The age-herald., 1898-10-27
MARSHAL SUDDUTH'S
 NARROW ESCAPE Desperate Encounter With a Ne-
 gro Cow Thief HE CAME NEAR BEING SHOT Negro Was Going at Him With Re- volver When the Officer Crab
 bed It-Was Discharged
 in His Hand.
HE CAME NEAR BEING SHOT

City Marshal AB. Sudduth, of Avondale, had a narrow escape from death at the hands of a negro COW thief yesterday after noon.
 The negro fired at the marshal, the pow der burning the marshaIs hand and also the hand of J. D. Bell, a citizen who went to the marshars assistance.
 Sudduth owes his life to his great physical strength and his dexterity. He was the best man of the two.
 Two suspicious-looking negroes leading a milk COW went into Avondale, and they, at traeted the watchful attention. of the mar shaL The negroes were interviewed, and they said they should like to dispose of the COW, a fine animal, by the way. The mar .sl5al questioned them very closely, and the leader of the two, who led the cow, and who it was subsequently, learned bore the name of Davis, said that he came from Ishkooda, where his father resided. His father owned the COW, and had sent him to Avondale to trade the animal for horse.
 The marshal was very persistent in his inquiries and Davis became suspicious him. self lost his temper and declared that he wouldn't sell the COW or trade her either, and that he twas gwine straight back home." With that he gathered up the lead rope, and started off with the COW and his pal, who bore the rather aristocratic name of Alexander Montgomery.
 Hold on," cried the marshal "Ill buy your cow"
 "No you won't" answered Davis. I won't sell her and don't you poster me-"
 Then the fun began. The marshal ad- vanced and attempted to place the two ne- grees under arrest. Davis resisted. Mont gomery offered no resistance. The marshal carried strong hickory walking-stick and a pistol, but he had no time to use either. Quick as lightning Davis whipped out a 3S-ealiber pistol. The struggle was on at once and it was desperate. The negro was a powerful man, and half dozen times he had his pistol at the marshal's head, each time to be knocked aside. The pistol touched the marshal's face, his neck, the back of his head, his ear and once under his chin.
 Finally the marshal got his hand on the weapon and at that moment the negro dis charged it. The powder burnt the mar shals hand painfully, but he held his grip like vice of steel. Bells hand was also burnt, for he, with others, had come up to assist the struggling marshal. It was miracle that nobody was killed, for there were fifty persons in range of the pistols s fire. As the negro fired the marshal skill fully tripped him and he fell sSrawling on the ground. At that moment a citizen gave the negro heavy crack on the back of the head with the marshars hickory stick. That disabled the wound-be murd r. CT, and then the marshal shouted to some men to catch the other negro, Montgomery. He was run down within a half block, pr. Finch effecting his capture.
 The marshal was victorious, and after handcuffing the precious pair he conducted them to the county jail. where they now rest as best they can.
 Late yesterday evening it was discovered that the COW was the property of w. w. McGlathery, to wkom Marshal Sudduth de- livered her.