The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-08
TRIED TO SHOOT A POLICEMAN.
as a RESULT, JOHN MOREL, COL
ORED, MAY LOSE HIS LIFE.


Mr.. J. W. wood Saves Jernigan
From Being shot. and Came Near
Being shot Himself. but Put "A Bull
let Through MoreTs BacIS-GFeat
Excitement at the aiarket-The AZ
fair Grew Out Of Arrests Made by
Officers GodboId and Jernigan on
Account of the Killing at the Tel
fair baptist Church Last sunday
Night.
John Morel. colored, was shot and prob
ably fatally wounded. by Alr J. w. Wood,
at Jefferson and 81. Julian streets last
night about $50 o'clock.
Morel attempted to shoot Policeman
Jernigan and fired twice at Mr. Woo
before he was shot by the latter. Both
Policeman Jernisan and Mr.. Wood had
narrow escapes.
The shooting grows out of the reeen;
killing or Alex Hall by Boysy King at
the Telfair Baptist church, west Of the
city King was accompanied at the time
Of the killing by several Of his friends
from Woo1sville, his home. These ali
fed after the killing and none or them
could be found for the coroner's inquest.
The detectives decided 10 pick up some
accessories TO the murder, and, at the
least, might prove important witnesses.
Last night. shortly after O'Clock on
Ger Godbolds who was near the marker.
was approached by Joe Rivers, a friend
of Alex Hall. who informed the officer
that Willie and Milky Doyle, two of the
participants in the row at the churcn.
were in a saloon near the market COD
70
called on Policeman Jernigan who was
on duty in the neighborhood TO assist
him. Mr.. J. W. Wood. who was formerly
marshal at Thunderbolt, and a friend
named Waller, were with Officer GodboId
at the time. and, agreed to accompany
the officers.
Rivers said that the two Doyles were in
the Kentucky bar on St. Julian and Bryan
streets, west of the market The officers
accompanied him to the place Jernigan
ind Wood going on the Bryan street side
and Godbold and Waller on the St Jul
Ian street side Rivers was sent inside
to see If the Doyles We're there. He
came out and reported that only one of
the men wanted was inside so the Off
GERS decided to wait awhile for the other
brother to turn up. The one inside start
ed to leave however, and came out the
st. Julian street door. When he did so
Dficer Godbold placed him under arrest.
The negro seemed surprised and wanted
TO know the reason for his arrest. Cod
bold thought it would be well to keep him
in the dark as to the real reason for his
arrest, and so pretended that he wanted
him for a row m which he charged him
with being a participant during the morn
ing. Doyle denied this, OF course and
readily agreed 10 accompany the officer.
He cd hfaTrF "a NtN "a tn .
his brother and inform him of his arrest.
This was just what the officers wanted
and they readily agreed TO take him to his
brother. The DOyles mad wagon near
the corner of Jefferson and St. Julian
streets. and it was towards this wagon
that the prisoner led the officers. On
the way there they met the brother, who
was promptly placed under arrest by Po-
liceman Jernigan. The Doyles now saw
that they had been led into trap. They
asked to be permitted to turn their wagon
and bundles in it over to a friend before
being taken to the barracks. The officers
agreed to this.
Godbold and Waller started towards the
market call box with their prisoner, while
Jernigan and Wood went to the cart close
by with the other prisoner Previously,
at the suggestion of Godbold, Jernigan
searched his prisoner, and found nothing
of dangerous nature on him, but he dis
covered pretty soon that his search had
not been thorough enough His oversight
came near costing him his life. When the
party arrived at the wagon, Doyle called
n.
up Doyle, as quack as flash, jerked a
pistol from his breast and handed ii to
Morel The latter threw It into Policeman
Jernigan's face, apparently with inten-
ton Of shooting him, though he may have
thought to brighten him into releasing his
prisoner. Fortunately, Mr.. Wood was close
enough by to knock the pistol up with his
hand. Morel then fired two shots right
in Woods face, but did not hit him.
BY this time Mr.. Wood had gotten out
his pistol and fired two shots in quick sue
On nrpl had f1rr n ri N Vrh hon
he saw Mr.. Wood draw his pistol and one
of the bullets caught him in the back. Mr..
Wood stated afterwards that the air in
front of him was filled with smoke from
the two shots fired by Morel, and that he
did not really see the negro when he fired,
simply firing in his direction. He did not
know the negro had turned to run, but
would have fired anyway after the attempt
which Morel had made upon his life.
The shooting created great excitement.
The four shots were distinctly heard Tor
several blocks. AS usual on Saturday
nights there was a large crowd at the
market chiefly negroes, all of whom
floeked to the scene. Five minutes after
the shooting St. Julian street was black
with people. There were at least a thou
sand people gathered. The negroes were
greatly excited over the shooting of Morel
and things would have been squally fol-
the officers, had not several other Off
GERS come to the scene Is well as num-
Der of white men. Some of the negroes
wanted to lynch old Sam Mcleod, a col
ored butcher at the market, because he
said that the man in the gray coat,
meaning Mr.. Wood did right TO shoot
Morel.
The ambulance and the patrol wager
were both summoned. The two Doyles
were taken TO the barracks in the patro
wagon and Morel was taken to the same
place in the ambulance. DR.. l.. e. Welcl
was called and examined the wounded
man. He found that the bullet had STRUCK
him almost in the center of the back
apparently going in a straight direction
almost through the body He recon
mended that the man be taken to th'
Georgia infirmary at once, which wa'
done At the infirmary Morel was treated
by DR.. Weichselbaum. At midnight tn,
Waterman at the infirmary informed tn
Morning News that Morel was alive, bu
apparently suffering great pain.
At the barracks Richard Doyle wa
charged with carrying concealed weapons
and David Doyle. with melting riot a
the Telfair Baptist church Sunday nigh
a week ago. Mr.. Wood notified Chic
McDermott last night that he stood read,
70 give himself up in case Morel SHOULD
die.