The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-01
LOVE TRAGEDY IN A LOBBY.
pYoPRIETOR OF A wAYCROss HO-
TEL KILLS A GUEST.

Coroncrys Jury Brings in "a Ner-
dict of Murder-The Principals in
the Duel Well COnnected-NO ar
rest Made Yet.
yyavcross, Ca Dec. S1-Charles w. Will
son was killed this morning by Warren Fl.
Williams and the latter was adjudged
euilty of murder by the coroner's jury.
The tragedy occurred this morning at s
O'clock in the lobby of the Southern hotel.
Four shots were fired, two by Wilson and
two by Williams.
Mr. Williams surrendered to the sheriff
and. made a statement to the coroner's
jury.
Mr. Williams is manager of the hotel,
having come here two months ago from
Gainesville, Ga, where he was manager
of the Arlington. He graduated from
Emory College and is proprietor of the
Hartwen Ca, Sun. His health is deli
cate. He is apparently 80 years old. He
is well connected in North Georgia.
Mrs. Williams, his young wife, is pretty
and accomplished. She arrived only
week or two ago from Atlanta, where she
was i'll two months from typhoid fever in
st. Joseph's Infirmary. Mrs. Williams
has a beautiful head of black hair and
graceful figure.
Mr.. Wilson was about 25, and a hand
some man. His father, Col. 1. G.. Wilson,
resides a. Demopolis, Ala, and will ar
rive in the morning and take his sons
remains home for interment.
Mr. Wilson was a nephew of ]. c. S.
Timberlal1e of the Hotel st. Simons of
St Simons Island fame, and was promi-
nent in society in Georgia and Alabama
He was popular and a Chesterfield in
manners.
Mr.. Wilson became a guest of the hotel
three days ago, and paid marked atten-
ton to the pretty wife of his host, Mr..
Williams.
MIR. Williams has not been remanded to
jail but is in@custody
Wilson was on his way to breakfast
and on being called by Williams turned
round, facing the latter. They had
heated conversation regarding some mat
ter though there are no witnesses as to
what was said. They were in the hall
leading to the dining room just outside
the office
1t appears that both men understood
each other, Williams having just learned
tnat Wilson had insulted Mrs. Williams
last night and Wilson having learned that
his conduct had been reported to Williams
From what could be seen from the din
ing room by DR.. Dedge and Col. ]. Wal
ter Bennett, Williams and Wilson appear
ed excited, though Col. Bennett says that
his attention was not attracted until the
first pistol shot was fired. He saw the
smoke and flashes from the pistols and the
outlines of two men, but couldn't deter
mine who they were. His view was not
as clear as was DR.. Dedge's who was
facing the tragedy and saw clearly the
men and their movements.
The first shot from Williams pistol
proved fatal. passing through Wilson s
chest. Whether the bullet entered the
chest and passed through the back part of
his left shoulder or entered the shoulder
and passed through, a post-mortem eX-
animation by the doctors was required to
settle. The statement of the physicians
has not as yet been made, but it will be
made public tomorrow.
As there is no testimony from Wilson s
side, there being no one who heard the
conversation between the two men, the
only idea that can. as yet, be had as to
the cause of the tragedy is that obtained
from Williams own statement
The guests of the hotel failed to dis
cover anything suspicious regarding Will
sons attentions to Mrs. Williams, and
the tragedy was a shock to everybody.
Mrs Williams has not been interviewed
and Williams says he will have proof TO
exonerate him when the case is tried.
The hotel has been besieged all day and
tonight by people anxious to see the dead
man and learn about the tragedy. Mys-
terry surrounds the details of the cause OF
the killing beyond what has been stated.
Mr.. Williams made the following state
ment at the coroners inquest this morn
ing:
I was in the office of the hotel this
morning some time about o'clock stand
ing behind the counter. Mr. Wilson came
IN the front door of the office and walk
ed very rapidly by the water cooler out of
the door iptO the hall lpq6iOn the dining
room. AS he passed 1 spoke to him, and
ne spoke to me saying, Good morning. -
spoke to him and asked him him to wait
minute, and he either did not hear me
or would not stop. Then l went to the
door leading to the dining room and call
ed again and he appeared not to hear me
again | called to him and he looked
around but did not stop, and walked fast
and overlook him. l told him that
wanted to speak to him about a little mat
Ter or started to tell him when he sawed
me Off, and said i have done nothing tC
you He appeared to be very insolent
and again | started to say something
When he flushed up and said: L haven't
uone anything to you to apologize for, and
~ God you can't make me- He of course
knew his guilt and acknowledged it be-
lore | had mentioned il to him. and knew
What l expected to speak to him about
AS he made this last statement he pu
MS hand in his back pocket, and re-
membered having carried my pistol to tht
pos-ohice with me the night before as Il
was very late, and felt for mine. To th'
uest of my knowledge, we both got oui
pistols out about the same and both free
apout the same time, the ball from hi.
pistol passing right over my head. 1 don
Know where the ball from my pisto
struck, neither do l know which fired hrst
gut we fired about the same time Whel
went out there and stopped him in tht
passage ! simply intended to ask him II
peaceable manner TO move his boarding
pace, and he sneered at me in a trium
Phant manner, and then felt for his pistol
and OF course / realized that it was
matter OF Kill or be killed, and / felt 70
my gun. l am not in the habit of carry
ing pistol with me- and only had it oi
enls occasion as | had gone to the post
oIuce the night before very late and tn
stores all seemed to be deserted, and pu
NY pistol in my outside overcoat pocket
ana this morning as / was unwell / pu
my oVerooat on, and failed to remove tn
pstoi from my pocket. 1 generally talk
my pistol in the morning and put il In III