The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-18
THE MURDERER HAS FLED
The Wounded Woman Ran Into the
House and Dropped Dead.
'C0RONER's INQUEST HELD YESTERDAY
The Verdict Of the Jury Was That the Dtceast {
Came to Her Death by Gun Shot Wounds
From the Hands Of Rufus
Blown.

roll avenue, in the southern part of
this city, one of the most cold-blooded
and unprovoked murders on record
here was committed
On the street in front of her own
home, Sarah Davis, a young negro
woman, was twice shot and killed by
a negro man known here as Boots
Brown.
The first shot took effect in her
mouth, grazing the lower lip and
ranging upward. The second bail en-
tered her back, iust1under the left
shoulder as she ran into the house.
The first shot was fred as the woman
stood on the street with Brown, who
had called her out to speak to her.
The second ball struck her as she was
entering her door. After this she ran
through the front room and into the
second one, where she fell, bleeding,
on the floor and died almost without
struggle.
Jealousy is supposed to have been
the cause of the tragedy.
After the shooting Brown ran off
up the street, throwing eff his coat
and firing his pistol twice as he ran.
Tie has not been heard from since,
though the officers have been doing
their best to find him.
The coroner. DR.. Moore, held an in
quest over the body yesterday after
non and it was buried Immediately af-
terward.
Sarah Davis was 4 woman of rather
slender build, dark in color and about
10 wears old. Her maiden name was
Sarah Smith, being the daughter of
olx-ir Co4 7,
whom she was living at the time of
her death. About a year ago she mar
ried .lohn Davis. They lived together
for five or six months. then he went
to Norfolk and has since been in the
employ there of the Life Insurance
Company Of Virginia.
"BCots" Grown CHS real name is
Ruflfs) is a negro of bad reputation
Tie has q. family. consisting of wife
and two children living in East Raj
eioh, but he se,dom went to their
home and contributed very little to
their support. He worked for sorce-
time at the Southern depot and it is
supposed that it was while there that
he first knew Sarah Davis. Brown is
a short. heavy set negro, black and
of quarresome disposition.
Though the coroner's jury yester-
fore it a motive for the murder. there
is reason to heneve that il was ieal-
busy. 1T is known that the two--the
murderer and the dead woman-had
been much together. 1t is believed
that more recently some one had sup
planted Brown in the wOman's atfec-
tions, and rather than submit to this
he killed her.
The coroner's inquest was held yes
terday afternoon at 4 o'clock. at the
house where the woman was killed
-Four witnesses were examined. as
follows:
John Smith uncle OF the deceased.
He was an eye witness to the tragedy.
George Merritt also an eye witness.
He was calling on the girl when
Brown called her out and killed her.
Catherine Smith mother Of the de
ceased. She was in the house and did
not see the murder of her daughter
Dora Robbitt. an eye witness to the
killing. She had stopped at the Smith
house for a moment waiting for some
one.
All of these witnesses swore to the
same facts, namely:
/. Brown walked up to the gate
and asked Sarah TO let him speak to
her . minute.
At the time she was sitting on the
porch with George Merritt. Her uncle
John Smith and Dora Bobbitt were
also. present.
2. Sarah went out to the gate and
asked what he wanted. lie. told her
to come out on the street. She hest
tated and he asked her if she twas
afraid and added that he wouldn't
hurt her
10 {l,o ~
and those sitting on the porch could |
hear all that was said
3. The girl passed out the gate and |
walked down the street few steps
when the pistol was fired. All the wit
nesses heard the report and one of
them saw the flash of the weapon in |
Browns hand.
Later it was discovered that the
ball fired at the first shot entered the |
mouth
A. The girl turned to run into the |
house; as she reached the steps Brown |
fired again. hitting her in the back. |
She ran through the front room and |
into the next one where she fell, dy- |
ing almost instantly.
When shot the first time the woman |
screamed, but she never uttered %
word
None OF the witnesses cou1d assign |
any cause for the tragedy, though |
others think it was caused by ieal- |
ousy.
The negroes are considerably |
wrought up over the murder and are
anxious for Brown to be caught ana
punished.
Sunday night after the shooting not |
less than a thousand. and possibly |
two thousand. people visited the scene |
Of the crime and viewed the body of |
the dead woman. tIs 10 wWi
The nolice are hopeful of catching
Brown. All night Sunday night they |
watched his home and the homes of !