The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-11
KILLED HIM AS HE RAN.
ARTILLERYMAN LEO REED SHOT
BY LIEUT.. FRANK y. CURRY.


Who Was on Provost Guard, De-
manded the Pass of Private Reed,
Battery j, Second ArtiIIery-Reed
Turned and Ran and the Omcer
Shot Him in the Blackstone Wit
nesses Said 1t Was Murder-Lieut
Curry Says He Acted In Discharge
of His Duty.
Private Leo Reed Of Battery I of the
Second Artillery was shot and killed last
night in front of the saloon and dance nall
that goes by The name Of THE Pink
Light" on Randolph street. Second Lieu
tenant Frank Il. Curry of Company B of
the Third Georgia Regiment did the shoot
ing.
The place where the shooting occurred
is run by man named Frelong, and is
characterized as one Of the toughest dives
in the city. The police and provost Off
GERS mention 1.-The Red Light" an oppo-
sition place in the neighborhood, In the
same breath with THE Pink Light" It
was at first understood that the killing
had occurred at the latter place.
Lieut. Curry stated to a representative
VI INC OlhlHS NEWS htilic uuuGT ATTEST
at provost headquarters that he had shot
the man in the discharge of his duty as
an officer Of the provost guard. He said he
had nothing to say further than this.
Statements made by witnesses Of the
killing indicated that the lieutenant had
asked Reed for his pass. The latter did
not show it, but turned to run. He ran out
10 Of "a r,Ia 4,ta h.
with the lieutenant in pursuit Statements
differed as to whether the lieutenant call
ed halt" and then fired or fired and call
ed halt" after the arttlleryman had fall
en-. Witnesses told both stories.
Coroner Goette reached the scene soon
after Reed had been taken up by some of
his comrades and carried into the dance
hall. He had gasped once or twice and
died. The coroner examined one or two of
the witnesses and said he gathered enough
to indicate to his mind that the affair was
a cowardly and unprovoked murder. 1t
may be brought out in the court martial
that win investigate the case, however
that Lieut. Curry was justified in shoot
ing.
The killing occurred about S:45 o'clock.
About O'Clock Lieut.. Curry and Corpl.
place. There were a number of soldiers
there, drinking and dancing with negro
women. Reed and other members of the
artillery were in the place All agreed
that Lieut.. Curry and Corpl. Connor were
drunk and that they at once began to
raise disturbance. The proprietor said
he asked them to keep quiet, but that
they would not do it. Then he sent for
provost guards from headquarters. A SER
raenOnnh1 To the
summons, but, when they arrived the
disturbing element had gone around the
corner to the other place. The guards
followed but the lieutenant and corporal
had left Slater's place also when they ar
rived. Slater said they had raised dis
turbance there and that the lieutenant had
struck one of his employees.
From Slaters place the two had re-
turned to Frelongs. There the heuten-
ant began asking the men to show their
passes. one or two of them did so, but
| Reed did not comply. 1t was then that
he turned to run and that Lieut.. Curry
ran through the door after him.
only one shot was fired. This was from
the regulation Colts revolver the officer
carried and at distance OF few feet.
! As soon as he had fired, Curry lowered his
weapon and went away. Reed was seen
to be mortally wounded, and was dying
when he was picked up. His comrades
| had barely gotten him into the dance hall
before he breathed his last
It is said Lieut.. Curry had no desire to
evade arrest. From the scene of the
shooting he went to the captain of his
| cornDanv. who advised him 10 return and
| give himself up This he did, surrender
! ing 10 Lieut. Pinckney Steiner adjutant
| Of the provost guard who, with Maj. CO.
| hen provost marshal, had reached the
| scene. -
Corpl. Frank d. Pillsbury of Battery G
of the Second Artillery was a witness. He
said he had seen Reed just few min
utes before he was killed and that the man
| had been drinking. He said the same or
| Tjeut Curry. The corporal said he was
standing within few feet that the affair
was murder. and that the lieutenant had
| NOT even called halt until after he had
killed the man he was pursuing.
some of the members of the lieutenant s
company were on hand as guards after
| tha killing. They said the officer was
| drunk and that, when he Is in this con-
dition. he is a dangerous character. They
we're asked ii he was popular with his
men. and they replied that he was, that
there was not man in his company who
| would not wade through blood for him,
ana that he would do the same for them.
rrbev EXPRESSED the deepest regret that
their officer had gotten into the trouble.
Lieut. Currys home is at jackson, ga.
He has wife and several children there.
He is SPOKEN of generally as one of the
hest of men and officers, when not drunk,
and il is sincerely regretted by the mem
hars Of his regiment that he has become
involved i'm the affair. They hope. and
some Of them believe, as they said last
night. that he win be able TO establish the
FACE beyond all possibility of doubt that
he did as he says and fired the shot
while acting in the discharge of his duty.
Reeds home was at Philadelphia. This
fact was disclosed by a nickel medal that
he wore, upon which was inscribed his
name. home and command. These medals
or badges are often worn by the soldiers,
and this was the means by which Reed
was identified. The remains were sent by
coroner Goette TO his undertaking estab-
uehment on Broughton street
the battery to which Reed belonged will
sail TO-DAY for Cuba. 1t seemed that there
was enough turbulence and disorder 10
he encountered here for him to lose his life.
Assistant Chief of Police Reilly went 10
~ soene of the killing some time after