The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-23
KILLED HIS MoTHER-IN-LAW.
FATAL ENDING OF FAMILY QUAR-
REL ON THE TELFAIR ROAD.

Isaac Small Shot Matilda Terrell and
and Then Fled to the Swamps.
Two Bullets Fired Into Her Body.
The Coroner's Jury Charged small
with the Crime
While involved in family row at his
home, three and a half miles from the city,
on the Telfair road. Isaac Small, colored
man. % years old, shot and killed his
mother-in-law, Matilda Ferren, yesterday
morning. after which he fed 10 the swamps
nearby and has not been seen since.
The alteration, from which the murder
followed seems to have been first between
Small and his wife, but later on, the man
became incensed at his aged mother-in-
law. on account of the part which She is
said to have taken as a peacemaker while
her daughter and son-in-law were quar-
relling. and fired two shots from a heavy
pistol at her. both of which took effect and
from which she died an hour after the
shooting.
The story of the deed. as related to JUS
tice Naughtin by Moses Terrell, the hus-
band of the dead woman, seems to indicate
that Small was in a high state Of anger
when the shooting was done, not knowing
where he shot nor whom he injured. The
business of the husband in the city was to
obtain warrant for Small on the charge
of assault with intent to commit murder,
and the fact Of the wife's death was not
known by him until he returned TO his
home.
Terrell said that Small had married his
daughter and lived on the place, being
employed in the city at Feeleys stables.
Small and his wife were quarreling,
and as the proceedings were disagree
able to Ferrell he left, closed the door be-
hind him and went a short distance away.
He left the three people, his wife, son-in-
law, Small and the daughter, in the room
where the quarreling was going on. Pres
emily he heard a pistol shot, and at the
same time a shrek by his daughter. He
started for the house, but before reaching
it there were two more quick reports of
pistol shots. and Small ran from the
house. Upon entering Terrell said he
found his wife lying on the floor. She
said she had been shot by Small
Dr. R. G. Norton was summoned and
left the city for the scene of the shoot
ing. An examination revealed the fact
that two of the shots had taken effect
in the woman's side either one of which.
It is understood, would have been suffi-
cient to have produced death.
Information of the homicide was at once
sent to the police. and the city detectives
began to make investigations about the
- n So afnhE .s,1 70 graf at
something which would lead to his capture.
According to a description which they OBJ
tanned he is feet, inches high, pock
marked about the face, has dark brown
complexion, is wearing a dark brown cap
turned up on the sides, also a dark brown
coat and jeans trousers. He is heavy in
stature, quick in his movement and fire.
quently goes under the alias of "Boisy."
The police are of the opinion that Small
will locate on some farm, where he will
keep in hiding. 1t Is thought, too. that he
may make his way through the swamps to
Pooler, Meldrim, Monteith. Rincon or some
other town and there apply for work.
Coroner Goette went to the house in
the afternoon. summoned a jury and held
an inquest. Because of the fact that the
parties were all colored, the coroner sum,
moned a colored jury altogether. The
only witness who saw the killing and who
remained to tell the story was Victoria
Small, the wife of the man who did the
shooting. Her evidence was that Small
entered the house, where she had gone
with her child to attend her mother. and
begun demonstrating with her for some
reason. She stated that she took her child
in her arms and started toward the door
TO avoid hearing his talk, but before she
reached 1t he drew a pistol and fired a
her. She swore that her mother spoke
up at this juncture and, addressing Small
n
Small then turned and fired two shots
at her. after which he placed the pistol
In his pocket and walked from the house.
The verdict of the jury, after they had
retired for only a short time, was that
the woman came to her death by two pis-
tol shots fired from the hand of Isaac
Small.