The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-28
A CRoWBAR IN HIS NECK.
QUARREL BETWEEN NEGROES RE-
SUITS FATALLY FOR ONE.


Corpse-Wrights Desire to Get His
Money Led to His Arrest-Gave an
order for II to a Negro Preacher
who Fell Into the Hands of the PO-
lice - Arrested at IA House Four
Miles Ont on the Louisville Road
As the result of a quarrel over triae
which took place yesterday morning short
Iy after 10 O'clock on the Gordon wharf
William Wilcox colored. is dead and
William Wright, a 35-year-old negro oc-
cupies a cell at the barracks charged with
murder.
Both negroes were naval stores hands
employed by Foreman Joe McGilicuddy
of the S. P. shotter Company. The row
between them seems to have originated
over a banjo and 10 cents, according to the
story told by Wright at the police bar
racks last night. Other witnesses say it
was over 10 cents which Wilcox owed
Wright.
1t seems Wright had a banjo belonging
10 Wilcox and had failed to return it in
time. The Indebtedness Of 10 cents appears
10 have grown out of this. Wilcox APP
preached Wright at the Gordon wharf
yesterday morning. and a row ensued.
Wilcox did not seem inclined to fight, but
Wright did when Wilcox insisted on the
payment of the 10 cents. Wright began
cursing him for about everything he could
think Of
The quarrel thus started was abruptly
ended when Wright seized small sharp
pointed crowbar and started at Wilcox.
Raising it up he gave him jab with 1t
right in the right side of the neck. A large
ugly wound was made from which the
blood flowed freely. The juguiar vein was
severed, and a large stream of blood which
spurted out of the wound.
Wright seemed about to strike him again
and Wilcox ran. Wright went after him
Wilcox in trying to get away, went
through'a hole in the wharf and fell In the
river. 1t Is believed he was about dead
from the loss of blood when he fell The
body was recovered about an hour later
and taken TO Coroner Goettes office.
Strangely enough though. there were
many negroes standing around and though
there was a Winchester rifle at hand,
Wright was allowed to escape. 1t looked
as If he was going to get away Cnfortun-
ately, however, yesterday was pay day,
and there was $50 due the negro who did
the killing. This is why Wright is now in
the barracks instead Of making his way
TO some other part of the country. Coro-
ner Goette suggested to Mr.. McGlllcuddy
that Wright would send for his money and
told him to have the negro who came for
1t arrested. The matter was reported at
once to the chief of police, and he detail
ed Detectives Barrett Shea and Scutly. and
Policemen Woods and Clarity on special
service, to the case. Perhaps Wright would
not have been caught quite so quickly had
he not been too anxious to get that $3.50
When the time came to pay off the
hands, negro preacher named Miller pre-
scented an order for $3.50, signed william
Wright per J. H. Fountain. The money
was not paid, and Miller found himself in
the hands of the police Miller put up a
tale the plausibility of which was consid-
erabiy questioned He said man had
given him the order at the market early
In the morning. He did not know who the
man was. The man had offered him fifty
cents to collect the money. He was to meet
the man later on at the market The detec
tives took Miller and went TO the market
with him. They waited and waited and
waited IN the rain, but the man did not
show up.
Finally the patience of the officers was
exhausted and they sent Preacher Miller
TO the barracks. There Chief McDermott
interviewed him. Miller tried to stick 10
his original tale but ii was no use. He
was caught in several falsehoods, and
told up and down that he had better come
out with the whole story or he might go
10 the gang for year for harboring
a criminal
Miller then gave in and told the story
Wright had given him the order and ask
ed him to get the money. He was to get
the money and Wright was to meet him
at his house about four miles from the
city in the Louisville road either last
night or early this morning. The chances
are decidedly in favor OF Wrights being
there last night. He was there as the
detectives afterwards found. They took
Miller out to the house with them in the
old supply wagon. The house was sur
rounded and when they entered il they
found the culprit crouching behind tie
chimney. He made no resistance, and was
brought at once to the city and given
cell in the barracks. Miller was not
held
The detectives also got Wrights vallse,
and some other stuff which\he had got
ten together preparatory to his depart
ure. He was simply waiting for the $3.50,
and was to have skipped early this mora
ing.
When asked about his crime at the
barracks last night Wright said he and
Wilcox had a falling out over a banjo
Wilcox did not have il fixed as ne said
he would, and did not pay for it. Wright
said they had some words about 1t and
he got mad and struck him He said he
had no idea or intention of hitting him
so hard lick, and never intended TO kill
him. He was rather reticent but appear
ed to regret his deed considerably.
Coroner Goette held an inquest over Will
cox's remains at his office on Broughton
street last night. The evidence showed
that when Wilcox insisted on the return
of his banjo and the 10 cents he had loaned
Wright. the latter said:
wen, you -- --- -, I'll give
1t TO you now" and with that stuck the
crowbar into his neck. The jury returned
a verdict of murder.
-s-o-s
A FEW EXAMPLES NEEDED.