The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-05
BRADFORD SHOT BY GRAHAM.
TALLAHASSEE COUNCILMAN KILL
ED BY A sAVANNAHIAN.

Homicide Was the Result OF a DIS
pute over "a Financial Settlement.
Occurred in a Hotel Room at St
Marks. FIa.-Graham and Two Rel
attves the Only oct
ing Declared Unsuitable by the
Coroner's Jury.
Tallahassee Fla, June 4.-About
O'Clock last night. at ST. Marks, Hon. Tay-
Ior Bradford. aged Il, chairman of the
Finance Committee of the Tallahassee
City Council, and very prominent here and
in other Florida towns as a business and
social man, was shot and killed almost in
stantly by John A Graham, land specu-
lator and man of large affairs, whose home
is in Savannah.
Graham owns a large saw mill and shin
g.e factory at St. Marks. For several
months Bradford had been acting under
several different and somewhat complicat-
ed contracts as general manager of the
Graham properties at St Marks
4, With the end of May, the mills and fac
tory closed down for the season, and yes
terday afternoon, Bradford. Graham, Ora
hams brother and brother-in-law and an
met at ST. Marks Hotel to settle up their
accounts.
. About dark Hopkins, apparently salts
fed with the conference, went away, leav-
ing Bradford and the Graham people alone
at the hotel The only testimony which
can ever be obtained as TO what transpired
after this, comes from Graham and his
relatives. They say Bradford
claimed to be greatly dissat-
tsfied with the proposed settlement,
became very angry and finally drawing
a pistol aimed il first at Graham's broth
err then at John A. Graham, swapping
twice at each. but the pistol failed TO
FIRE Thereupon John Graham grabbed a
pistol from his brother-in-law's pocket
and fired five times at Bradford. three
bullets taking effect in his breast
Pursued by Bradford.
Graham says he then ran from the
room, and Bradford followed in pursuit,
bit upsn reaching the hotel porch, Brad
ford fell over dead
The coroner's inquest was held to-day,
and the above statements were made to
the jury by the Graham people. No other
evidence was adduced, and after deliber-
alton, the jury returned verdict of JUS
t.fable homicide and exonerated Ora
ham.
The killing produced a profound sem
eation in Tallahassee, Bradford's home.
Much dissatisfaction is expressed at the
turn the investigation has taken. Brad
fords family is one of the foremost in
che South, his ancestors having come here
from North Carolina and Virginia many
years ago. He leaves widow who is the
daughter of Judge William Brooks
distinguished jurist of Birmingham, Ala,
and four young children. Bradford was in
business in Birmingham for several
years. but returned here TO look after ex-
CIV srxfH /. u. a
ford are well known all over Florida and
South Georgia
Bradford was buried here this after
noon. An immense concourse attended the
funeral.
The tragedy created among those by
whom Mr.. Graham is known in Savannah
a sensation equal to that it produced in
Tallahassee, the home of the dead man.
For several years Mr.. Graham has made
his home in Savannah and has man.
aged from here the affairs of the Graham
Cypress Company. His offices were in the
Citizens Bank building. His residence is
at Drayton and Waldburg streets, where
he lived with his wife and family.
The first news of the killing came yes
terday morning to Capt. James M Rog-
ers, who is Mr.. Graham's attorney and
personal friend. The intelligence reached
Capt. Rogers in the shape of telegram
AIrtH winch was as follows.
Il had misfortune to kill John Bradford
yesterday evening in self-defense. l am
unhurt Coroner's jury convenes this
morning. Am satisfied l win be exoner-
ated." later telegram announced that
the investigation of the jury would last
until The late evening.
Bradford was superintendent of the
Graham Cypress Company. which owns
extensive mills at St. Marks where the
tragedy occurred. His slayer is the pres
ident OF the company and owns prac teal
ly all of the stock. He is interested in
timber lands in Florida to a very large
extent and is supposed to be more than
comfortably well off.
Mr. Graham is a man of very quiet de-
meanor and not easily excited. He Is
known, however, TO have a mind of his
own. and when he believes himself to be
in the right, is the last man in the world
to yield an inch of his position. Brad
ford is said 10 have been of a fiery tenn
per and disposition, and when these war
ring clements in the character of the two
men came in<o conflict, it is not surpris-
ing that q personal difficulty, with its
tragic consequences, ensued.
When he left home, week or less ago,
Mr.. Graham did NOT carry his revolver.
though he is accustomed to carry il with
him on his trips into Florida. The trip
he then began was for the purpose of
winding up 4he affairs of the company
for the year, Bradford's term as super
intendeEt having expired on June l. Mr.
Graham had wired HIS wife that he would
be home Sunday evening, and IL was
doubtless his inability to come to an
agreement with Bradford that kept him
in st. Marks longer than he had in
tended to stay. The action of the cor
orers jury is matter of congratulation
10 his friends here who, however. had
been assured from the first that he was
IN the right and that the verdict could