The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-15
DEPUTY SHOT WHILE
MAKING AN ARREST
Officer Martin Wounded by Bos-
ton Davis.
THE NEGRO DID NOT ESCAPE
Received Several Bullets Which May
Result Fatally Thought That a
Friend of Martins Did Some
of the Shooting.

desperate encounter took place yester-
day afternoon at 1s.45 o'clock between John
d. Martin. a deputy constable, and Boston
| Davis, negro, who was wanted on the
charge of assault with intent to murder.
As a result of the melee the negro lies at
the point of death at the city prison, while
the officer is confined to his home with a
painful flesh wound, which came near prov
ing fatal. a third victim of the encounter
was n negro boy, who was shot through
the right side by stray bullet.
Some days ago Gus Davis an uncle OF the
desperate negro, swore out warrant
against him, charging that he had come INTO
his house and shot at him with his pistol
Inc warrant was placed, In the hands Of
Deputy Constable Martin, who found that
the negro lived In Avenue II. between
Twenty-third and Twenty-Iourth streets.
Yesterday accompanied by friend, whose
name cannot be learned, Martin went TO
the negro's house and walking up to the
negro, informed him that he had a warrant
for his arrest.
Tho Negro Resisted
The negro made an effort to step back,
when Martin grabbed him by the left arm.
Davis Immediately pulled his gun and piac-
Ing 1t close to the officers head, pulled the
trigger and sent n bullet speeding towards
the eonstabes brain. Luckily, the negros
aim was not true, and the bullet glanced
OFF after entering the scalp just behind the
left ear. Martin Immediately reached for
his gun and at the same time his compan-
ion, who was standing near by, opened fire,
hat
the negro was lying ON the floor desperately
wounded, Deputy Constable --artln was
not aware that the negro was seriously
hurt. and, placing handouts on him, drag
ged him out on the porch. A negro boy,
who was In the room at the time. was hit
by one of the bullets from Davis pistol,
receiving a wound In the right side, which
1t Is not thought will result fatally.
Davis Desperately Wounded
In the meantime a telephone message had
been hastily sent to police headquarters
and Mounted Onieer Hamilton was soon on
the scene. 1t was found that Davis was
desperately wounded. lie was taken to the
city prison, where Assistant City Physician
Mason attended him.
Four of the shots took effect, one In the
back, passing through the lung and lodging
In the right side; one In the lower jaw and
two In the right arm, The bullet was ex-
traeted from the chin and his injuries
dressed but at n late hour last night the
negro was suffering intense pain, and 1t
was thought that he would not live through
the night.
Deputy Constable Martin was removed 60
his home, 220S Avenue G, which Is only
short distance from the scene of the shoot
Ing, where Drs Parke was summoned An
examination showed that the bullet had en-
tered the scalp Just to the rear of the left
ear and had passed out near the back of
the head.
A physician attended the wounded boy
am found the wound not fatal.
Davis has not borne a very good reputa-
tlon, so 1t Is said. When his pockets were
searched at police station an extra supply
of cartridges were found which lndica,es
that he was looking for trouble"