The age-herald., 1901-04-30
DEPUTY SHERIFF
 FOULLY MURDERED Shot Down by. Unknown Negro
 Concealed in House KNOCKED FOR ADMISSION
The Response Was a bullet Sent Through His Heart-Posse Makes Search for His Slayer, But
 Finds No Clue.

Selma, April 29.-(Special.) )-There Is no little suppressed excitement in Selma to- day caused by the killing of Deputy Sher- fir J. L. Edwards last night about g o'clock at the cabin of negro by the name of John Dawson, Jr., which is To- cated about ten miles from this city
 Yesterday afternoon Deputy Sheriff Joseph L. Edwards left the city accom- panied by four negroes = Jim Soloman, George Sharpe, Henry Sharpe and Ben Sharpe. He went to find Doc Adams, wanted for the attempted murder of Roxie Sharpe, a sister of three of the negroes named above.
 Doc Adams was located in Durand's Bend, and the officer, with the posse of four negroes, captured him about dusk. Mr. Edwards was in his cart, and hand cuffing the negro to the seat of the cart. started back to town with him. On reach ing the fork of the Penton road he re- membered that Ben Jones, another negro. was wanted for stealing a COW, and he had heard that he was in that vicinity. The negroes who had gone with the deputy to catch Adams were asked if they would go and help find the negro Jones, and upon their agreeing to do 80 they set of up the Benton road until they came to the covered bridge across Soap stone creek.
 Shot Down at the Door.
 About a quarter of mile from the bridge is house occupied by John paw- Jr., sometimes known as John Stevens. MT. Edwards drove up within few feet of the house and got out of the cart leay- ing the prisoner handcuffed to the seat and in charge of the four negroes. The officer went upon the porch of the house and, according to the statement Of Jim Soloman, knocked at the door. After re- peated knocking voice from within 1n- quired who was there. MT. Edwards told him who it was and asked that the door be opened. The voice from the inside re- piled: T don't care who you are, you are not coming in here.' MT. Edwards again told him he was the sheriff, when the voice became louder and more abusive saying: You get away from that door, you can't come in.' MT. Edwards then called to the negroes saying: Come here boys" Jim Soloman went up to the door and tried to get the negro on the in side to open 1t, saying that the sher1n wouldn't hurt anybody and only wanted Ben Jones. He only got curses for his pains and was ordered to leave the place.
 Mr. Edwards, after the negro cursed him, kept saying he was going in and stepping back from the door fired two shots from his pistol through the wooden barrier. He then again tried to force the door placing his full weight against it but it would not budge. The officer kept say ing all the time, according to negro Solo, man: T am coming in" Finally the door opened enough to permit MT. Ed wards to get his arm through the apert- ure made and then came a report and the officer fell backwards, the last words Soloman heard him say as he sunk to the floor being "I am coming in."
 Two Voices Were Heard.
 The negro Solomon then jumped around the house and says he heard two voices, one of them saying Let me get to the other and I'll finish him, too" Solomon states he ran around the house into a deep ditch and came up with the rest of the negroes who had his horse, and they came on to town. Doc Adams drove up to Mir Robert Smiths house and gave himself up. Here he was found when the posse from the city came out a few hours after the shooting.
 The four negroes put spurs to their