The age-herald., 1901-08-21
NEGRO DESPERADO
 KILLED IN DALLAS
He Was Terrorizing White Men
 With Winchester Rifle
ANOTHER NE GRO FIRED SHOT
The Desperate Had Been Arrested, But Released Himself and Proceeded To Use Rifle On White Men
 of the Neiehborhood.

Selma, August 20.-(Special. )-News reached this city this morning of one of the most sensational killings that has ever occurred in this section of the state, in which a negro desperado was shot dead.
 The killing took place at Berlin. in this county, at late hour yesterday even- ing. Berlin Is a small station on the Gulf road about twenty miles from this city. Jesse Beech, who has been work ing as roust-a-bout on a steamboat on the Mississippi river turned up there sev- eral days ago. The negro Is said to have openly boasted that he was a tough char acter, and said that he was wanted in had long record of deperate acts to his credit. The negro went to MT. J. B. Min ter a few days ago and gave him the address of a woman In Memphis and asked him to write to her and to tell her to send his trunk, and tell her that 1t had cost him 80 to get to Berlin. Fir. Minter had heard of Beech's bragging, and instead of writing to the woman he sat down and wrote a letter to the chief
 
 description of the negro.
 A few days later an answer came from the chief of police stating that Jesse was bad negro and that he was wanted in Memphis for murder and several other smaller crimes. Yesterday morning Jesse came into MT Winters store and asked if letter was there for him from the woman in Mennhfs and danapdad bic mall In very insolent manner. Instead of handing him any mail MT. Minter told
 him to consider himself under arrest. h.
 stead of obeying the command the negro
 ripped out an oath and swore that he would not be arrested and at the same time went for his pistol and was In the
 act of drawing 1t when MT. Minter and
 several other men who were in the store
 jumped on him and overpowered him and took his weapon from him. When the ne- gro was overpowered he was tied with a blow line and those In the room thought
 that he was securely fastened.
 Untied the Knots.
 Beech was placed in the corner of the room and very little attention was paid to him. He worked gradually with the | ends of his fingers untying the knots. | Late in the evening he threw the ropes | to one side and made a jump for Win | chester rife which was standing in a cor ner of the store. MT. Winter and those | in the store were taken completely by surprise and when the negro cooked the | rife and ordered everybody out of the
 store they obeyed.
 | There were several negroes in the store and as they made no movement to get out the negro desperado began punching L1x, ;,,t y.f1, ta ha of "a ri l fe and told them to get out in a hurry. | The negro then walked out in front oi | the store and took a seat on the porch | with the Winchester across his knees and | waited for the white men to return to the
 store. After sitting there he turned and walked up to W. B. Blackwell who had | gotton into a secure place while the ne | gro was threatening to use his rife, but
 who came out of his hiding place wher
 he saw the negro go up the hill The | negro saw young Blackwell as he came | out and deliberately turned and sent 2 | ball past his head. A second or two aftel | the negro fired at Blackwell J. E. Mintel l came around corner and just as he di( | so the negro, who was then on hill be
 hind a tree. raised the rifle against it and
 taking deliberate aim, fired at his intended | victim Before MT. Minter could obe! | the warning that was yelled to him thu | shot whistled past his ear. Just at thi | moment a negro by the name of Georg | Hunter rode up on the opposite side of thu | store and asked what was the matter
 George had a shot gun loaded with buck | shot with him, but there was no time fo | Mir Minter to explain the situation t. | him. so he told him to shoot the negr
 with the Winchester rife. George raise'
 his shot gun to his shoulder and pulle' | down. At the crack of the gun the ne
 gro desperado dropped in his tracks witl | the load of buckshot through his heart.