The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-24

the shots was fired just as they came in
the door. The man in the lead ran to the
rear of the store and fell over STOOL He
got up and ran out. l went to Mr.. Ash
ford took his pistol and unloaded it, He
seemed to be perfectly cool and collected.
He said nothing l did not see that other
man have a weapon
ut all happened in a minute" said Will
liam Rosenstihl. 81 first noticed two men
running in the store Two shots were
fired"
John Rosenstihl said that Brown was
apparently making an effort to do some
thing with his hands. He did not know
whether he was trying to draw a weapon
or not When they had cotton almost to
the center of the store in the right aisle,
he said, another shot was fired, and he
run behind one of the men. He did not
know which one 1t was.
Taken to the Police Station
Ashford was taken to the police station
On the way there he gave officer Patton
several 3S-calibre cartridges. At the ponce
station he was taken up stairs in Ch'ei
McDonald's private office. Friends began
to gather and in few moments the once
was crowded.
Judge
and his bond was fixed ait $500 and a war
rant sworn out before Desk Sergeant ROW
lette for assault with intent to commit
murder The bond was signed by S. D.
Weakley H. H. Mayberry and Henry B.
| Gray.
Mr. Ashford ohatted pleasantly with
| friends, and about the only request made
| was to keep the news from his aged
mother. His wife was notified and a son
| of Fred Ashford, who was killed by Felix
| Brown was among the callers
1T is said that Mr.. Ashford in recitinS
| the incident to friends stated that when
| he met Brown that the latter made an
| attempt as though to draw a weapon. He
then shot. 1t is understood that he said
| that when the last shot was fired in the
| store he held his pistol in the air for fear
| of hitting one of the Rosenstihls who had
| run behind Brown. To an Age-Heracd re-
| porter he would make statement. He
retained S. D. Weakley and r. j. Lowe
| to defend him.
After his bond was signed he went to his
place of business in Third avenue with a
party of friends and from there home.
His Attorneys Statement
One of his attorneys dictated the follow
|
and then signed it.
| Ashford was on his way to Rosenetihl
| Bros and had reached the door, when he
saw Brown. He was not looking for Brown.
He has never sought him. 1t might truth
fully be said HE had kept out of his way.
He had reason to believe he would have
| to act in self-defnse when he did meet him,
and he actad as the circumstances de-
| tod in il
out and we believe that he will be vindi-
Gated by the law of this land the sentiment
| of the community"
1t is claimed by Ashfords friends that
since the Courtland tragedy that he has
avoided coming in contact with Brown on
account of his wife and aged mother.
| 1t is said that he had business to attend
to in Huntsville and Courtland and re-
| Trained from going, as he did in the case
| of his brothers funeral
When his brother, Fred Ashford, was
| killed his mother, who is 70 years old,
almost succumbed from grief. 1t was
claimed last night but could not be veri-
| fled, because Mr.. Ashford would make no
statement, that Brown had said that he
would deal with the present Ashford as he
had done his deceased brother. The friends
of Brown also claim that Ashford had made
the threat that he would kill him on
sight.
Il. T. Ashford has been resident of Bir-
mingham for probably ten years, and was
elected alderman at the last election.
Brown at the infirmary
When Felix Brown fell in the hallway of
the Nabers, Morrow & Sinnige building, he
was taken to the office of DIR. Parks.
His clothing removed and the flow
of blood stopped He was then taken in an
ambulance to the Wilson & Brown in
firmary, where the dressing of his wounds
was completed.
Those who were first to him when he fell
say that no weapon was found his
person. He was too exhausted to say any
thing.
At the infirmary he said nothing, only
| occasionally asking the to bath his
| face in ice water DIR. Wilson said that his
wounds were not necessarily fatal, and
| that he had a good chance for recovery.
| He is a robust and had never been
addicted to drink, which counts in his ia
vor. AT a late hour the doctor said all
| fear of hemorrhage was over.
Many of his friends among the travelling
men called, and at about $3.50 Solicitor
| Brown went into his room. He began an
| EFFORT 10 get a statement from the WOUNDED
man as to the ARRAY This was difficult,
! as the blood from the face wound contn-
ually filled his throat. He told of how the
shots were fired, as stated above.
| The effort to get the statement caused
relapse in the patient and both Drs. Will
son and Brown were summoned They or
! dered that the patient talk no more.
Mr.. Brown is man of about 50 years of
age, dark completed and of medium height
and weight. He is widower and has two
i children living at Huntsville. He is quite
| popular among the travelling men. and they
| will see that he is well cared for. He ar
rived in Birmingham last Monday and reg
| istered at the Morris hotel.
| Messrs. Ashford and Brown belong to two
| of the "oldest and best families of the
| state"