The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-20
A REWARD ron AN ARTILLERYMAN
President Johnston Offers 800 for
the One Who Assaulted MOtOrman

President Johnston Offers 800 for
the One Who Assaulted MOtOrman
West.
President ]. H. Johnston of the City and
Suburban railway announced in yester-
days Morning News that the company
wouid pay 500 reward for the arrest, with
proof to convict of the member of the
Georgia Artillery who assaulted Motor
man West on his car, at Liberty and TAFT
nail streets, on the morning of Jan. 1.
An account of the affair was published in
the Morning News at the time. The col
ored troops were preparing for their eman-
cipatloh cay parade. The Georgia Ar
tlllery was on its way to join the parade
When ITS progress was interrupted by a
CITY and Suburban street car
II was claimed by some of the colored
hlltary that the car ran into the COM
pdny ana struck one of the guns. Any
way, several members from the rear Of
the company made a desperate attack on
the motorman, striking him with their
saDers. One of them pinked him in the
neck, making a painful, but not a serious
wound. The motorman continued on his
run, however, and made no report of the
a1alr at the Office of the company. He did
report II, however, to policeman, whom
ne met, and efforts were made bv the de-
without success
President Johnston knew nothing of the
Morning News. He Immediately summon
ed Motorman West and had him make A
statement of the affair In his statement
the motorman said that he was going
west on Liberty street, when he saw the
company crossing the track turning from
JEFFERSON into Liberty. He slowed down
ana came TO a stop at the end of the
SIdss pat near the corner of TattnalI
street He waited until the entire com
pahy, as he thought, had crossed when
ne started up again. He noticed that
there A..
MS right, but as they were some distance
behind, he concluded that they did not
peiong TO the company and started ahead
with his car. When he did SO the men
in the rear became very much excited
and made an attack upon him with their
saoers several striking him with the fiat
81 the sabers, and one sticking him in
the neck. He retreated into the car in
jury.
Capt. Johnston said yesterday that as
soon as he had secured the motorman' 5
statement he addressed a letter to Capt
J, I. simmons, colored,- commanding the
georgia Artillery and demanded of him
the names of the men who had assaulted
the motorman. He received no reply to
this letter, and on Jan. Is addressed an
other letter to Capt Simmons. To this
summons replied. stating that the car
had run into the rear end of the com
pany and endangered the lives of several
OF his men, but claimed that he did not
see the assault upon the motormau and
that ne heard nothing of it until he. too,
saw the account in the Morning News.
capt. Johnston believes that the reward
ohered by him will result in the arrest
ana conviction of the man who stuck his
saber into Motorman West. Capt. john
ston intends to find out whether citizens
can De assaulted with deadly weapons by
any crowd of men who happen to be in
uniform and to take offense at their ac-
tons without redress. He believes that
Capt Simmons is responsible for the con-
quot OF his company and will call the at
tentiOn OF the adjutant general to the case