The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-12
HELD FOR MANSLAUeHTER.
LIEUT.. CURRY TURNED OVER BY
MAI. COHEN.

lars and Many Citizens Do Not
Think the Lieutenant Was Justi-
fed in ShOOting-Others Believe
the Contrnry-A Witness Says
Lieut.. Curry Cried Halt. or I'll
shoot" and Fired at Once-Tbe
onicer Under Arrest I'm His Quar-
ters and VIII he Taken to Cuba.
Lieut.. Frank 2. Curry Of Company p
OF the Third Georgia Regiment, who shot
and killed Private Leo Reed, Battery /
Of the Second Artillery, night before last.
in front Of the Pink Light" saloon and
dance han on Randolph street, was turn
ed over to his regiment yesterday by the
provost marshal, Maj. Cohen. charged
with mauslaushter. The lieutenant is I'M
der arrest in his quarters. and will go to
Cuba with his command.
1t is not known when Lieut. Curry's
case will be tried by court-martiaI. If il
is in Cuba. there will probably be a DIFF
fculty about securing evidence for the
court, as some of the witnesses to the
killing were civilians. One of these lat
ter was Mr.. W. L. Courson, who is en-
borhood of where the tragedy took place
He was returning from his work at 9
o'clock and had reached a point near the
Pink Light" The clock had just struck,
when he saw a man stagger, rather than
run, down the steps that led up to the
place. Behind him ran another man, who
was only a few feet away. stop, or I'll
shoot" he heard some one shout, and a
pistol shot followed. The man who had
first left the place fall, crying, "Oh, God,
I'm shot" Mr.. Courson saw the man
who had fired the pistol stoop and raise
the hand Of the man whom he had shot
and then, letting it go, turn and walk
away. He did not know what had occur
red inside the place, but he wanted to
give the evidence he had. He felt that he
should not withhold anything that might
further the ends of justice. His state
meuts may be of benefit to the lieutenant
in settling some uncertainty that seems
10 exist as to whether he called halt"
and then fired, or fired first.
There was a good deal of discussion yes
terday about the killing. People took sides
with one or the other, some saying that
the lieutenant was probably justifable in
acting as he did, and others that the evil
deuce showed il TO have been murder. Its
settlement will rest with the court martial
The regulars and volunteers in the city
were pretty well divided over the affair
The regulars were indignant. all of those
who were heard TO express themselves
saying the man had been murdered The
officers of the battery too 1t is under
stood, felt that their man had been killed
.gsl
battery would likely have caused trouble
night before last had 1t not been for their
officers. Statements were made to the eff
feet that they had intended coming into
the city and take their prisoner away
from the provost guards. It is fortunate
that nothing of the kind was done Mai
Cohen was determined to preserve order
He ordered out extra details of men with
extra supplies of ammunition. These were
placed on duty in the locality where the
trouble had occurred.
Maj Cohen called on Mayor Meldrim
yesterday and requested him to close the
two saloons, the Pink Light and "The
RED Light" He gave as his reason
for preferring this request that the SOL
diers, especially the regulars. were ac-
Customed TO congregate there, and as there
was much excitement and I'll feeling among
them on account of The killing of their
comrade any gathering at these places
would be almost certain to lead to further
trouble. Mayor Meldrim promised to take
| the matter under consideration
To a Morning News reporter, who learn
| ed of Maj Cohen's request, Mayor Mel
| drim said that ne was not aware that Re
| lad the authority to close up any place
! simply because 1t was regarded as likely
! that trouble might occur there. When
| seen Jater Mayor Meldrim stated he had
| instructed Chief McDermott to see that
| order was preserved at both places and
| to use Al much of the police force for this
| purpose as might be necessary. Should
| the chief find that it is necessary to close
the saloons 20 preserve order he was in
structed to do so.
Mai Cohen, when spoken 10 about the
| matter said IL requested Mayor Meidrim
TO close The saloons where the trouble oc-
| CURED because of the certainty that
| should the soldiers be allowed to congte-
| gate there tonight that there would be
| trouble. l have stationed a guard there
and we win preserve order il Ii takes 500
! men TO do IT, II would be much easier
however, to avoid all difficulty by simply
closing the saloons. Tho places are dives
of the lowest description and should not
! be allowed to exist. They are a disgrace
to a civilized community. Negro women
of the lowest class congregate there and
dance with while men The regulars have
patronized these places regularly. but the
volunteers have never been known to so
there"
The report that it was at his place that
the killing had occurred had something to
do with bringing James Slater into the af-
fair. As the news was first heard at
headquarters il was a the Red Light. 20
which he runs, that the man ha5 been
killed. This place is on Reynolds street.
only a short distance from tie Pink
Light Maj Cohen says ne had had ex-
perience enough with both lights" 20
make him wish 20 put them out
Slater says his place has not been dis
orderly, and, as for soldiers being kept out.
he only wishes the provost marshal would
do it. He runs his place especially. he
says, for sailors, and there is but seldom
any disorder of any kind He thinks il hard
that he should have his music stopped and
his dance hail shut up, as has been done.
The authorities have also closed these ad-
juncts to the Pink Light" and the places
have nothing more than their bars now 10
! attract Slater says the soldiers have only
been a source of trouble tn him. ,bo ,