The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-05-22
NEGRO'S DEADLY AIM
Ends Earthly Career Of Three
Officers and a Citizen.
INCIPIENT RIOT in ATLANTA


Themselves in a Store and Do
Deadly Work-Toreh Was Ap-
piled and Three Were Killed.
An Atlanta, Ca, special says: An
effort by officers of the law to arrest
negro outlaws who had barricaded
themselves in q store resulted Satur'
day morning in the most fatal riot
that has ever occurred in the history
of the city. Seven men were killed,
including three policemen, a white Cit
izen and three negroes.
The most exciting scenes prevailed
at the place of the riot and every avail
able policeman, with military, called
out by the governor, had all they could
do to keep down a general riot.
The scene of the tragedy was on
Mcdaniel street, a few hundred yards
outside the city limits, where mem
bers Of notorious gang of negro out
The county police first attempted to
raid the place alone and later the city
police were called upon for aid. Still
later the governor was appealed to
and the military ordered out.
In the barricaded store were three
negroes. 1t is believed there were at
first as many as five and two escaped
before daylight. The store was small
arsenal in which were number OF
winchester rifles and a small gatling
gun. 1t was rendezvous for gang
Of thieves and murderers. Within
were sharpshooters who picked off the
men on the outside with precision and
deadly effect. Every time a man
showed himself he was shot to death.
The Torch Applied.
The torch was finally brought into
requisition and amidst the flames was
heard the crack Of the rifles. The
flames accomplished what the bullets
failed to do. Two members of the
gang rushed out, one to death and the
other, the leader, was burned up after
his body had been riddled with bullets.
Before the riot was ended three
brave officers had been shot to death,
one citizen had fallen with rifle in
his hands, two negroes were killed and
many others had been wounded.
The dead are: Ed Battle, bailin
in Fulton county; H. G. Ozburn, a po-
liceman OF Fulton county; Thomas
Grant, a city policeman; Edward Crab
tree, city policeman; Will Richard.
son, the negro desperate who killed
these men; James Harrison, a negro
who attempted to escape from a sew
er; Milton Grisby, shot in a nearby
yard, died in Tower.
The wounded are: S. A. kerlin,
beaten by negroes; w. A. Wright,
county policeman, wounded in the
left shoulder; w. T. Jackson, street
car man, wounded in hip; Owen
Heard. a county policeman, wounded
in the thigh; Call Officer Spradlin,
wounded in the arm; Shepherd Fined,
hackman, shot through the hand.
During the entire affair at least g.
900 shots were fred. Citizens had
Joined the police, armed with shotguns
and rifles. The outlaws could not be
seen, but the house was riddled with
bullets in the hope that a stray shot
might do its work.
The outlaws were cool and shot with
great accuracy. One by one the off,
GERS and members of their posse were
picked off and every bullet went
straight to its mark.
After the burned body Of the negro
was found, an angry crowd OF white
men seized it and started with 1t to-
ward the city. Chief Ball threw a
Gordon of police across street at the
city limits and took the body away
from the crowd and had 1t sent into
the city in a wagon.
While the procession was passing
VIII Gregg, a negro, was heard to re-
mark that it was a shame to kill ne
groes that way, and he had no sooner
spoken the words than he was riddled
with bullets.
When the governor was notified he
Immediately called out the military,
but the soldiers arrived too late to
take a hand in the fight.
Origin Of the Trouble.
At Atlanta Friday night five negroes
waylaid and tried to murder ex-Police-
man s. A. Kerlin on Mcdaniel street,
Just outside the city limits. A passing
trolley car saved the ex-policemans
life.
The assault was made by negroes
with whom Kerlin had trouble when
he was member Of the police force:
The affair was reported to County
Chief of Police Turner and he detailed
three of his men to work on the case.
Late Friday night the county police
reported that they had located some OF
the would-be murderers in a negro
house on Mcdaniel street.