The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-13
SHOTS FIRED OVER HACK FARE.
ALBERT WAsHINGTON's CHANCES
FOR LIVING VERY SLIM.

Hack a Short Time Monday Night.
Lee offered so Cents. which WASH
ingtOn Refuscd-He Got $50
Along With Three BuIIets-BOth
Men Very Cool.
Albert Washington, a colored hackman.
was shot and dangerously wounded at
7:3O o'clock yesterday morning, by ]. J.
Lee a young white man of Waycross.
Washington received three bullets through
his lungs. the wounds from which may re-
suit in his death, though it is not likely
that this will occur Immediately.
Neither man was under the influence of
liquor. The difficulty occurred on account
of a difference as to the amount of hack
fare to which Washington was entitled for
driving Lee about the city the night be-
fore.
According 10 the statements of several
witnesses and the principals themselves.
the circumstances leading up to the shoot
ing were as follows: Washington was
standing with his hack in front of Hicks
| restaurant about 10 o'clock Monday night
when he heard a whistle from across the
street. Hurrying over to the Pulaski he
ladies entrance. The pair got into the
hack and the man told the hackman to
drive them 10 a first-class hotel. Think
ing they wished to go TO the De Soto,
Washington drove the couple in that di-
Tecton. on reaching Liberty street Lee
directed him to drive towards the Central
depot. At some point near the end of the.
street Lee got out and called up the peo-
pie at a boarding house. where he seemed
to be known, and asked to get a room for
himself and wife for the night. He was
told that there was no room to be had.
They then drove to the Central depot and
Lee instructed the hackman 10 take them
to the Planters Hotel. Arriving there
he registered as j. j. Lee and wife and was
assigned a room.
On asking the hackman how much he
owed him, Washington replied 81 80. Lee
| strenuously objected to this, claiming that
II was too much, and that he had only
had the hack about thirty-five minutes.
Washington claimed that under the rules
governing the hackman he was entitled to
the amount claimed by him. The matter
was referred 10 the night clerk, who said
that under the rules the hickman was en-
titled to the amount claimed. The ordi-
nance governing hackmen only allows
them to charge % cents for each trip for
| each passenger. The hackmen get around
this by charging as separate trips when
ever a hack is stopped for any time and
new start made. 1t was in this way
that Washington figured out three trips
on Lee and his companion. The ordinance
also provides, however, that the hackman
shall not charge exceeding 81 per hour
when the hack is hired by the hour. Lee
wa axryar If b1r he a
pose to pay $l.5O for thirty-five minutes
use of a hack. He offered Washington so
cents, which the latter refused to accept
Lee then gave the money to the night
clerk. telling him 10 give It to the hack
man when he called for it, and went on
up to his room.
Washington had probably heard Lee say
that he intended taking the early morning
train on the Savannah, Florida and West
ern Railway. When Lee came down about
z O'Clock Washington was On hand Lee
walked out of the hotel, stepped into a
hack at the door and started off Wash
ngton ran up to the hack and stopped it,
Look mere. mister, don't you owe ME
; something he said to Lee.
Are you the man who drove me last
) ! night?" inquired Lee.
Yes"
well didn't you get that 50 cents I left
for your"
mo, 1 didn't take that. That amt
: enough" said Washington.
2 There was some further discussion
r about the fare. Lee offered Washington
2 a half dollar more, which the latter agreed
, to accept He pulled out dollar and
, asked Washington if he had any change.
The latter replied that he had none. Lee
told him to go into the hotel office and
5 get the half dollar there and bring it to
him. Washington came back holding
4 two quarters in his fingers.
4 Give me the half dollar" said Lee
mo, you give me the dollar first" said
Washington.
IAN right" said Lee, ''here's the dol
=. lar" handing it to him.
As soon as he had received the money
Washington. according to Lees statement
stuck the whole amount in his pocket and
stepping back, said: Now, I've got
what I'm entitled to, I'm going to keep
it,"
, Lee demanded his money Washington
refused. IF you want anything you just
take it out of me-" he exclaimed. 'TH
teach you - cheap screws YOU can't
beat me-" at the same time shaking his
. finger at Lee in an offensive manner
Without more ado Lee jumped out of
the hack, drawing his pistol as he did So
p and begun firing on Washington who was
almost in arms reach of him. Five shots
, were fired rapidly and Lee snapped his re-
NoiNtA Ntltce VI TOUR tunes aIlof the last
: shot was fired, as If he expected it to fire
! again. Then he stepped upon the side
walk and walked into the hotel with the
pistol in his hand. seemingly very cool
and collected. Washington did not utter
, a word while Lee was firing or make any
! move to save himself, except to step back
ward. one witness thought that he tried
to dodge behind the horse hitched to a
, hack which had just driven up Others
, did not think so. Washington did not
, fall. but walked up on the sidewalk few
feet behind Lee. When Lee turned into
the hotel Washington walked to the cor
ner, and crossed Bryan street to the mar
ket evidently intending to go TO the no
lice box on the west side of the market to
] find an officer to arrest Lee Policeman
Hodges came up just at this time and
? placed Lee under arrest Washington was
placed in his own hack by some of the
other hackmen and taken to his home
on Zubly street, near the Ogeeehee canal
/ No blood was noticed on Washington's
clothes Immediately after the shooting, and
from the erect manner in which he Walked
, away from the scene some of the bystapd-