The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-24
SHOT DEAD ON HIS TRAIN.
A Conductor the Victim Of a
Drunken Negro.

The Murderer Leaps From the Train
and Escapes-Posses Making Efforts
to Capture Him-The Murdered Con-
ductor a Man of Wide Popularity.
Brunswick, Ga, July 23.-COnductor
James f. Nelson, in charge of the first
section of train No. on the Brunswick
and Western road, leaving Brunswick
last night at o'clock, was foully assassl-
mated, while nearing the thirty-four mile
post, by Tom Johnson, a drunken negro
passenger. Conductor Nelson was shot
twice, first through the heart and then
through the head, while falling. After
the shooting, johnson sprang to the plat
form, grasped the bell cord and stopped
the train, jumping off and escaping
through the woods. Engineer John
Farmer, Conductor Nelson's bosom
friend, ran to his side and held the dying
man in his arms until breath left the
body. Death came easily, Conductor
Nelson being unconscious and only gasp
ing twice before passing away.
THE STORY OF THE SHOOTING.
Supt. George W. Haines of the Bruins
wick and Western road returned to Bruins
wick tonight, and in an interview with
the MORNING News cores ondent gave
an authentic account of the assassination.
He said: From eye witnesses l am in
formed that Conductor Nelson heard Of a
row in forward coach. Accompanied by
his trainman, Sam Reynolds, he ap-
preached the participants and in firm but
pleasant tones advised johnson to cease his
quarreiing. Johnson said: All right, cap
and sat down, still holding pistol con-
cealed in his hand Conductor Nelson
passed on, and when two steps from John
son, johnson arose and fired. The second
shot brought several white men to their
feet with weapons, but instantly every
negro in the coach arose ready to shoot,
and it would have been folly to fire into
the crowd.
JoHNsoN's ESCAPE.
johnson seeing the uprising sprang to
the door onto the platform, pulled the
bell cord and as the train slowed up.
jumped off. When the train stopped the
white passengers in the coach ordered all
the negroes out. The second section Of
the train came up and the first section
left for Albany with Conductor Nelson's
remains. Some of the negroes
got aboard and both trains pulled
out. At Waycross the news was
scattered and posse formed. A speci al
train was made up, dogs from Walter
town secured and posse under Sheriff
Miller started on the trail. Owing to the
forced disembarking of all the negroes
the N.anlrS Sv,f
dogs were at loss which TO follow, but
about daybreak struck a trail and fol-
lowed it nine miles, being stopped by the
river. The river could not be forded on
account of high water, and a return to
Atkinson was made, where the posse and
dogs were divided, one going on each side
of the river
STILL AT LARGE.
cat last accounts johnson had not been
captured. Several negroes were arrested.
but all were released except four, who
were carried to Waycross. Questioned
separately, each one positively named
Tom johnson as the assassin. Late this
afternoon information reached Atkinson
that negro had been seen running out
toward Hortense, the direction which the
dogs were following the trail.
A white man named Higgs states posi-.
lively that Johnson did the shooting, say
ing that Johnson was quarrelsome and
was fussing with him at the time Con-
ductor Nelson endeavored TO stop the
row. johnson is described as a spare
built, copper-colored negro, over six feet
tall, without any distinguishing marks.
but, being well-known in that section, he
will be captured. There seems to be no
question as to his guilt. l do not antici-
pate lynching, and heard nothing of
such while on the scene"
SHOCK TO BRUNSWICK.
The news of Conductor Nelson's assas-
sination shocked Brunswick. He was uni.
versally liked, and was on his first trim
out after vacation with his family at
St. Simons. A special boat was sent to
ST. Simons this morning for Mrs. Nelson,
who was accompanied by party of ladies
to Brunswick. Arriving here, a special
train carried her to Albany, accompanied
by Mr.. John Z. Lehman. The remains
will be returned to Brunswick tonight.
and be inferred from the home of Hiram
Read tomorrow morning at 10 O'Clock.
Many rumors of lynching were rife
on the streets to-day, but the interview
with Superintendent Haines settles that
subject A party of Brunswickians were
forming this morning to go to the scene
on special train, but later abandoned
the trip
TRAIN HAND SHOT.
At the 65-mile post last night the train
bearing Conductor Nelson's remains
stopped for wood. AS Sam Bran tley. a
negro train hand, entered the car, a white
man shot him in the thigh, wounding him
seriously, but not fatally. Brantley
accuses L. L. Thomas, a prominent law
yer of Waresboro, with shooting him but
friends of Mr.. Thomas strenuously deny
the report. Supt. Haines would give nc
names, but stated that Brantley claimed
white man well known to him shot him
and that the shooting was without provo
cation
Tonight at $50 O'Clock a special bear
ing the remains of Conductor Nelson, en-
cased in a handsome casket and covered
with beautiful flowers, arrived. There
mains were conveyed to the home Of
Hiram Read. Accompanying the re
mains were Thomas Mayo, brother-in-law