The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-26
KILLED IN A STREET BRAWL.
WILLIAM TITCOMB's DEATH FROM
FRACTURED SKULL.


Geo. II. Dyer, a Barkeeper and
james Brown, an Ex-Fireman I'm
der Arrest to Await the COroner's
Investigation-The story of the
Killing as Far as known by the
POIIce-Titcomb Kept at the Bar
racks While an omcer Hunted For
Physician.
William r. Titcomb, an account of whose
wounds received in a row on South Broad
street, was given in yesterdays
Morning News, died at the
Savannah hospital at 8 o'clock.
His injuries, which were thought. lat first
to be only scalp wounds, proved to be
fractures of the skull. They were inflicted
with heavy bludgeon or club.
The affair occurred about 80 o'clock on
South Broad street. between Price and
Houston Titcomb was picked up sense
less and carried to the police barracks,
where he renamed for an nour longer with
out medical attention Efforts were made
to secure one of the city physicians, but
the physicians were not at home or the
policemen who were sent after them could
not find them,
The sergeant on duty was busy and did
not realize the serious nature of Titcombs
injuries. When he found that he could
not get a physician he sent the man to
the Savannah hospital in the police am
bulance, where he arrived between and
4 O'Clock W
There will be come difficulty in getting
at the real facts in the killing of Titcomb.
George II. Dyer, barkeeper, and James
Brown, an ex-fireman, are under arrest,
held subject to the order of the coroner.
Dyer Is said to be the man who struck
Titcomb with the club, although one wit
ness said Brown did it, There were two
or three other men in the party with
Brown and Dyer who will be arrested if
they can be found.
The witnesses to the affair are rather
uncertain as to how 1t occurred. Practi-
cally every one present, so far as could
De learned, was under the influence of IL
qour, so much so that it will be difficult
Tor them to give an accurate statement
five or six in number, were out celebrat-
ing, and as usual under such circum-
stances, they sought the. disreputable
houses at the eastern end of South Broad
street. The party went up on the stoop
Of Madame Connelly's house, No. q South
Broad street Brown, Dyer, and two or
three others came up Immediately after
them. The proprietress came to the door
and seeing the crowd on the stoop de-
clined to admit any of them. dispute
arose as to which crowd was on the stoop
first and the fighting began in short or
der. One of the men, supposed to be
Dyer, welded a club with terrible effect,
and the others used their fists.
HOW Iftcomb came to get into the fight
Is uncertain, as he is said not to have been
with either party when 1t began. After
the Tight was over he was found lying on
the sidewalk, his head resting in a pool
Of blood.
Dyer and Brown were arrested about 9
O'Clock by Policeman Shea, who found
them on East Broad street. They were
locked up at the barracks to await the
order Of the coroner. William Gels who
received two blows over the head with a
club during the melee, says that Dyer is
the man who hit him. Dyer has been in
trouble before and is said to be bad man
IN fight. Brown is well-known charac-
ter; He seldom gets into fight, however.
and those who know him well say that he
was never known to use either knife
or a stick in a fight
Inc coroner's inquest, which will be held
this morning, will doubtless throw more
light on the subject.
The dead man is said to have been a
harmless. inoffensive sort of man. though
dlssipated, and of little physical strength,
he Is put down in the directory as a.
Watchman. and lived with his aged mother
az NO. l57 York street