The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-02
OFFICER SHOT THREE TIMES.
FATAL AFFRAY BETWEEN Me-
GRoEss ON LOUISVILLE ROAD.

~ AL AT II Eh-AA W A<hAN W.
GRoEsS ON LOUISVILLE ROAD.
Sam Robinson, a COlOred Constable,
Disarmed While Drunk and Shot
by John Fields, Who Accompanied
Him to Make n Levy-The wounded
Man i'm Georgia Infirmary and His
Assailant in the Police Barracks.
Constable Sam Robinson. colored, was
shot on the Louisville road, near the city
limits yesterday. by John Fields, a negro
who accompanied him in that direction.
where a levy was to be made on some
mules. Robinson is at the Georgia In
Urinary, and is not expected to live.
Drink is at the bottom of the trouble.
and from the circumstances obtained by
Coroner Goette and Policeman Charles
Mock. who talked with both men. the af-
fray would not have happened but for the
drunken, quarrelsome condition of the
participants
As Is usual in such occurrences the dis
pute was short and the cause of it very
slight, The men left Hartloge's store on
the Louisville road and went some three
hundred yards away, where the shooting
occurred. and to which there were no wit
nesses
Robinson had been drinking some time
and was in an unfit condition to attend
to his duties as constable He is said to
have called at Justice Cleary's office yes
terday for work, but, seeing Robinson was
not in condition to perform his duties the
justice declined to give him any papers to
serve. Later however. it seems, he got
the papers in the mule case, and started
TO make the levy. When a short distance
from the office he met Fields, who agreed
to accompany him to the place where the
mules were to be found, some distance
from the city. They went out Gwinnett
street, stopping at different places for
drinks, until they reached the Hartloge
store, where Fields is said to have pur-
chased a quart of liquor and had it charg
ed TO Robinson. Several men standing
around were treated, and the two, who
were to soon fight like tigers, showed 10
signs of being on other than the best of
terms.
Leaving the store, they went alone some
yards and were not noticed by the crowd
remaining until the report of three pistol
shots attracted attention. Everybody
around rushed to the spot Robinson was
on the ground and Fields was standing
over him with pistol, seemingly about
10 IRE the remaining two cartridges into
the body of his victim. BY the time the
crowd gathered, Fields had walked short
distance from Robinson, carrying the piss
tol unconcealed in his hand. When the
wounded man was reached, however,
Fields appeared very angry and retraced
his steps, going back to Robinson and de-
claring he would fire the two remaining
cartridges into his body.
IF you say one word / will shoot againr'
he said, as ne leveled the gun at Robin
son.
Robinson did not utter a syllable at
which Fields threw the pistol to the
ground in his anger and dared any in the
crowd to pick 1t up. None responded to
this squirt of defiance, as a result of which
the irate negro quieted himself and start
ed toward the city, still holding to the
pistol, however, and declaring he would
shoot the man who laid hands on him.
some one took the precaution TO telephone
the state of affairs to the police, and Po-
liceman Charles Mock was soon on the
way in the patrol wagon to the scene
The ambulance was also sent out at the
same time.
The arrival of the officer was the signal
Tor additional trouble, had he not used
precaution in approaching Fields. The
negro was pointed out to the policeman
some distance from where the shooting
took place, and was making his way to-
ward the city at rapid rate, claiming
he wanted to be arrested for his crime
He did not notice the officer, however
until the latter was on him and had the
drop" Seeing all was up Fields surren
dered and was brought TO the barracks
and locked up, charged with shooting
Robinson.
In the meantime Robinson was removed
TO his home on Burroughs and Bolton
streets. When DR.. Dunn, who was sum-
moned, reached the mans home. he at
once realized the seriousness of his condi-
ton, and ordered him removed to the
Georgia Infirmary. Peritonitis had al
ready set in, however, and the physician
states it is only a question of a few hours
with the wounded man.
Coroner Goette got statement from
both, and, when simmered down shows
that Fields must have taken offense at
some old trouble, in which he is said to
have figured, and which was called to mind
by Robinson in the course of a converse
ton. Fields was drunk enough to cry out
that he intended killing some woman
Robinson interceded by advising him
not to get an trouble similar to that in
which he came near being involved some
time ago. The trouble TO which Robinson
referred was the killing of VIII Green ana
VIII Williams one night near the old Col
Inns power-house, for which Isaac Tysen Is
now serving term in the penitentiary.
When brought to his mind, the effect
probably enraged Fields, who thereupon
tripped Robinson, who is said 10 have had
a pistol in his hand. When on the ground
the pistol was taken from him and used
by Fields in committing the crime Three
shots were fired, all of which took effect
in the abdomen.
AT the police barracks Fields said: eff
didn't kill that man the pistol was no
good" Both are said to be rough charac-
ters, but Fields seems to have the worse
reputation, being known as an aggressive
negro, and willing to fight on slight provo
cation.
CAUGHT BY A FALLING COLUMN.