The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-13
DAILY. SO A YEAR.
5 CENTS A COPY.
WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK 81 A YEAR
A LIQUOR DEALER UNDER FIRE.
COLUMBIA THE SCENE OF A LIVELY
FUSILADE.

The Firing Begun as the Police En-
tered His Place of business to Ar
rest HIm-He Objects to Being
Under the New Law without %
Trial by Jury.
Columbia, 5. G.. July ia few days
ago the state authorities began to apply
to eX-liquor dealers a section of the state
dispensary law, which provides that a
circuit judge can enjoin any man from
selling liquor. and in case he violates It.
permitting him to be jerked up for con-
tempt OF court; that the judge can then.
on almost any kind of a showing declare
him guilty and sentence him to the peni-
tentiary, doing away with the constitu-
tional right OF trial by jury, which Is
guaranteed 10 every man. In accordance
with this policy William sheppard. an ex.
liquor dealer, was Jerked up here yester-
day before Circuit Judge Townsend. His
attorney made brilliant fight for thu
preservation of the constitutional right.
This afternoon. about o'clock. the Judge
rendered his opinion. overruling the obs
jections OF Sheppard's attorney, adjudg-
ing Sheppard guilty Of contempt and sem
fencing him to eight months imprison-
ment in the state penitentiary and to pay
a fine OF $500
Before the sun had set. pistols were
cracking at rapid rate on one Of the
principal streets of the city-Gervaia
street, and Sheppard was being carried
TO the state prison like a murderer, with
blood streaming from his garments, there
being wounds In his legs and neck.
The warrant for arrest and commitmenG
was placed in the hands Of Liquor Con-
stable Speed for service. He got his force
OF men out, and they finally surrounded
Sheppards place of business. No one was
in there but Sheppard. Some fifteen or
twenty shots were fred altogether. Civ-
ilian and city police witnesses say that
Constable Jenkins started the fusilades
firing into the store upon Sheppard three
times before another report was heard-
The constables says that they called ON
Sheppard to surrender; that he refused to
do so and whipped out two pistols and
began TO fire at Constable Speed. Speeds
hand and neck were grazed by bullets.
Constable Jenkins. who was using two
a bullet. Chief of Police Dalys
who was close at hand, had difficulty in
getting Jenkins to stop firing. he says.
Constable Holloway fired four or five shots
into the store too. Bullets are imbedded in
a partition in the store near which Shep-
pard was standing.
Chief Daily finally got inside and shep-
pard almost shot him before he saw who
he was. Sheppard stated to him that he
would surrender TO him, but 20 nobody
else. He was taken out into the street.
placed In a wagon and carried 10 the state
penitentiary, where his wounds were
dressed. The constables tell a different
story Of the battle from any of the other
witnesses. Speed said he went inside and
called on Sheppard to surrender Shep-
pard told him he would not and pulled two
pistols, firing at him twice before he could
get his own out Then he says Sheppard
lodged behind a screen and kept up his
fire. Jenkins and the others fired In from
the outside. When Sheppard fell, he
walked out and as he was going out, Shep-
pard fired at him again.
Jenkins tells story agreeing with
Speed In essential particulars Sheppards"
two pistols, when taken from him along
with a razor, showed a total Of only four
empty chambers.
Sheppard is an old liquor dealer here's
but the evidence adduced at the hearing
yesterday was to the effct that he had
junction was passed upon him. His broths
er was arrested to-day for violating the
dispensary law.
Considerable excitement was occasioned
by the shooting.
Attorney General Barber has applied fon
a writ of habeas corpus before Chief JUS
tice Fuller in the case Of Lafar, one Of thu
constables Jailed by Judge Simonton for
contempt, in violating his liquor injuncs
ton order.
CROOKEDNEss AT THE POLLS.