The age-herald., 1898-08-16
JOHN BELSER SHOT
 AT PIKE ROADS Young Storekeeper Killed by
 DisorderIy Negroes. GREAT EXCITEMENT CAUSED Mob Was Organized and One of the Negroes Was Captured-If Other
 is Caught Lynching Will
 Probably Follow.
GREAT EXCITEMENT CAUSED
Special Dispatch to The Age-Herald.

Special Dispatch to The Age Herald.
 Montgomery, Aug. 15.-There was a kill ing at Pike Roads, in this county, on Sat- urday night, which has occasioned consid- erable comment. MT. James Belsep, a popular young salesman in the general store at that place of his uncle, MT. Hugh Belser, was shot and killed by John and Henry Hall. two dlsorderly negroes.
 The negroes come into the store about 9 o'clock Saturday night, drinking and dis orderly. Young MT. Belser directed them to get out They refused "Then I'll make you go,' said Mr Belser, and he came out from behind the counter. The negroes retreated. MT Belser following them to the door. Violent language seems to have been used by the two men, and MT. Belser shot at John Hall with a pistol striking him in the center of the breast He turned then to walk back into the store, when Henry Hall, who carried a shotgun, shot him the charge entering the lower part of his back 70 the left. MT. Belser died in fifteen minutes.
 The greatest excitement followed the shooting, and quickly party was organ ized to capture the two negroes. John Hall was found in the bushes near by. The bullet from MT. Belsers pistol was found to have glanced on a rib and lodged in the flesh at the back, causing a flesh wound of not much consequence. The bullet was extracted yesterday and John Hall is now in the county jail He says he was so drunk he doesn't remember any thing about the row.
 Every effort is being made to arrest Hen ry Hall, who fired the fatal shot, but so far as known today he is still at large.
 Sheriff Parks got a message Saturday night telling of the shooting, and hurried to Pike Road. The people there were in furiated over the crime. and were in a mind to lynch John Hall, but after earnest entreaty, the sheriff succeeded in getting possession of the prisoner and bringing him to town.
 If Henry Hall Is captured he will un- doubtedly be lynched.
 Mir James Belser the murdered man, was the son of MT. Sam Belser, of this city, and therefore belonged to a family long prominent and honored in Montgom- cry county. He was a most estimable young man and had great numbers of friends in this city and throughout the county. At the time of his death he was residing at Pike Roads assisting his uncle in his store.
 Montgomery Soldier Dead
 A special from Miami announces the death there this morning of MT l.. P. Sim mons, a private in the Montgomery Greys. He has been i'll of typhoid fever for some weeks and his death was not unexpected to his comrades. MT. Simmons was fine young fellow, and was employed here with his uncle, MT. M. c. Scott, in the conduct of a large plantation near- tho oity'--Ho leaves no family.
 Counting the Ballots
 Secretary of State Jackson and Attorney General Fitts have been busy all day can wasting the returns from the recent state election. The law provides that the pro- bate judges must file certificates of the result of the election with the etary of state as to all officers elected excepting the governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and attorney general, which must be sent to the governor to be by him delivered to the speaker of the house of representatives. The votes for circuit judges. chancellors and senators, voted for in more than county, must, within and counted in the presence of the gover- nor, secretary of state and attorney gen. eral or two of them, and the result de- clared by proclamation. Governor John ston is absent from the state and the duty therefore devolves on his associates.
 Personal News
 General Charles M. Shelley, former con- gressman; Vim. H. Denson and Hon. M. H. Porter all of Birmingham, were among the distinguished visitors to the capitol today.
 Associate Justice J. B. Head, of the su- preme court, came down from Birming- ham this morning and sat with the court
 Colonel G. l.. Conner, of Eufaula, and MT Peach, of Clayton, are in the city