The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1896-09-09
BULLET THROUGH THE BRAIN.
A STREET TRAGEDY SATURDAY AT
TERNO0N.
Dewitt Pickett Kills Fill johnson, Ne
gro. Released on $4,000 Bond for
Manslsughter.

gro. Released on a $4,000 Bond for
Manslsughter.
Dewitt Pickett, well known and
highly esteemed young man of DaW-
son. shot and killed Bill Johnson, a
negro, Saturday afternoon
The tragedy occurred about half past
four O'Clock in front of the store of
Roberts g. Hatcher.
The pistol ball went through the ne
gro's head, and spattered his brains on
the ground.
Sheriff Christie, Chief Savage and
Jailer Slade, who were near by, were
at the scene of the killing and hasti-
ly carried young Pickett to Jail.
johnson was taken from the sidewalk,
where he fell, to the council chamber,
and fingered until nearly seven
O'Clock before dying. He never spoke
after being shot.
Bad feeling had existed between
Pickett and the negro for some time,
and Saturdays trouble, which resulted
so disastrously, was precipitated by
johnson imposing on Tom Pickett, a
little brother of Dewitt Pickett, at the
artesian well.
CORONER's INQUEST,
When Johnson died Coroner Daniel
was notified, and Sheriff Christie sum-
moned the following jury: Charles
Deubler, L. d. Hatcher, D. f. McLain,
j. M. Alexander, JAS. w. Roberts and
I. o. Whitchard. The jury was sworn
about 8 80 O'Clock, and after examining
the body of the dead man turned it over
to relatives and adjourned until eight
O'Clock Monday morning.
When the jury reassembled Monday
morning Mr.. E. I. Jordan was the first
witness sworn. He testified that he
heard pistol shot and saw the negro
fall but did not see the pistol.
Mr.. Whit Hood swOre that he saw the
killing. Heard johnson tell Pickett,
II will do 1t to you or you will do it to
me; | am going to raise hell with you. :"
johnson walked loff down the
streets and Pickett followed. Can
not say how johnson was facing
when shot; think he was going from
Pickett. They were three or four feet
apart.
Miss Martha FurgasOn testified that
she saw Bill johnson and Dewitt Pick
EFT having fuss at the pump, where
Iom Pickett was pumping waterin a
tub. The negro had dish pan, and
put it on Toms tub. Afterwards saw
johnson at Roberts & Hatchers store.
Saw Pickett coming and spoke to him.
Pickett asked Johnson if he meant what
he said, and the negro said, eyes, if
you fool with me | will whip hell out of
you on this sidewalk" Pickett then
shot. Shot the negro in front. Cross
examined she swore that she heard
johnson call Pickett s-b- at the
well some time before the shooting.
Lewis Jeffers swore that he knew
Dewitt Pickett and Bill johnson. Did
not sea them fussing. Saw Pickett
shoot johnson, but did not see their po-
sltlOns. Did not hear any Cursing.
Didn't know whether johnson made
any effort to fight or not. They were
about three feet apart. Saw them
Just as the pistol fired. That was the
Nv hhCW VI lUs
THE VERDICT.
No other evidence was introduced.
and the jury rendered the following
verdict:
eve, the jury sworn by the coroner
TO investigate the death of William
johnson, find that he came to. his death
by a pistol shot wound, and the same
was in the hands of Dewitt Pickett"
A warrant for voluntary manslaugh-
ter was sworn out against the young
man, and bail was assessed at 81, 500 by
Judge j. w. Peddy. The bond was
readily given.
William Johnson had the reputation
of being a bad, rowdy character
among both the whites and his own
race.