The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-17
HELD FOR MURDER.
spauIding Will Answer for the Kill
ing OF Isaiah Morrison.

Spaulding Will Answer for the Kill
ing OF Isaiah Morrison.
Coroner J. G. Keller held an inquest in
the Police Court room yesterday after
noon over the body of Isaiah Morrison,
who was killed Tuesday morning by John
Spaulding, about eight miles from Savan-
nah and about two miles this side of
Williams station on the Seaboard Air
Line. Several section hands including
Foreman Hawkins, testified before the
jury and all of the witnesses told pretty
much the same story.
The jury did not take many minutes
to agree upon verdict of murder, charg-
ing Spaulding with firing the fatal shot,
and George Walker with being an access
sorry. Both negroes escaped Immediately
after the homicide, and have not yet been
located After the verdict of the jury had
been signed, Coroner Keller went to the
office of Magistrate Nathans and had two
warrants issued for the negroes charged
with the murder. The officers have little
hopes of capturing either.
William H. Hawkins, the track foreman
was the first witness sworn ~ was
working a gang about two miles this side
of Williams station he said Isaiah
Morrison, John Spaulding and George
Walker were employed in the gang. Walk
er got into a fuss with another negro
named Ben Washington. lie ran WASH
ington to the upper end of the work with
shovel and / thought that they were
playing. They ran towards me, George
with his shovel uplifted, ready to strike
Ben who had lost his. When the men
came up to me 1 told Walker to behave
himself and go back to his work. He let
Ben alone and started back to his work.
On the way back he met Isaiah Morrison
and said, 1T seems that you would like
to get into it AS well as / can remem-
Der, Isaiah said no, I'm not in it and
don't want to be in it, but 1 am not afraid
of you
George had his shovel up while he
was talking, and when Morrison made
this reply struck him on the shoulder
with the shovel Both men had passed
several blows with their shovels when
George placed his hand under his sweater
and pulled out a revolver and fired one
shot at Morrison. Isaiah knocked the pis-
toll out of Georges hand with his shovel
and picking it up fired two shots at
Walker While Isaiah was shooting at
Walker John Spaulding pulled his
pistol and fired one shot at Nor
rison. l can't say positively, but l
think that Spaulding's bullet killed Nor
rison. The wounded man staggered and
fell into a ditch. He never spoke after
the shot was fired and died about five
minutes afterwards Both Walker and
Spaulding picked up their coats and
buckets and made for the woods. / had
Morrison picked up and placed on the
track think he was shot just above the
right nipple"
Cornelia Dublin, negro employed in
Hawkins gang saw the killing and was
the best witness to testify. He said:
1.-The first thing that l noticed was
Walker and Morrison talking. Walker
said you're looking for it. and Isaiah said
no l am not looking for anything
George said yes you are -- (using a
string Of profanity, I'll make you get
move on you now. Isaiah walked back
wards and George walked up to him and
struck him on the right arm with his
shovel Isaiah drew back his shovel and
struck George, who put his hand under
his sweater and drew his pistol. He fired
one shot ct Isaiah, and / think missed
him. As George was about to shoot the
second time Isaiah hit him with the
shovel and knocked the pistol from his
hand Isaiah picked the pistol up and
shot ct George twice / think he missed
him. George ran about five steps towards
John Spauldlng. Spaulding pulled out
his revolver and shot one time at Isaiah
Isaiah placed his hand on his bosom and
fell. He died IN about Ave minutes
Spaulding and Walker ron across the
woods like rabbits. They always worked
together and were partners"
David Duggin. another member Of Fore
man Hawkins gang. witnessed the hon.