The age-herald., 1897-09-11
4 FATAL SHOOTING AFFRAY Jesse CIaxton Shot and Killed
 Richard Ford. SEVEN HOLES IN HIS HEAD The Weapon Used Was Shot Gun-Ford Was Under CIaxton's House Waiting to
 Murder His Sweetheart.

Jesse Claxton, one of the most re- spectable colored men in Birmingham, shot and instantly killed Richard Ford, a negro man, about 7:3O o'clock last night. Ford was under Claxton's house, 615 Fifteenth street, at the time, and had shot once at him before the fatal shot was fired.
 Richard Ford and Lucy Williams, a bright mulatto girl about 21 years Of age, were raised together in Gainesville. They knew each other in childhood and played together They came to this city. The woman was engaged to teach school in Pratt City last season. and he went to work for a grocery firm. He worked for several firms around the city, but left here several months ago for Kansas City.
 He pressed his suit with the girl, but she refused him. It is thought that was the reason of his going west. Time passed away and he returned several days ago. Last Sunday he called on her at the residence of Jesse Claxton, where she boards She again refused his attention and a quarrel ensued. Claxton ordered him away from the place and told him not to come back again. The girl was taken sick with fever and was confined to her bed.
 Last night Ford returned to Claxton's home. A noise was heard in the yard and claxton went out to investigate. Under the house Ford was found. He was under the window of the girls room. Claxton placed a light on the ground and called for Ford to come out from under the house. His answer was shot from a 3S-calibre revolver. When the shot was fired Claxton fired one shot from double-barrelled shotgun. The load took effect in the head of Ford and he died instantly.
 Officers McDonald Mcknight and Nix were on the scene immediately and found Ford under the house where he had been shot. They brought his body out and notified the Warner Smiley com- pany to send for it. By this time Chief Mcdonald and Capt. Weir were on the scene. Claxton told the officers he did the shooting and gave himself up. He was taken to the poHca station, where he was kept under the surveillance of the officers. Later on Judge Feagin set the bond at $500 and approved the sig natures of the defendant, w. T. John son, F. B. Johnson and c. H. Cole. The charge against Claxton is that of man. slaughter.
 It is thought Richard Ford went to the. house and hid himself under the girls room for the purpose of killing her.
 The body of the dead negro was re- moved to the Warner-Smiey morgue. Seven holes were found in the left tenn ple. All that side of the face near the eye was crushed in, and the back of the head showed signs of where the load of shot had passed out The skull was broken in both places.
 "A telegram was sent to his father near Ganesville. The body will be held until he arrives, when it will probably be ssnt ito that place for ntermeat He is a very bright mulaI-to, and appeared to be about A years cid. He is unknown to the local police. Lucy Ford Taught school at Pratt City last year, and is said to have been re-engaged for the ap- preaching session.
 Jesse ClaXton has been in Birmingham fir over twenty years. He worked at his trade, that of carpentering, and &C., cumula,ed quite nice sum. He owns the home where the killing occurred, and is said to have other property in different parts Of the city. He is a sober, in- dustrious man, and has the respect of the entire population. He has never been in trouble before, and has an ex- cellent reputation. His preliminary trial will probably be held this morning in the inferior criminal court.