Birmingham age-herald., 1894-12-26
A DARKROOM FIGHT That Will Likely Have 8 Fatal
 Termination. SCRAP OVER POKER DICE Three Young Men Dispute-One Uses a Bottle, One a Pistol
 and One a Knife.

game of poker dice, the loser of which was to stand treats to those in the game, was the cause of three young men getting into serious trouble last night.
 As a result of this game two of them lie in the city jail, while the other lies at the point of death.
 At 10:l5 o'clock last night, in Haran's saloon, on the corner of Fourth avenue and Eighteenth street, Sam Bowen and Bruce Kelly were tied on a game of poker dice and there was some dispute as 10 who should pay for the drinks. Except MT. Haran, the barkeeper, there was only one person in the barroom at the time, and that was Jim Adkins, who was standing mp against the counter watching the game.
 Some hot words passed between Kelly and Bowen, when they settled the thing by having lively fracas, which ended In Bowen being badly cut in the head with glass and also shot in the lower part of the abdomen.
 Bowen fell to the floor as Kelly and Adkins ran out. As soon as MT. Haran saw that Bowen was shot he ran for pr. John Davis, who went to the wounded man. As much temporary relief as possi- ble was given him in the saloon, after which he was taken in Warner X Smilley's ambulance to the Birmingham inhrmary, where Dr. Davis dressed his wounds.
  probably never be known until 1t is investi- gated ly the courts, although the most plaus ble story is told by Mir. Haran, who seemed to be disinterested party. He stated that the two boys referred to were shooting poker dice for the drinks when dispute arose. The lie was passed and Ad- kins drew knife. Kelly ran around the end of the counter, picked up two empty bottles and threw them at Bow en. Che of them knocked him n1@o hoIf doxJf d oa a = his feet he ran into wine room, thinking there was door through which he could gain the sidewalk. Finding that he could not not escape he started back from the little wine room into the bed room. As he came out, with the knife in his hands, Ad- kins fired upon him one time with 38 Smith & Wesson hammerless. Kelly and Adkins then ran out at the front door, leaving the wounded man in the saloon.
 After Kelly and Adkins learned that Bowen had been shot they went back to the saloon, where they were arrested by ofhcer Gambill.
 A crowd soon gathered around the wounded man, who was in serious condi- tion and was vomiting blood. Bowen was too weak to talk last night except to say that both of them jumped on him and that they were too much for him.
 At the police station an AGE HERALD re- porter queried Adkins as to the matter, but he replied that he had nothing to say except that it was in elf-defense.
 Bruce Kelly made the following state ment of the affair:
 We were in the bar shaking poker dice for the drinks and had tied. 1 told him l would leave it to the house, but no one would decide it. He accused me of trying to "hog" him, and at the same time pulled a knife. When l saw him pull the knife l ran behind the counter and picked up two beer bottles, and as l came from behind the counter he made for me. As he did this l threw the bottles at him, nearly knocking him down. As he fell Haran ran between us, and he then turned on Adkins. He began cursing Adkins and advanced upon him, when the shot was fired. We went back into the saloon after going for a physician, and waited until the officers came.'
 At 80 this morning Bowen was still alive, but the prospects for his recovery are poor, the wound being very danger ous one. In all probabilities it will prove fatal.