The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-09
SHOT HIM IN SELF DEFENSE.
GEORGE JACKSON ABsOLVED OF
BLAME FOR THE KILLING.

Tragedy Occurred on the Corner of
Harris and East broad streets
Yesterday Afternoon Graham
Commenced the Row That Ended
In His Death-Threw Rock at
jackson and the Latter Shot Him.
The wounded Man Placed in the
Ambulance and Died on the Way
to the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Surren-
dered TO the POIice-COrOner's Jury
Homicide.
Lewis Graham was shot and fatally
wounded by George Jackson at ? O'Clock
yesterday afternoon at the corner of Har-
ris and East Broad streets. Both parties
to the tragedy were colored. The police
ambulance was summoned and the wound
ed man placed in it to be taken TO the
Georgia Inhrmary. The ambulance had
scarcely started before Graham died.
The men had had some previous diff
Guilty and met before the bar of b. Weitz,
on the corner of East Broad and Harris
streets jackson was standing with Sid
rey Johnson in the doorway of the saloon
when Graham came up and commenced
to curse and abuse him, saying that he
had seen a white man beat Jackson on
election day when the latter had pistol
in his hand Jackson told him that he
had never seen anything of the kind and
that he was a liar. Johnson told his
friend TO come away, as Graham was
looking for him and that II he stayed there
would be trouble.
AZ This jackson turned to Graham and
told him 20 go away, as he wanted to
have no trouble with him. The quarrel
continued Graham telling Jackson that IL
he thought he had a pistol on his person
he would not only repeat all the vile eX-
pressions he had already used, but that he
would give jackson hell. As he spoke ne
picked up from the ground rock ana
half of a glass bottle. and commenced 70
advance upon his antagonist. With an
other curse he hurled the rock at jack
sons head the latter lodging just in time
10 escape the blow AS he arose from
the ground. Graham prepared to throw
the piece of bottle and Jackson drew his
pistol and shot him in the breast. The
wounded man fell to the ground, and, ris
ing. staggered across the street. Here he
fell again ana remained on the ground
until the ambulance arrived and prepared
=
wound could receive attention. Not more
than a few minutes had elapsed before
he died. When those in the ambulance
became convinced that Graham was dead,
his body was conveyed to Coroner Goette's
Office
Later the coroner empaneled a jury TO
inquire into the causes of Grahams death.
Seven witnesses of the killing, two OF
them white men. testified at the inquest
and their evidence agreeing on all mate
rial points, was to the effect that Graham
had commenced the row and had attempt
ed to assault Jackson before the latter
drew his pistol. They all said that Ora
ham had abused and threatened jackson
and thrown at him missiles capable of eff
fecting serious injuries before the fatal
shot was fired During the time preced-
ing Immediately the firing Graham was
advancing and Jackson retreating. From
the stories told at the inquest there seemed
10 be no doubt that the killing was In
self defense, and the jury, after few
minutes consideration brought in YER
dict of justifiab.e homicide. The evidence
submitted made such verdict inevitable.
Jackson repaired to the police barracks
Immediately after the killing and sur
rendered himself to the officer on duty
He was perfectly cool and collected and
told then q story that was borne out by
the evidence afterwards submitted to the
coroner. He stated that Graham had as
saulted him and that he had fired only
when he thought it necessary to save him.
self from death or serious injury. He had
endeavored in every way TO avoid the en-
counter. When tine verdict of the coro-
ners inquest was announced Jackson was
released The killing seems clearly 10
have been necessary and 1t is probable
no further steps will be taken