The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-21
SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.


friendly up 20 the quarrel OF the night be-
fore. the witness said that when Davis
had told him that he would Kill Fleming
or that Fleming would have 10 kin him,
he had sent the porter up TO call Mr.. "
II. Hall one OF the hotel clerks. aud after
telling, Hall got him TO go to Fiemng's
house aud tell him that he had better
look out when he came 10 work. as Davis
had said that he intended killing him
Tho witness concluded his statement by
saying that his relations with both men
had been friendly.
W. II. Hall the second witness. tesu-
fed that he knew nothing OF the actual
Shooting. Harley had sent 20 the Office
for him at 2.a o'clock and when he went
down stairs Harley met him In the hall,
outside Of the bar. and told him that
Davis had been threatening 10 do up
Fleming when he should come on duty,
and that he had better go to Fleming
house and tell him. He went TO Fleming
house. ne said. and told him what Harley
had said. Fleming smiled and said that
he'd take care OF him. The witness said
he then had returned 10 the hotel. went
20 his room. and had Just got into bed
when he heard a shot.
Mr. CHINA testified as To the events Of
the quarrel the previous night. which were
substantially that Davis mad drank with
him and had then after some words with
Fleming as 10 getting "A check for the
drinks called him cur with a yellow
streak in him. They then had an argu-
mcnt as to the hours and the AFFAIR wound
up as stated IN the evidence OF the other
witness by Fleming calling Davis a lit
tie and Davis being got out OF the
bar after making an attempt TO get over
the counter at Fleming. The witness fur
Their said that both the night before and
yesterday Davis had told him that he in
tended to do Fleming harm and
that there was going 10 ia trouble.
The last time he had made such a re-
mark was about / O'Clock. and he then
sold that he WAS going to make Fleming
take back those words or there would b.
trouble. The witness said he WAS an init
mate friend OF both parties. and had
known Of no quarrel between them before
the fatal one.
Charles Austin. the porter. was the
fourth and last witness. lie said that
about o'clock yesterday afternoon he had
heard a kind OF dispute going on In the
bar. He went IN TO see what IL was. and
was tod by the cashier to go upstairs
and see Mr.. Hall and tell him 20 come
there because there might be trouble.
He went TO the office, he said
but did not get Mr.. Hall. being told that
he had gone out and would not be back
un,il O'Clock. Hearing the shots down
stairs BE had then rushed down and found
DAVIS az the back of the bar. lying In
the door. lie picked him up aud. with
the aia OF a man employed IN the ticket
office. took him into the sample room back
OF the bar. After hs shirt was torn OF.
he said that he had seen the place where
tho bullet went in.
when he heard the dispute AZ FIRST ANA
looked in. the witness said that he had
seen IN che bar Fleming. Davis. and the
cushicr Davis was behind the counter
and Fleming was on the outside about
three or four feet away. He saw no
weapon IN the hand OF either man. The
night before he said that from the other
room he had heard the quarrel ard had
heard the Vile language that hasl been
employed. hut did not know by whom It
was spoken.
The evidence OF the first witne 81. was
OF course the most important as he was
the only one who saw the shooting. but
he was not as lucid In some OF his state
ments as the jurymen cared 10 have him.
and repeated questions on their part fall
ed to clear up several points In his tos-
timony He was quite certain that he
could quote. and did quote all sof the vile
terms. and expressions OF Davis. but re-
fused TO commit himself by quoting any
of the "retorts courteous" Of Fleming
Judge TWiggs. DR.. Lem Davis. and
hundreds OF friends Of The dead man and
his slayer were In the Police Court room
while The testimony was being taken ana
remained until the verdict OF the jury
was made known which was within a few
minutes OF midnight.
During the afternoon, shortly after
Fleming was taken to the lookup. a num-
bor OF his relatives called on him. Among
them was his wife who was so affected
that she tainted and a physician had to
BE- called la.
Davis. the dead man, was not yet 20
,eors Old. lie leaves "a wife having been
married. only about eight months ago. He
vas well known and had many friends
During the spanisn-Amorican war DE was
a member OF the Second Georgia Regi-
mont and bore an excellent reputation for
rcatuess and soldicrly qualities. He was
bonorabIv discharged when the regiment
was mustered out OF service and since
that time has been tending bar at num-
Der of places
Fleming gave his age at the barracks as
AZ He Is from Augusta, but Is said to
nave been IN Savannah for about a year
or more. lie had been at the DE Soto bar
for some time. while Davis went there
10 work only last Monday.
Davis will be buried this afternoon al
4 o'clock. from No i25 Congress street.
east.