The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-29
THE SLAYER is IN JAIL
George Rogers While Drunk Wreck
less!y Shot his Companion.
WANTED HIM TO ACCOMPANY Finn
Davis Died Almost Instantly. Invited to Lay
Down and Because He Accepted The
Invitation Rogers Got
Mod

Lonnie Davis, colored, was shot and
killed almost instantly yesterday after
noon shortly before four o'clock. just
beyond the city limits in East Raleigh
The deed was committed by George
Rogers, alias George Freeman, colored,
who was arrested soon after the commits
sion of the crime and is now confined in
Wake Jail, awaiting a preliminary hear.
ing Monday
Rogers was under the influence of
whiskey when arrested, and he claims
that the shooting was accidental There
were four spectators of the murder, and
their version of the tragedy does not
bear out his contention.
The scene of the murder was 100 yards
beyond the city limits, on East Hargett
street. 1t occurred in the house of Bud
sims, on Poe Avenue, which is a short
street running the distance of block
from Hargett street. Sims and Davis
were members of a band and they had
an engagement last night. Davis called
at Sims home in company with Rogers,
| According to the testimony of eye wit
| nesses Davis was invited to lay down on
| the bed with Bud Sims when he entered.
| Sims was resting On the bed. Davis
: started to accept the invitation and Sims
/ had moved over to the side of the bed to
make room for him.
f, Rogers objected to Davis going to bed.
| He said, mo he won't lay down here.
| came with him and J. am going away with
| him Davis started to get on the bed
| and Rogers caught hold of him. He was
endeavoring to pull him to the door,
| George Anna Hinnant saw a pistol
| fash in Rogers napd Then there was
| a loud report. The pistol fell to the floor.
Lonnie Davis exclaimed "Oh, Lord,
| am shot" and sank to the floor"
! George Rogers ran out the back door
and picked up the pistol as he left He
went to an out-house. After Davis wife
arrived he poked his head from behind
the clubhouse door. He said to Davis
wife: you don't know how sorry / am
| The woman said; IF you killed my
| husband you might as well be sorry"
| Mr.. Walter Parrish engaged Rogers in
conversation until officers could arrive.
! They had been te1ephoned for from
Overby's store. Soon Deputy Sheriffs
Chas. Separks and Iittman Still arrived
/ and arrested Rogers. He was under the
| influence OF Whlskey. At first Rogers
/ said that Davis shot himself, but after
wards he said that he fired the shot him
self, and did so accidentally.
! The witnesses of the crime We're: Bud
Sims, Ada Sims, George Anna Hinnant,
Louisa Hinnant They are all colored
and claim to know very little about the
shooting, though eye witnesses. They
told the story as related above. All of
| them claim thatu they did not see Rog-
] ers fire the pistol.
| Though Rogers was seen with the pis-
| tol in his hand before the fatal shot was
| fired, and though he picked it up again
after Davis had been shot, the empty
shell that contained the bullet of death
cannot be found. II was removed from
f, the pistol which contained three loaded
| cartridges The pistol was carried to Mr..
/ Thos. Brockwell the gun smith, and after
| an examination of it he said one chamber
| had recently been fired.