The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-22
A TRAGIC FIGHT IN TELFAIR.
1T ADDS a CHAPTER To THE DODGE
LAND WAR.

on Them-His Aim Bad and He
Fails to Hit His Man, But Is Badly
wounded Himself.
Macon, Ca, May 21.-Another bloody
chapter in the terrible story Of the Dodge
land troubles was enacted yesterday.
when deputy United States marshals in
an attempt TO arrest old man Lucius L.
Williams and his sons. Steve and John,
shot and fatally wounded the former
DEPUTY United States Marshals John Kel-
la. Z. c. Garrison and r. L. Garrison
were the officers serving the warrants.
The warrants were issued upon indict-
nents found by the last grand jury of the
United States court, charging Lucius L.
Williams, Steve and John Williams with
the murder Of Tom Young, a negro, last
December.
More than ten days ago, Deputy Mar
shal Kelly and the Garrison boys went
down TO Telfair county to execute bench
warrants issued upon the finding of the
grand jury. They lay in the woods day
and night awaiting their chance to sur
prise the men, for Lucius Williams was
known to be a man Of desperate charac-
ter He had made terrible threats time
and time again. so it is claimed, that
he would never come before the United
states court believing Judge Speer would
not give him justice.
Yesterday the officers secured the serv-
ices Of some of Williams relatives and by
them were shown to the house where the
Old man and his two sons lived. The ar
a. 81
prise to the williams. They were on the
piazza as the posse drove up about l
o'clock in the day. Old man Williams
was lying on the piazza taking an after
dinner nap, while his two sons sat in the
window near by.
Marshal Kelly walked up to the yard
fence. the other officers following, and
called upon Lucius Williams 70 surrender,
saying: "Mr williams. we have come
here not to hurt any of you, but you
must go back with u.s.
AT this Marshal Kelly states, Williams
raised his gun to the position of ready
He too cooked his gun and said, Mr..
Williams, please drop your gun or I'll !
have to shoot. don't want to hurt you
Williams reply to this demand was to
throw his rife to his shoulder as if to fire.
fired about the same time Williams aim
was bad and the BAN whistled over Mar |
shal Kelly's head, but the latter's load Of |
buckshot took effect in Williams neck |
and shoulders.
Williams then ran quickly into the house /
and Kelly went around by the back win, |
dow to watch for a further movement. /
He saw a gun barrel appear above the |
window sill and then a mans bust. He |
did not know who the man was but 1
he a hor 10 !,
self, the charge taking effect in the win |
dow sill. Then he saw old man Williams |
pass out on the back porch and down the |
steps to the corner of the house Williams /
came to the corner of the house and fired (
at him. Marshal Kelly returned the fire /
and struck Williams again.
Williams retreated to the farther side (
lot th9 house and thGn tbs GARRISON /
brothers opened fire on him. He came
from around the house into the open yard /
and Marshal Kelly saw him loading his
gun as he came. Marshal Kelly plead /
with him again, he says, to surrender
put instead he threw his piece up to make |
an answer with lead Marshal Kelly and |
one Of the Garrison brothers fired at him |
just as he pulled the trigger and, throw
ing up his hands, he fell backward on |
he ground. his bullet tearing off part of
shed under which the officers were |
Standing
sieve and John Williams then came out |
OF the house. where they had taken ref
use during the fight, and surrendered |
me sons We're hand-cuffed and confined /
IN The house, while attention was given to /
thcir wounded sire. Williams lay for a |
moment motionless on the ground where |
ne IeH and then, reaching for his rifle |
NIdWled to the back steps and attempted /
70 mount the shed, the blood flowing from /
d dozen wounds and leaving a trail be-
hlnd him as he crawled. Half way up the |
hp fafv i
4he officers did not tarry long on the |
scene Of their sanguinary operations. With |
sieve and John Williams they hurried on |
10 Helena, not before however, Sheriff |
rank Algood had been notified of the af- /
Ialr by Lucius Williams father-in-law, |
VINO sWore out warrants for Marshal Kelly /
ana the Garrison brothers before the near |
est justice of the peace, charging them |
win assault with intent to murder. The |
sAerllf, with several deputies, came on TO /
MACON with the government officers and |
,ne!r prisoners, intending to take them |
PACK under a state court warrant A |
3iuInDer OF the most influential citizens |
o. Ielfair county came up with them. |
pom their arrival here this morning Mar |
snal Kelly and the Garrisons retained |
AaHon Erwin. At 10 o'clock the parties |
Interested held a lengthy conference as |
70 The disposition of the warrant against |
tIe marshals. Mr. Erwin at once took the |
position that the sheriff could not hold the |
SeIendants on his charge; that such would /
.e unlawful and in contravention of the |
tdWs OF the United States. After good 1
zeal Of talking among themselves, the |
tarues were called into court at II 80 |
Clock when Mr.. Erwin made application /
LOT writ of habeas corpus, praying for /
me release of the defendants from the |
aahds of the state authorities on |
,he ground that their acts |
9lau been committed in the |
discharge of authority vested in them by |
me general government. He wanted his |
thents given over to the United States /
lnarshal in order that they might not be /
there
Col; j. w. Preston, who has represented |
,,Ae Williams throughout the whole Grim
-lldI proceedings against them was pres |
sHl. Addressing the court he said that |
w w me ne was not then raising objections to |
'-le application for habeas corpus. he on
- wanted to direct the courts attention /
70 'ne TACT that there was no law by /
winch the sheriff could he held 70 account /