The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-12-07
He SHOT TWO MEN
WITHOUT CAUSE.
HigginbOtham, Driving by, Fired
Five Bullets Apparently
Just For Fun.
ONE OF THE VICTIMS MAY Die.
Preacher Shot Through the FOOt-0ficers
Couldn't Find the White Man-Most
Peculiar Mania For Murder.

Without apparent cause, and evil
IDENTIFY from the mere desire to shoot
somebody, Curtis Higginbotham
white, yesterday afternoon shot G. A.
Austin and Rev. George Adams, COL
ored.
The shooting occurred on E street,
about two blocks above Blood worth's
store,an directly in front Of the square
frame house that is we'll known to all
who travel that road.
The preacher was shot through the
right foot. Austin was shot through
the body, just below the heart, and Will
probably die.
The shooting was cold biooded. 1t
lacked any shadow of provocation.
1t seemed as though the white man
did the deed as piece of sport, as one
would shoot deer or bird,
The only eyewitness to the crime
was Mr.. Will B. Moore, son of Under
taker C. q. Moore. Mr.. Moore was
out on collecting tour, and stopped
at the square frame house to make
collection. AS he came out of the
door, he saw Higginbotham driving
by, in wagon drwan by black horse.
Opposite the house, he slackened his
horses pace to walk, and drew a
pistol.
II then," said Mr.. Moore, "saw two
negroes standing near me on the side
walk, talking to each other. Higgin-
botham, whom l recognized perfectly,
took deliberate aim at the men, and
fred five shots. Then. with a grin on
his face, he drove on, urging his horse
to trot, and looking back OCCASION
ally. l was so struck with amaze ment
that | thought the man must have
fred blank cartridges. Austin walked
across the road, and leaned against a
tree. | went to the preacher and ask.
ed If he was hit. He pulled a bullet
out of the sole Of his shoe, and said
that he had been shot through the
foot. then went to Austin, and
found him unable to talk. He fell on
the ground and rolled to and fro,
moaning plteously. BY that time
several parties had arrived, and |
went to Bloodworth's, where l tele-
phoned for a policeman and a doctor.
In the meantime, the men were put
in wagon, and taken to the city.
Not word was said by either of the
parties before the shooting, and Hig-
ginbothsm made no remark before he
fred. He seemed to be we'll satisfied
with his work as he drove on"
Austin and Adams were brought to
the city, and taken to the office of DR..
Blanton, who ordered them taken to
the city hospital, and summoned City
Physician Branham to attend them.
DR.. Blanton said at the time that
Austin appeared to be fatally hurt.
Austin lives at Sterling, and has a
good reputation for sobriety and hon.
esty. The preacher lives in New Town,
and has the best of regulations.
Immediately after the shooting, AS
sistant Chief Levison, Officer Wilchar
and Harry Coins left in hack In pur-
suit of Higginbotham, who lives six
miles from the city, on the Darien
road.
Higginbotham was seen IN the after
noon before the shooting at Haas sa-
loon. He seemed co be drunk, and
was playing with pistol. a by
stander lodged out of his way, and be
remarked: "oh, don't be afraid. Pm
not going to shoot you"
The officers returned to the city last
night. They were unable to find Hig-
ginbotham at his home. Every effort