The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-25
A KNIFE THROUGH HIS HEART.
MARCUS KING STABBED TO DEATH
BY WILLIAM sPALDING.

kings Body Found In West Broad
street n short Distance From
where the stabbing Was Done
The Murderer Fled But the Police
ON His TracIo--The Tragedy sup
posed to Have Been Caused by n
WOman-COroner GOette to Hold an
Inquest To-day.
Marcus King, colored, was stabbed anu
killed last night by William Spalding,
colored. alias Joe Dudley. at West Broad
and Gwinnett streets.
The murderer made his escape, and
while a strong effort was made by the
police and detectives to catch him, the at
tempt failed, at least, for the time being.
There IS Information concerning the course
he took, from which it is thought he can
be located.
A message was received al the police
barracks at $50 o'clock that a man had
been killed on West Broad street Chief
McDermott summoned a squad Of five Do
licemen and hurried TO the scene OF the
killing. On arriving the chief and his
men were met by two policemen, with
Detectives shea. Sculy ana Bar
rett, who had heard OF the
tragedy. and were already there.
Including Chief AIcDermott there were
eleven officers on hand and a thorough in
vestigation was possible.
King was found by Chief NIcDermott ly-
ing in West Broad street at the foot OF
Hall street Several had gathered around.
but the body was not disturbed until the
officers arrived. 1t was then removed to
Goette's undertaking establishment
Nothing definite could be ascertained as
to the difficulty. The men quarreled near
HAIRS store, at West Broad and Gwlnnett
streets, where it is supposed the cutting
took place. Nothing is known regarding
the origin of the difficulty other than King
and Spalding have been with the same
woman and have had several bitter dis
putes, which led Spalding to threaten
Kings life. The suppOsition is that they
became involved in another quarrel and
fight. After being stabbed it is presumed
that King made his way to Hall street,
where he fell. While no examination was
made, the quick death of the man and the
place he was stabbed strongly indicated
that the weapon reached the heart The
police and detectives were detailed by
Chief McDermott, and every means was
used to catch Spalding. The negroes, who
are said to have been with King when the
cutting took place, could not be found,
and information from this source was
lacking. There was reason for believing
however, that Spalding went to four-mile
hill and two policemen were sent
there. The detectives set to
work searching houses in the vicinity of
Spalding's home on Hall street near JEFF
ferson, but the failure to find him showed
that he had taken to the country. He knows
how to dodge the officers, having been in
custody many time before, and a fire.
quent chain-gang visitor.
He has an uncle living some miles from
the city on the Ogeechee road, and il is
possible he went that direction
Coroner Goette will hold an inquest to-
day, and while the witnesses to the cut
ting are not known, he expects to be able |
to locate them. Coroner Goette's state,
ment in this regard viii likely be carried
out. In the investigation of such cases
he has shown much skill as coroner ana |
and Solicitor General Osborne, in a re
cent argument took occasion to compli. |
ment him as the best coroner ever serv.
ing Chatham county.
The police and detectives will also con,
tinue work on the case, and when the in |
quest is held, material evidence will prob |
ably be forthcoming