The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-25
RAN To HIS DEATH
CONVICT JOE WESTON STOPPED BY
A BULLET.
GUARD DAVIS AIM TRUE.
NEGRO ATTEMPTED TO ESCAPE
FROM THE FAIR GROUNDS GANG.

COrOner's Jury Called Tragedy
JustifabIe Homicide - Davis ana
other officers Had Ordered the Ne
gro to HaIt-westOn Was Heading
for Cuyler swamp and Would
Have Had to Jump n Fence-Win-
chester Ball Entered the Small OF
His Back and Killed Him Instant
ly- Weston Was Serving Nine
Month for Stealing n Ride, and
Had Boosted That His Time Would
BE short - Chief Guard Fennen
Had Been Notified of Prisoners
Threat, and His Attempt to Escape
While at Work ON the Race Track
Was Not "A Surprise.
Joe Weston, a negro convict, was
shot and instantly killed by Guard j.
B. Davis of Camp No. 4 at the State
Fair Grounds yesterday morning. The
negro made a break for liberty while
at work with a squad on the race track
and refused to halt when ordered. Wes-
ton was running his level best when
ball from the guards Winchester en-
tered the small of his back. The con-
Wet had gone probably 100 yards and
was making for the fence which en-
closes the grounds. His object was
probably to scale it and escape to Guy
Ter swamp.
The guards of Camp No. 4, which is
now stationed at the Fair Grounds,
but which has been at work resurfac-
ing Waters road, had been notified that
A. Wy
thing, and had been given orders to
keep a close watch on the prisoner.
Weston had remarked to a gentleman
at the race track that he did not pro-
pose serving the Fair Association very
much longer, and that all the guards
in Chatham county couldn't hold him
a captive. He intimated strongly that
he would make his escape before many
days more expired, and that a little
thing like a rifle could not stop him.
The negro had never been informed
that Guard Davis, who watched over
his squad, is a dead shot. The pris-
oner's threat was communicated to
Chief Guard ]. c. Fennell, and that Of
ficer notified the under guards to be
careful of the negro Weston. Davis
was one of the men who heard the in
structions, and the prisoner was care
fully watched.
The squad in which Weston was a
prisoner had been working about an
hour. Besides Chief Fennell and Guard
Davis other county officers were present.
watching the work as it progressed.
The prisoners carried a light shackle
on their legs, but were not hampered
in their work by being tied together.
1t was noticed that Weston kept on the
outside of the prisoners, but nothing
was said about it. Suddenly he dropped
his spade and darted like a deer for
the fence. Davis carefully placed the
Winchester to his shoulder, and called
to Weston to halt. Chief Fennell also
ordered the negro to stop, as did the
other officers. Davis kept the rifle to
his shoulder and continued with a firm
voice to order the negro to halt, but
he only ran the faster and the other
convicts dropped their tools and
watched the fleeing convict.
Davis was not willing to shoot until
the negro had been given every oppor-
tunity to return to the squad. Wes-
ton was fast getting out of range, and
Davis closed his hand. A little puff
of smoke. and the crack of the cap.
was followed by an answering cloud of
dust, as the convict fell to the ground
a corpse. He was killed instantly, in
his effort to escape a punishment which
the law had ordained he should re-
ceive. The guard remained where he
stood, and the other convicts were told
to continue their work. There was
scarcely any excitement among the
negroes, and with Davis standing over
them they continued their task, as il
nothing had happened. The entire af-
fair had lasted little over a minute.
Coroner Keller was at once notified
and left for the Fair Grounds, where
the inquest was held. Davis was not
placed under arrest, and was permit
ted to continue his duties as a guard.
The facts already related were brought
out at the inquest, and the jury lost
no time in generating the guard, who
had made very effort to stop the pris-
oner before firing. 1t was shown that
Davis is a careful and conservative
man, who has been employed by the
county for several years, and that he
had only done his duty. He regretted
the tragedy. but said that he had done
that which was expected of him.
The negro Weston was unknown in
Savannah, but is said to have been
surly sort of a prisoner. He was un-
til last month employed between Jack
sonville and this city by the Western
Union Telegraph Company. He left the
service of that company in Jackson
vile and beat his way to Chatham
county in a Plant System box car. He
was discovered by a fiagman and ar
rested for stealing a ride on a railroad
train. July 20 he was sentenced by
Judge Norwood to serve nine months
on the county changing, and was
sent to Camp No. 4. His boast that
his nine months service would be very
short was fulfilled, but he lost his life
in the attempt to enjoy it's briefness.
A Valuable Roof Paint.
The Plant System are having the