The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-11
SHERIFF AFTER POLICEMAN.
MOUNTED OFFICER w. II. FLEMING
TAKEN TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

Sheriff j. w. Lancaster of Barnwen
County Came for Him With n Re
QUESTION Signed by Gov. NOrthen
and Dated March, IS03-Charged
with assault and Battery ano In
tent to KiII"-StOry of the Fight
which Led TO the Warrant-FIem-
ing Was Marshal of WiIIistOn-Has
Never Attempted to Conceal Him
self and Was Somewhat Surprised
when Informed He Was Wanted.
Sheriff ]. w. Lancaster of BarnwelI. S.
c., reached the city yesterday with requi-
sition for Policeman Walter H. Fleming,
who is wanted there on charge of AS
sault and battery and intent to KILL" ac-
cording to the statement in the requis1-
ton.
Sheriff Lancaster left the city with Po-
liceman Fleming last night to return to
Barnwell, where he will endeavor to ar
range his bond for appearance at once,
and return to Savannah.
When Sheriff Lancaster arrived in the
city he went first to Sheriff Roman, showed
his requisition. and it was placed in the
hands Of Deputy Sheriff Hartigan for
service. Policeman Fleming, who is a
the time, but was called in at once in
answer to the summons.
He was somewhat surprised when in
formed that he was wanted, because it
has been more than three years since
the alleged assault took place, and though
he has made no attempt whatever at
concealing himself, no efforts have here
tofore been made to arrest him.
Il had no idea that 1 was wanted on
that charge at this late day." he said,
when Chief McDermott asked him about
the matter. 1T is true, though, that 1
had a serious difficulty with a white man
named Bush at Williston, in Barnwen
county, something. over three years ago
II was, l believe, in the early part OF
November, 1892"
Policeman Fleming then went on to ex-
plain the details of the difficulty. He was
marshal of the town of Williston, in Barn
well county, at the time, and often had
some of the bad characters of the place.
As the passenger train came in one night,
he said he was suddenly knocked down
jumped to his feet and began to resent
the assault several other negroes started
at him. Bush, who was friend of the
negroes, he states, bar keeper in the
town, took their part, coming up either to
stop the row or to take a hand Before
he did anything Fleming says he caught
him over his back and threw him to the
ground. As Bush was attempting to rise
Fleming struck him, with his pistol, and
as Bush ran away he fired two or three
shots in the air. If he had had any inten-
ton of killing Bush, he says, ii would
have been an easy matter, as the man
was not ten feet away from him when the
shots were fired. He fired them over his
head, he states, making no attempt to
strike him.
The queer part of the proceeding is that
no effort apparently has been made to
- he At.
The requisition bears the date March, 1893
showing that 1t was secured very shortly
after the fight took place. 1t was granted
B. r. Tillman.
Fleming says Immediately after the af-
falr ne simply resigned as marshal no at
tempt being made to arrest him at that
time, and went to Augusta, where he re-
manned until February, 1893. So far as he
knows, no effort was ever made to arrest
him while he was there. He then came
to Savannah, where he went into business
for short while, and then accepted an
appointment on the police force. He has
been on the force now about two years
and three months.
Sheriff Lancaster stated, however. that
efforts had been made to arrest him He
says the warrant was placed in the hands
of the sheriff of Richmond county. he
thinks, just about the time Fleming left
Augusta to come to Savannah. Fleming
states. however, that he has seen the
sheriff of Richmond county several times
since then, but that the matter has never
been mentioned to him. Sheriff Lancaster
said he had just received information
from the sheriff of Richmond county that
Fleming was in Savannah, and that up to
the present time he had not known where
to locate him. The facts in the case would
make 1t appear that no very strenuous eff
forts have been made to find him, as he
has not tried to conceal his whereabouts
from anyone.
He and Sheriff Lancaster greeted each
other very cordially when they met and
FIeming expressed perfect willingness
to return and answer to the charge They
| left last night to return to Barnwell
| Fleming says he will have no trouble in
giving the bond required at once, and will
be back in day or two. The bond will
probably be something like $500. The
charge amounts to the same thing as as
sault with intent to murder under the
| Georgia laws
| Policeman Fleming, as is well known.
| has become quite strongly Identified with
the administration forces, as a worker
! when off duty in bringing in voters to be
| registered at the tax collectors office. He
is large, heavy-set man, but of quiet
| and unoffensive disposition, and has Al
ways made a good officer.
| Stnn Thfoff