The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-09
A KNIFE N HIS HEART.
James Smith Killed in a Quar-
rel Over a Pawn Ticket.
A WOMAN HIS SLAYER.

Mnrder-The woman and Her Vic
tim Doth CoIOred-A Debt of six
Cents and a Pawn Ticket for "a Pair
of Cheap shoes Responsible for the
Tragedy-The killing Mt bryan
and Lumber Streets-The COrOner's
Inquest in Progress,
James Henry Smith was stabbed to the
heart by Virginia Williams at Bryan and
Lumber streets at 12:l5 o'clock this morn
ing.
The killing was entirely causeless and
unprovoked. The Williams girl was
Smiths mistress and both were about the
same age. between 10 and 20 years. Both
are colored and belonged TO the worst
neighborhood of Yamacraw.
They had been drinking together and
Quarreled about pawn ticket belonging
10 the woman, which Smith had and would
not give to her. They came down Bryan
street together after u o'clock and joined
a crowd of their own class at Lumber
street. They had been there about half
an hour when the woman remarked that
she was going TO raise - with "Smitty,"
and walked over and stabbed him without
further provocation.
Evidently she did not intend to kill
him, as she ran after him down the street
10 where he fell, and seeing that he was
seriously hurt turned and ran off in the
opposite direction in an effort to escape
She was followed by two young negroes
who had seen the cutting, and who held
her until the arrival of Policeman Bar
rett.
Policemen Cronin and Barrett were Just
block away from the stabblng about the
time it took place. Seeing a crowd at
Bryan and Lumber streets. they started
IN that direction to investigate. officer
Cronin was mounted, and as he passed
the middle of the block Smith came run
ming up and fell on a stoop at No. 2S3
Bryan.
one Of the men who saw the cutting
pointed out the woman who did it to Po-
Hceman Barrett She was hurrying off
down Bryan street. but he followed her on
a run and soon had her under arrest
The woman was sent to the barracks to-
gether with the two men who had aided
in her arrest. ana who were detained as
witnesses. a Morning News reporter saw
the trio there
The Williams woman, or girl rather was
very sulky and not inclined to talk. She
had evidently been drinking as she ac-
knowledged. In response to questions she
said Me and Smitty was coming down
Bryan street together. He had my pawn
ticket for a pair of shoes and wouldn't give
it to me. He struck at me with a knife and
cut him."
This was about all that could be gotten
out of her. She said that she and Smith
had been going together for about two
years.
John Chisholm, who saw the stabbing,
said: Il was standing in a crowd at Bryan
and Lumber streets talking with 'Smitty.'
who was a friend of mine. Virginia Will
Iams was standing off little piece talk
ing with Bud Lawson. I walked over to
where she was and 'Smitty' started to talk
to another girl She said I am going over
there and raise - with Smitty.' She
walked over to where he was standing
and drew knife and struck him in the
left breast. He ran right off along Bryan
street toward West BROad street He ran
about a hundred yards and fell. She ran
right after him. When she got up to
where he fell she turned around and ran
back to Lumber street and along that
street 10 Powder lane and down toward
the creek. When saw her run back that
way l knew "Smitty" was badly hurt,
and / thought 1 would follow her and
see where she went. 1 came up with her
She knew me and said 4 cut Smitty
while ago. 1 talked to her about 1t a
while to keep her until the policeman
came up. Policeman Barrett came up,
and turned her over to him..
Ed Williams also followed the woman
when he saw that there had been a serious
cutting ARRAY, and helped to detain her
until the arrival of Policeman Barrett.
After she had been sent into the bar
racks officers Cronin and Barrett re-
manned at the stoop where Smith fell I'M
til Coroner Goette arrived. Smith never
spoke after the cutting One or two of his
friends followed him, and We're nearby
when he dropped. They spoke to him. but
he only gasped, and in few minutes
breathed his last.
The killing created considerable excite
ment in the neighborhood, and a large
crowd of negroes soon assembled to get
glimpse of the dead man. Coroner
Goette arrived shortly before 2 O'Clock.
and at once began to summon witnesses
for the inquest. He found about half a
dozen who were direct witnesses to the
crime, and their story was practically
the same.
Those who were standing near the cor
ner of Bryan and Lumber streets when the
cutting took place. said they heard the
woman ask eXcitedly:
Where is my pawn ticket?"
You can't get it until you give me that
6 cents" is said to have been Smiths re-
ply.
was the woman's reply, as her knife was
raised in the air, and plunged into Smiths
breast, near the heart.
With that he ran about 100 yards up