The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-24
ARMED WITH A GUN.
Landlord and Boarder Caused a
Rough House and Almost a
Tragedy.

Rough House and Almost a
Tragedy.
A rough house at the Thomas House
at Broughton and Drayton streets at
tracted several hundred people last
night, and the prompt arrival of the
police probably prevented a homicide.
The boarding house was filled with
deputy sheriffs, patrolmen and detec-
tives in remarkably short space of
time.
Patrolman Sheehan was the first Of
ficer to arrive, and placed j. ]. Thorn
as, the proprietor, under arrest. Thorn
as was armed with a pocket knife, and
a double barrel shotgun, loaded with
bird shot. His daughter, Miss NJ. l..
Thomas was tussling with her father
for the purpose of disarming him, and
received a painful cut on the left hand.
The proprietor was making an effort
to get at Tom B. Butler, well known
vaudeville performer. who occupies a
room in the place with his wife. But
Ter was also placed under arrest at
the request of Thomas, who charges
that he attempted to beat his board
bill, and also threatened violence. The
variety performer charged Thomas
with attempting to take his life.
The trouble between the men grew
out of an attempt by Thomas to col
lect a board bill from Butler. AS usual,
there are two sides to the story, and
Recorder Myrick will be called upon to
determine who is in the right. Butler
says that he was accosted by Thomas,
and told that he would have to pay his
bill He was told that unless the
money was forthcoming Immediately
he would have to vacate. Butler said
he started upstairs and was followed
by Thomas.
The vaudeville man declares that he
went into his room for the purpose OF
telling his wife to pack up and get
ready to move and that Thomas kicked
his door in and started for him with
an open knife. A moment later
Thomas son rushed upstairs with the
gun and the women in the house be-
gan to scream. Miss Thomas held her
father to prevent his doing anything
rash and was at that time cut. sew
eral telephone messages were sent TO
police headquarters and Detective Muir
ply answered the call. He reached the
house a minute behind Patrolman Tul-
lis and Sheehan, and Chief Deputy
Sweeney and several of his of1cers VINO
were in the neighborhood.
Thomas had been disarmed, but IN
sisted that Butler be arrested Tor
threatening to shoot him with pistol.
The officers searched the house from
top to bottom in an effort to find But
Ter, and obtained a worlds experience
in the way a house can be built. De-
tective Murphy and Deputy Hartigan
opened a door on the third story, think
ing that it led into another room.
Luckily the detective struck match
as the door was thrown open, and the
startling discovery was made that the
door closed an opening, which went
down to the first floor. 1t was the ele-
vator shaft, and but for the light given.
the two officers would have walked 10
their death. Butler could not be found
in the house by the officers for the
reason that he had followed Patrol
man Sheehan, who had Thomas, and
his arms, in charge. Butler was then
placed under arrest, and walked to the
police station with Thomas.
The boarding house keeper stated at
the station house that he armed him
self only after Butler had rushed to
his room, apparently for a, pistol. He
felt that the man was going to do him
bodily harm, and in fact had heard
him make the threat that he would do
violence. Thomas charges that Butler
owes him back board, and that he
asked for the room when he found that
he could not collect the money. He
says that this made his boarder angry,
and that then it was that he rushed to
his room for the revolver. Butler de-
MES owning a weapon. ''If 1 had gun
I'd sell it," he said to Detective Muir
ply, for l need the money"