The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-27
HIS HEAD WITH AN AK.
Desperate Fight Among Gamblers
and One May Die.


Green Davis, a negro 20 years of age.
was struck I'm the head with an ak by Ike
johnson, near the Florida, Central and
Peninsular Railroad yards, about o'clock
yesterday, and is thought 10 be fatally
wounded The police were notified and
later Coroner Goette ordered the man
taken to the Georgia Infirmamy, after
which an investigation Of the difficulty
was made.
The negro Johnson, who committed the
assault had already gone and was then
thought to be making steps toward his
home near North station, on the Florida,
Central and Peninsular Road, about TWEEN
ty miles this side of Columbia. He has a
reputation for fighting and lawlessness, 1t
seems, and is regarded as dangerous fell
low, the more so when drinking. Coroner
Goette was not mindless Of the aid he could
be to the police department in locating
Johnson and the first thing was TO get
complete description The negro has
brown skin, is heavy set, % Or % years
of age, stands feet and inches in hight
and is clean shaven
Gambling was at the bottom of the as
sault A number of negroes, employees of
the railroad section, were in some old va
cant shacks about a mile and a half from
the city, engaged in gambling Among
them were the two negroes who figured in
the fight, and it is said they were vieing
sharply with each other for the spoils.
The railroad has just paid the men their
monthly wages and they were there to
pick out the lucky fellow. For this meet
ing, however.it was learned that Ike John
son was largely responsible. He is not,
employed by the road, but is well acquaint-
ed with the hands, and visits them every
pay day for the purpose of steering them
to the old houses and getting most of their
money The negroes expect probably to
double their earnings by playing Johnson,
but he evidently has the thing fixed, as 1t
is reported they are invariably swamped
after spending a few hours with him in
gambling den.
What took place on the inside Coroner
Goette could not learn, but the fight start
ed when Davis rushed from the cabin and
grabbing an ak nearby returned excltedly
where the crowd were gambling. The
next thing seen by those on the outside
was when Johnson rushed out with the
AK that had Just been taken in by Davis,
who followed close behind with knife.
There seems then to have been confused
mass of natural bawn gamblers emerg
ing, and among them was apparently the
negro with whom Davis was quarreling.
The two at once went together and Davis
kept repeating that he wanted the man
to give him back his money.
While this was going on, Johnson APP
preached from the rear, and despite the
yels to desist, struck Davis terrific
blow with the brunt side Of the ak. The
blow landed on the right side of his head
and made hole in it the size of a goose
egg. The victim fell 10 the ground and
bed profusely until taken to the infirm-
airy, where he was given medical atten-
lion. The coroner does not think the
wounded man can recover, is 1t would ap-
pear the loss of blood alone is enough to
produce death.
An effort was made by Chief McDermott
TO hedge Johnson, who Is supposed to be
making his way toward his home in
South Carolina. No trace of him was OBJ
tanned up to a late hour, however and
his capture is thought to depend consid-
erably on whether he approaches the
towns or keeps to the less thclSly settled
districts