but he managed to get away, car
rying Eady's handouts with him.
Hicks was captured on the Carolina side
of the river shortly after this and
was again sent back to the pen.
He did not stay there long, however.
Five months ago Detective Hogan of
Charleston ran across Hicks on the
outskirts of that city and captured him,
after filing him with buckshot Hicks was
taken back to the penitentiary. where he
remained long enough to recover from his
wounds and then skipped The Savannah
detectives were notified to look out for
him.
Detective Kavanaugh was notified by
one of his spoilers a DAY or two ago
hot Ifr1-ea III
ing his headquarters at the free and easy.
He was told to keep a watch for Hicks
and to meet the detectives at the market
Saturday night. Shortly after 9 o'clock
Saturday night the spotter met Detectives
Bossell and Kavanaugh at the mar
ket and informed them that
Hicks was at the Lawson saloon,
better known as the free and
easy. The detectives started for the
place accompanied by the spotter. They
saw that a negro who had been hanging
around the market in their vicinity for
some time, started down the street ahead
of them. They concluded that he was a
spotter for the free and easy, and that if
they wanted to catch their game they had
better hurry or they would find the bird
flown.
on arriving at the place at Margaret and
West Broad streets Detective BosseH en-
tered the restaurant door while Kava-
ndhSH NdllGu at the SttlDOl uOOI. "A boy
who it seems had some trouble with
Hicks, ran out the door and informed
KaVanaugh that Hicks was in hiding
behind a tree at the corner of Harrison
street, a block further down. Kavanaugh
walked down to the next corner and up
to a man whom he saw standing behind
a tree. The fellow had a pistol in his
hand, and as Kavanaugh came up to him
he snapped it in his face. 1t was for
tunate for KaVanaugh that the pistol
snapped, or he might never have made
another arrest Kavanaugh drew his pis-
toll and the man started to run. He turned
to snap his pistol several times, however
Kavanaugh fired three times, but it is not
certain whether he hit his man or not
Anyway Hicks did not stop running. He
ran down President street, around Mont
gomery street into York street lane and
thence into William street, where he was
lost sight of.
The shooting caused great excitement
in the neighborhood of Margaret and West
Broad streets AS usual, there was a large
crowd of negroes in the saloon, dancing
and drinking. Threats were made against
the detectives and several pistols were
drawn but no other demonstration was
attempted. The detectives went back to
the saloon and arrested a negro fiddler
there named Robertson, who is said to
have been harboring Hicks during his
stay in the city, and who is also charged
with helping him to escape arrest last
night. Charlie Lawson, who runs the
place ordered the detectives out, but
they did not go until they had secured
Robertson. Detective Bossel informed va
Morning News reporter last night that he
had put Lawson on the docket for in
terfering with an officer in the discharge
of his duty. He also said that Lawson
was running gambling game at his
place, and that he had spoilers out on
Saturday nights to watch the movements
of the detectives in order to have notice
of any raid that they might attempt on
his place.