The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-24
ALDERMAN ASHFORD
SHOT FELIX BROWN
Fired Three Times, All Taking
Effect.
Mr.. BROWN MAY RECOVER
Although He Was Shot Through the Back
and Right Lung,
RESULT OF AN OLD. FAMILY FEUD
Brown Killed Ashford's Brother at
CourtIand Dec. 81, 1896.
DIFFICULTY IN CROWDED STREET
Men Met For the First Time Since the Irag
edy Yesterday Afternoon and the Feud
Was Renewed Ashford Releas-
ed On a $500 Bond.

IT n Ashford member of the city coun-
Gil shot and probably fatally wounded Fe-
lix T. Brown, travelling salesman yes
terday afternoon about O'Clock. The TWO
men met in front of Rosenstihls jewelry
store in Twentieth street. Ashford nreo
three shots, the first taking effect in the
face, the second in the back, passing
through Browns right lung and the third
in the left arm. The difficulty was Sc
quel to an old family feud.
Ashford is charged with assault with in
tent to murder and is out under a $1,50O
bond. Brown is at the Wilson & Brown
infirmary. The physicians state that he
has a chance for recovery. T. T. Ashford
is an alderman and a partner in the Bir-
mingham Paint and Glass company, in
Third avenue. Felix T. Brown is travel
ing salesman for Betman, Bloom Co.,
manufacturing clothiers, of Cincinnati.
1t was almost dark when the two men
met. The streets were crowded and no one
witness saw the difficulty from beginning
to end.The first intimation of the affair
was the report of pistol and great COM
motion was created.
The Two Men Meet
Ashford was on his way to Rosenstihl's
jewelry store coming from Second avenue.
Brown was approaching from the opposite
direction. Ashford drew a revolver and
fired The ball penetrated Browns left
cheek, coming out near the ear and break
ing the large plate glass in the window of
the jewelry store. A fish set on display in
the window was also broken. From the
best information obtainable, Brown then
into bo
tered the door Ashford fired a second shot,
which struck Brown in the back at the
end of the shoulder blade, about one inch
to the right of the spinal column. This
ball came out in the right breast Brown
continued running and at point about ten
feet from the door, atte mpted to turn to-
ward Ashford, who fired again. This time
the bullet hit Brown in ,he elbow of the
left arm and came out near the wrist. A
handsome vase was smashed by this bull
let.
Brown ran to the of the store fall
Ing over one of the stationary stools. He
arose with difficulty and leaving his hat,
ran out of the front door. He was bleed
ing slightly and continued up Twentieth
street to the Nabors Morrow & Sinnige
building. He made his way up a flight of
stairs leading to the second story, where a
number of doctors offices are located AS
he entered the hallway he fell and in a
few moments was surrounded by Dr. Parks
and other physicians.
In the meantime officer Patton, who was
standing at the corner of Twentieth street
and Second avenue, ran to the jewelry
store and placed Mr.. Ashford under ar
rest. Before his arrival Mr.. Ashford had
been disarmed by A. Speaker, who is en-
ployed in the Rosensthl establishment.
Brown Killed His Brather
The difficulty is directly traceable to a
remark made about woman more than
year ago. This remark has caused one
tragedy, and it may cause another.
Late in the afternoon on Dec. 81, 1895,
Felix Brown shot and killed Fred Ash
ford, brother of the Ashford who figured
in the affray yesterday. This was result
of that Inflated remark, and the second
difficulty came almost on the anniversary
of the first.
The two men had not met since that
time. Yesterday they came face to face
and the old feud was renewed. AS told
by those familiar with the circumstances,
a remark about woman caused Felix
Brown and Fred Ashford to fall out. One
street difficulty with pistols was had, and
the climax came at the quiet little village
of CORTLAND, where Ashford was killed
In Crowded Thoroughfare
The scene of the affray is one of the
busiest portions of the city. 1t happened
that few people were on the side of the
street when the shooting took place. The
store was crowded with customers buying
Christmas goods and the majority of them
were ladies. The affair created intense
fright among the feminine witnesses, and
it is nothing short of a miracle that all
escaped uninjured.
Three gentlemen saw the part of the
difficulty that occurred in the jewelry
store. They were A. Speaker, John and
William Rosenstihl.
'I heard what L thought was a large fire
cracker at the front of the store,' sad
Mr.. Speaker. almost simultaneously
with this 1 saw two men rush in at the
front entrance. Two shots were fired be-
fore 1 could get to them. 1 think one Of