Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1895-05-02

pan eI ulrsy water. s 1orts spit into II,
and looking around saw Alexander
Hays standing over him with a big
knife In his hands. Even then Shorts
thought Sandy was in fun, and hr
again tempted to spit In the basin
but did not do it. Then came the
fight, and finally the ciowd left the
house. By and by they decided to
rsturn and finally pulled open door
John Booth was the fir, one to enter.
AS he did he was met by Sandy who
had large pen knife in his hand, with
one Ct the blades open. AS Booth
entered, Sandy made a strike t him
and the knife caught him in the head.
This caused Booth to slightly duck his
head. and quickly Hays gave another
lunge and stabbed Booth to the heart.
The blows as described by Shor's
would have csused just such. wounds
as were IL fl cted. As Booth staggered
back he cried out, SANDY, you have
stabbed me to der tH.n
The fatally ii jured man then went
off, andJhis companions thought Re
had walked up the tracks of the Cen.
tral railroad, and Sam Harris went to
find him, and in a momeI t stumbled
over his form lying face downward be.
tween the tracks. Help was called,
and the man carried back In the front
room OF the house. The wounds were
bleeding profusely and the men were
frightened. Shorts Immediately went
to Poit Norris for physician, and re.
turned with DIR. Gorden Harker, but
befoae the physician arrived there,
Bo, th was dead.
This story of Shoots was corrobo.
rated by the other toesses locked up
In the little pr SOD.
THE ARRESTS.
The first that Constable Reed learn.
ed of any trouble t Bivalve was Sun.
day morning about one o'clock, when
he was assisting In putting out the
flames at Robbins cigar store. Sandy
Hays came to him and he was greatly
excited and nervous, and was in his
shirt sleeves. Sandy told the Consta.
ole that he had been assaulted by
Booth and Shorts, and had sworn out
warrants for tneir arrest before Justice
Compton, and wanted them arrested.
Constab Reed told Sandy that he
could not leave the fire then, but would
a tend to the matter later. Sandy was
afraid to go home, however, and told
the Constable he would give him a
dollar If he would go down to the
Reach. The officer would not, and
Sandy went off. Early that morning
the Cont table learned of the murder,
and be immedie tely went to Blvalve,
and into Hays house. Hays had just
come home, evldent tly being out all
night for his clothing was wringing
wet. He placed Sandy under arrest and
looked him up. The officer was afraid
the witnesses would endeavor to es-
cape. ana he also placed them under
arrett.
While Andrew Williams was telling
the repol ter his story, he said that
early Saturday night he met Booth,
and the latter was complaining of how
shabby Sandy Hays had tret ted bin,
after Booth had done so much for him.
Williams told the young fellow not to
have any trouble, and had Booth
promise that he would not "fuss" with
Hays.
Coroner Gabriel Robbirs took i'm.
mediate charge OF the case, and ar
ranged to have en- ir quest to-day, If
such a provision would suit the con-
venience of Prosecutor Logue. The
principal witnesses were looked up,
and others subpoened SO that there
would be no hitch. The body was
late on Sunday afternoon placed in
care of Port Nor, is undert.ker.
THE MURDERED MAN.
John Booth, the murdered man, IS a
VirgInian by birth, and came to Port
Norris with a big gang, year ago
this spring from Baltimore. He hired
with Captain Clarence Robbins, on
board the sloop "B. K. Mulford," and
we member of that boats crew st
the time Of his death. Last summer
early, he was quarrelling in Port Nor.
rts store and assaulted another man
with stool, nearly gouging his eye
out, and at special term of court,
Booth was sentenced to State Prison
for nine months, just coming out this
last winter. He had the reputation of
being quarrelsome, but was not much
given to drink.
Booth YVES q man about thilty years
OF age, smooth face, quite dark, and
weighed possibly one hundred and