The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-31
KILLED IN A BRAWL
LYMUs LAWRENCE SHOT DEAD In
A STREET ROW.
PHILLIP PROCTOR HIS SLAYER
NEGRO CooPERs FOUGHT AMONG
THEMSELVES AND ONE KILLED.

Proctor Fled After the Shooting But
Was Captured Short Distance
From the Scene of the Crime-De-
mics He Shot Lawrence and Says
He Does Not Know who Did II.
Coroner's Inquest Will Be Held
To-day.
Lymus Lawrence, a negro cooper,
was shot and instantly killed at Hun
tingdon and West Broad streets last
night in a drunken brawl with two
companions. Philip Proctor of No. 6O7
Oak street is held at the police station
charged with the murder. He was
drunk when arrested, but declared that
he had not fired the fatal shot. half
dozen witnesses were secured who
stated that they saw Proctor do the
shooting.
Elijah Freeman was a participant in
the row that closed with the tragedy,
but made his ecape during the excite
ment that followed the shooting. At
first ii was claimed by Proctor that
Freeman fired the shot, but later he
said that he could not tell just who did
it. He had a cut over his left eye
and a wound on his right hand. He
claimed that he had been assaulted by
Freeman and Lawrence and that his
injuries were received during the scuf-
f1e. The prisoner was very much I'M
der the influence of liquor and made
several conflicting statements.
4
street, and John Jenkins, living at
CASTOR and Jefferson streets, both COL
ored, witnessed the killing from differ
ent positions and both are positive that
the shooting was done by Proctor.
Lawrence, Freeman and Proctor were
employed as coopers at the same
place, and were paid off in the after
noon. During the night they spent their
money freely for whisky and had just
taken a drink in bar on West Broad
street
At the Gamewell box at the corner
of Huntingdon street, the men became
engaged in a dispute and first attract
ed the attention of the witnesses. The
men were scuffling when seen by Jen-
kins and Small. Proctor was heard to
say, II always treated you like a gen
tlemen." One of the other men said
1--WE are going to see what you have
got, and are going to have you arrested
for st."
The witnesses say that the men were
together at that time and it seemed as
II Freeman and Lawrence were trying
to get something from Proctor. When
the reference was made to the police
Proctor jerked himself out of the tam
gle, and throwing his hand to his hin
pocket drew his revolver He fired one
shot and Lawrence moved a step back
wards and fell dead. Freeman ran
when the shot was fired and Proctor
went south on West Broad street. Proc
tor was being pursued by several ne
groes when stopped by L. M. Fisher OF
No. 217 Taylor street
Fisher had just come out of a col
ored church at Charles and West
Broad streets. when he heard the shot
fired. Charles street Is not a block
from where Lawrence was killed, and
Proctor was headed in that direction.
b. F. Major and Fisher were together
and they caught Proctor as he went
by. The negro fought to get away. but
was held until the arrival of Patrol
man Risen, who lives in the neighbor-
hood. The prisoner was sent to the
station house, where the charge of muir
der was entered against him.
Coroner Keller was notified of the
tragedy and careful search was made
for the revolver from which the shots
were fired. 1t had not been found at
an early hour this morning, and the
search will be renewed at daylight. The
body of the dead negro was sent to
the station house in an ambulance and
a post-mortem examination will be held
to-day The bullet entered the right
side, but 1t is not known where il lodg-
ed. An inquest will be held in the
Police Court room tonight at o'clock
at which time the coroner's jury will
hear the testimony of those who wit
messed the homicide.
The police have been unable to find
the negro Freeman, but it Is believed
that he will surrender to-day. At one
time Proctor claimed that Freeman had
hold of the revolver when it was dis
charged, but later he stated that he
couldn't say who was responsible for
the shooting. The witnesses state pos
itively that they saw Proctor fire the
shot and Freeman is wanted as an ad-
ditional witness.