The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-22
EACH OTHER TO KILL.
-, r,;nyAs SHOT JAMES DIXON IN
FIGHT FOR A REVOLVER.

Sbootiug Was Done Saturday Night
md Dixon Died Yesterday Morn
,.-Ipiicntions Point to Justifia-
II. Homicide and the Statement
s sTl,nmns and the Evidence of the
witnesses Bear out This COncIu-
.t,o-Dixon Had Already Tried to
I'm Thomas and They Were Strug-
.,1inn over the Pistol when the Fn-
,,I shots Were Ffred-ThOmas
/ gave himself Up.
r.oftr,in Thomas the negro who shot
L. fatally wounded James Dixon, also
| ALFRED AZ Pooler. Saturday night, sur
-o5,r.d TO the police yesterday after
and is now locked up at the station
| ,o,s4 Dixon died during the morning.
| Thomas was seen in his cell by Morn
rr News reporter and related willingly
| ..o-sa tha story of the homicide. He
n that he had been working at and
,r Poorer for some weeks, part of the
M. for Dixon, and thai on Saturday
,sa, was on his way from his own home
/ !, ,h4 village. some mile and a half away.
The aecommodation train from the city
4 vas expected 10 arrive within a few min
Ties.
TIE train reached the station and
BROUGHT back from Savannah Mary Dixon
md Laura Berrien, the former the wife
ff Dixon and The latter the woman with
whom Thomas had been living. These
|T1omas met as he was coming along the
road. and they were, according to his
story covered with blood, almost from
|bs4d to foot His inquiries as to the
cause of their bedraggled condition de
,slorei the fact that they had been fight
Inc over him and Dixon, one of them it
/ IS rot clear which, having charged the
other with attempting to ALLEVIATE the af-
tec.ions of her particular human chattel.
There had been high words and strong
|bows and both of the women bore upon
|th-ir persons the marks of the fray.
Thomas advised them to go home and
vasa away the blood stains,
|by which they were disfgWed,
| blu. took no part in the quarrel
nhcr than to reprove both of them for
tltlF display OF III temper anu us pIy 81
cal manifestations. These exhortations
seemed to quiet the women, and they de-
parted on their several ways. Mary
Dixon gave to Thomas package of cart
ridges that she had bought for her hus-
hand in the city and asked that it be de-
lgerei to him This Thomas agreed to
do and started in the direction of the
home Of the man he was seeking.
On the way he met him and delivered
The package of cartridges, with the mes
age of his wife. He also told Dixon
TIA, the two women had been fighting and
said that they had i'll treated and injured
tAe good looks of each other to some con-
Siderable extent. Dixon made some cas-
ual inquiries al to the cause and results
/ Q. the row, but did not seem to be par
/ tcuarly interested and made no threats
Of harming Thomas and exhibited no out
ward indications of i'll will.
At the time he was carrying a Winches-
+ Ter rifle, and. as was afterward made evil
/ dent, a revolver. The latter was con-
1 Ceaed IN his hip pocket. As the two
nshei their conversation Thomas turn
4 I'd away and began to move off. AS he
4 dd So Dixon threw the rifle to his Shout
4 Der and prepared TO shoot.
fortunately for him, Thomas saw this
hostile demonstration out Of the tail of his
tya and as quick as a flash sprang upon
rs intended murderer. He caught he
s r17 under his arm and as he did so it was
4 tired. Then ensued a death struggle for
lt weapon, each of the men exerting ev-
cry possible energy and all his strength 70
Vfsnrh The rife out of the hands of the
CHER In this Thomas was at last sue
t-sstul, and pulling the weapon away
threw it as far as he could from the SPOT
l.on which he and Dixon We're strugg ing
as ne did so Dixon grappled with him and
Threw him TO the ground.
here the fierce fight for life was renewed
win heated intensity that sprung from
We aroused passions of the adVeTsaries
Dixon was above, Thomas below and
while they were In this position the for
mer drew his revolver. With a last eXer-
ION of strength Thomas jerked one of his
arms loose from the close grasp in which
bad been held, and grabbed hold of the
revolver His effort was to keep it win
the barrel turned away from his body and
% this he was successful, for when the
Weapon was finally exploded two balls en-
'sfed DiXon's body. He relaxed his hold
UPON Thomas and fell over on the ground.
At first Thomas did not think the man
lalt had been shot was seriously wounded.
he was carried to his home and nurse l
earefuly and ii appeared for a time that
b. would recover However, ne grew
vas said that he would die.
When this informauon was conveyed 10
Thomas he determined to come inlo the
e.y and give himself up to the author
t's. lie had retained possession of the
Hie and revolver and these he brought
8a him when he came TO the station
L3lse and surrendered to Acting Sergeant
Higgins. He stated then that he had acted
% so.f-1efense only and that he was
EiHns and anxious for the law to decide
Ipn his guilt or innocence. He id not
een 10 think that he had anything to
isar
Coroner GOette was notified and went out
10 Fooer 10 investigate the alleged homi-
alr lte found that Dixon had died dur
ing the morning, sonnet hing that had not
yen known by Thomas when he surren-
leIe1 himself to the police. An investiga-
loH 10y the coroner served TO satisfy him
oal the killing mad been almost GER ainiy
!-suia5le. but he DID not feel authorized
10 odtr Thomas released until the mat
tsf rad been pass d upon by jury There
yer" TWO negro witnesses to the shoot
Bush Hazard and William Bass and
IS said mat their stories correspond in
lslI essentials with that told by Thorn
q. hey viii be given an opportunity TO
VIZ what they know al the inquest, which
HrFfNa fnNW i . Ana