The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-06
BULLETS TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.
john o. Smiths Attnek on Two Men
From His Door step.


John o. Smith, a former justice Of the
peace of the Fifth militia district, and at
one time an extensive property owner
in smithynle was lodged in the police
barracks last night for shooting at J. a.
Chavis and j. +. Brautley, employees Of
the Savannah, Florida and Western Rail
way, who lives on OF street. Smith was
intoxicated, and did the shooting from
his front porch.
Two shots were fired in quick success
sion, one Of which passed through Brant-
leys trousers. Aside from this no harm
was done either Of the men, who showed
nerve by stopping on realizing what was
goins on, and calling out for iEmith to
fire away. 1t seemed the two shots
brought him TO his senses, however, and
falling back on the porch again, he OBJ
tanned achievements from a good-s.zed
flask, which is more or less accountable
for the trouble.
From accounts given at the police station
II seems Smith was IN Mastick's bar, al
Wheaton street and Waters road, engaged
in a game Of cards. He had been drinking
freely, and when Chavis and Brantey en-
tered, he was sufficiently under the in
huence Of liquor TO be brazen in his talk.
When one of the men was asked into the
game, Smith became Offended and declared
he would leave in case any attention was
shown them. This naturally rled the men,
who talked in purt manner to Smith,
after which he left the bar, going in the
direction Of his home near the toll gate,
on the Waters road
When Chavis and Brantley left the bar
about O'Clock, they went in the direction
OF their homes on OFT street. No further
thought had been given the little dispute,
but on getting in front Of Smiths house,
both men Were alarmngly reminded of it
by The pistol shots. Smith stood in front
of an open door on the front porch, and
fired at Chavis and Brantley, who were
directly in front of the house on the oppo-
site side of the road. When the second
chamber of his revolver was emptled, one
Of the men seems to have realized that
Smith was trying to avenge his supposed
wrongs, and al once cried out for him 10
continue firing. This he did not do, how
ever, but went into the house, closing the
door behind him.
AS soon as they could reach a telephone
the men reported the shooting at the bar
racks. They knew Smith was i'm a danger
GUS condition at his house and asked tina
an officer be sent there TO arrest him. The
sergeant on duty sent Policemen r. c.
Murphy and McQuade In the fast patrol
TO get Smith, but the officers apprehended
trouble when they heard of the manner in
which he had conducted himself
On arriving a the place they found Smith
on the porch, pouring liquor from a flask
into a tin can, and drinking 10 his hearts
content. He had become sufficiently paci-
fed to extend The hand of fellowship to
Policeman Murphy, and asked him to
drink. He peaceably accompanied the Of
hcers, however, not in The least showing
any signs of belligerency He was lodged
in the station house for trial, and while
he Is charged with an assault, and came
near shooting one of the men, 1t is not be
ieved he knew positively that he was fir
ing al Chavis and Brantley.
This seems not the first time he has
been guilty OF such conduct, as 1t is re-
ported he fired a shot or two at one of his
relatives al his home the other day, which
lacked little of ending in a fatality.
The bicyclsts remember an experience
they had a while back, when Smith lit
tered a path they used alongside his prop
erty on the Thunderbolt road, with tacks,
glass and other things damaging to tires
in order to force the Wheelmen to use the
road. He contended the path was for
pedestrians and the road for wheelmen,
and finding no other method to have his
own but disabling the wheelmen, he re-
sorted to the shortest way possible to do
IL. At one time Smith owned a large
extent of property in the section now
bearing his name.