The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-13
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A REWARD EARNED.
A COIquitt County offender Arrested
in VaIdOsta.

Valdosta. Ca, Feb. 12-Joe Congo a
white man, for whose arrest a reward OF
$50 has been standing for nearly year,
was arrested here at a late hour last night,
and he is now in the county Jail
Congo and a man named Gibbs are
charged with the killing OF a man named
Sumner in Colquitt county. about year
ago. The tragedy at the time excited the
people of that section to a very high pitch.
The killing was believed TO have been cold
blooded assassination to get rid of one of
the important witnesses who was to tes-
tify against the two men in cases pend
ing in court.
1t was alleged that Congo and Gibbs
had been doing very lively cattle-stealing
business, and indictments had been made
against them by the grand jury. Sumner
was the most important witness against
them. One day last year the body of sum
ner was found by the road side with
wounds inflicted upon II. Evidence was
gotten that laid the killing to Congo and
Gibbs. Both of them left the section and
went to Florida. Congo says that he left
Gibbs several months ago. and that they
separated while going down the Suwanee
river together in boat. The officers here
have accepted this statement with a good
deal of salt and they will begin a search
at once for Gibbs, they having pretty good
evidence that he is not far from this city.
Congo came up to the city from Jasper
last night and reached mere at about II
O'Clock. He was seen to get off the train
by parties who knew him, ana ne was
pointed out to citizens who were at the
depot. A messenger was sent to the city
in a hack to inform the officers here of
the facts, and they began TO watch out
for the fugitive. In a few minutes Congo
came up the streets and went toward q
saloon. which was still open. lie was i'm
his shirt sleeves, and carried a Winches-
ter rifle Most of the buttons about his
clothes were made from tin tobacco tags,
which evidenced that he had been spend
inc his time away from the towns-proba-
hly i'm the swarnpsa He was spotted by
Policemen Chastain and simmons. and in
a few minutes he was arrested and placed
re was seen this morning at the Jail
BY a Morning News reporter, and he made
no effort TO conceal his identity He
stated that he was present when Sumner
was killed but said that he had nothing
to do with the killing. He claims that
Sumner came upon him and Gibbs In the
rond He accosted Sumner in polite
manner and Sumner saluted him IN a
cordial way. Gibbs. SO Congo says spoke
10 Summer. but was not recognized. sum
ner saying that nc did not care TO have
anything to do with him. This led TO "A
quarrel between the two, and Sumner was
killed The feeling became so intense
among the dead mans friends that Congo
claims to have felt unsafe, so he left with
Congo tells his story in a very straight
forward manner. and many who have
heard him talk are inclined 20 believe that
Gibbs really did the killing.
Tho authorities at Mouitre have been
tclephoned about the capture, and 1t Is
said that they are afraid TO have Congo
carried there, because the excitement over
the killing has not died out sufficiently
TO warrant a trial for either OF the two
men charged with tho killing.
There are a large numOgr OF prominent
people az Lake Alcyone now. and they are
having all sorts of sport. hunting. fish
ing etc. The party Is made up OF Bal
timoreans. Atlantiaus and people from
Florida and Virginia They have forty
Eve fox dogs along. and are having much
fun chasing foxes. wildcats, etc They
have Killed a large number OF turkeys
ducks ana partridges, and have caught
almost any quantity OF fish. The waters
OF Lake Alcyonc and the fields and forest
around there furnish the best hunting and