The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-21
SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
II. J. DAVIS KILLED ny JAMES y.
FLEMING N DE SOTO BAR.

Efe Died Almost Instantly ~ iF'nAaA
waited for the Detectives 90 Come
far uIm-The story of the killing
n- Told at the Coroner Inquest.
FiemtnE Held for voluntary Man
slaughter.
Thomas j. Davis was shot and killed
Yesterday afternoon about $50 O'Clock in
she De SOTO Hotel bar. by James J..
Fleming Both men were employed as har
,enders. Davis was shot three times
two bullets taking effect. one IN the heart
and the other To- the right shoulder. just
below the shoulder blade. The third shot
ssassod through his shirt front but do MOI
reach the body.
Davis was a The west end Of che bar
ard behind the counter. while Fleming
49, outside of the counter with HE hands
restine on H. aud within easy reach Of
Davis. Davis Is sad 70 have had knife
IN his hand al the time that the shots
were lred. and had. by both threats and
gestures. anticipated making an attack
upon Fleming. After he was snot he walk
"a 20 the cost end OF the counter ana
fen dead IN the door that leads from be-
HtfN ANN hhN TO Wv NtAtaAtN ~ +s-N
IIe was picked up by one Of the ho-
tol portors and an employe Of
the Plant system ticket office. who had
been attracted BY the shooting and was
taken into one % the sample rooms q
the hotel RE was dead when ne was pick
81 up and DIS. r. s. Clay. W. g. How
klns and J. G.. FARRELL. who came IN short
.fr f.s ~ M
Fleming made 30 EFFORT 90 escape. lie
was arrested at the hotel and taken TO
the barracks by Detectives Garriiy.
Stark and Murphy. who were summoned
by telephone message.
Fleming. by the advice Of his counsel.
Judge II. y. d. TwigEs. would not talk.
bus when FIRST taken 70 the barracks b.
toli supt screyen that he had shot Davis
IN solf-defense a. Davis was attempting
q cut him with a knife.
There was but one witness 20 the kin
ing. John r. Harley. cashier OF the bar.
and h. absolutely refused 20 talk until
the coroners inquest This took place
about $50 O'Clock in the Recorders Court
room AZ the police barracks. II lasted
about three and . half hours and resulted
in a verdict Of voluntary granddaughter.
Harlcy's statement at the inquest Is in
substance a. follow. About 3:s O'Clock
Fleming had come into the bar Of the
hotel In order TO relieve Davis, ana had
sat in a chair near the cashiers stand.
Davis az the time was waiting on some
customers. but as soon as they had finish
ed drinking and gone. be came TO the
west end OF the bar which was nearest to
Fleming and called out 60 him you -
wan't TO see you
Fleming got up and went 10 the end Of
the bar Some words were passed. but
the witness said he did not know what
they were. He next saw Davis leaning
over the counter. evidently supported be-
low BY something higher than the floor
lie had a knife IN his hand. The witness
picked 10 q knife that b. ueed IN the bar
and said that he thought that that was
the one Davis was IN the act OF lean
ing over the counter with the knife when
tho next thing that Harley realized Flem-
Ing hads pistol IN his hand and fired twice
while Davis was leaning over the coun-
ter. and once ogain os be turned away.
While the men were IN the position de-
scribed just before the shooting took place
the witness said that Davis had applied
90 Fleming a vituperaiive epithet with
the additional remark that he would kin
him lie did not see Fleming draw the
pistol the first time be saw q. he said.
was when Il was In the air. Witness
further sold that the Shots were fired m
rapid succession. and that he thought
that the last shot had not struck Davis.
DE was uncertain whether Davis had got
down from his elevated position before the
last shot was fired.
While Davis was ~ the counter he was
sn such a position that he had the free
use Of both his hands. and his arms.
Fleming stood az the counter with his
hands resting on g. When Davis threat
ened him he neither advanced nor retreat
81. Davis had the knife raised when the
first shot was fired. The witness said
that he thought that Davis had had no
time 20 use f.. before Fleming fired.
After ~ had fallen ia the door a negro
porter. Charles Austin. went 90 him and
getting on his knees raised up the dead
man and with the assistance OF another
took him to the room In the rear OF the
bar.
As TO the relationship OF the men, pre-
vious 20 the shooting the witness said that
there had been some difficulty the night
before. The quarrel was on account u
the hours that each was kept on duty.
on the night IN question Davis.
when he had quit work. put on
his coat and hat and walked
out from behind the bar There
with friend he had called for drinks and
afterward he said 10 Fleming. who had
waited on him: You showed the white
feather last night In sending for Mr..
Powers 90 decide abous these bours. You
dirty cur. II you viii come outside ] can
do YOU" Fleming is said 20 have re-
piled. You little -- - -, you
are rot worth my coming outside and hav-
ing q scrap with. as 90 would cost me
any job and you know a."
According to the witness Davis attempt
81 70 act over the counter ne though he
was looking for a fight. but was prevented
by Mr. CHINA. "a travelling man. Austin,
the colored porter. came in the bar ~ that
time and told Davis that Mr.. Watson and
another gentleman wanted him utsiie,
and with the aid OF Mr.. CHINA, Austin
pushed him out Of the door
To questions by Coroner Goette and the
jurymcn. the witness said that Davis had
on no coat at the time Of the shooting.
and that he had not. as far az he knew.
any weapon except the knife He thought