The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-23
DYING MANS
STATE OF
FATAL MELEE
Ed FiI8on Charges "Nigger"
John With Shooting
AT OKLAHOMA CITY
Details of Row at Close of
Prize Fight.

Ed Fnson, after the shooting. made the
following statement at his home, it being
sworn to in the presence Of the coroner:
4, Edmond Filson. being wounded by
a gunshot and in fear of death, do make
the following statement as my dying dec
laration. 1 was shot by a negro called
Niger" John, the prize-dghter. He was
right close TO me and commenced to shoot
at the crowd, and 1 caught him and he
shot; the first shot going TO my right
and the next shot fired as be was right
against me. I was IN a quarrel with
Charles Kent in a building known as
Jack Brown building, when the niger
came up and commenced to pull his gun
out. and I jumped for him and he pulled
his gun out and commenced to fire at
crowd. I said to Goldie, my brother Let
US get out Of here. We went out and
started up the alley az the rear of the
building and stare west. We were run
nihg. Some one came out of the back
door and hoIIered halt" I started to stop
ard then the shot was fired that killed
my brother. He fell forward on his face.
He never spoke a word, and 1 pulled him
out Of the mud in which ne had fallen.
I was not armed at all, and to the best
OF my knowledge, Goldie had no gun I
do not know who it was that shot my
brother. All o. the above is true. so help
ne Cod
The statement is signed by Edmund
Fiison. and sworn to before Coroner
gtreet.
The Okahoman gives the details of the
affair as follows:
The boxing game begun in this city so
early in the week came TO tragic termi-
nation last night at 1880 in the hall in
the rear of Jack Browns building on
Grand avenue One dead and two wound
ed are the result. After preliminary
bouut Of five rounds, the main event Of
the evening was under full swing. and
at the beginning Of the fourth round,
Charles Kent and Ed Filson, of this city,
both spectators, became engaged in a
quarrel. Those who were nearby report
that Filson pulled Kent cut of his seat
by the hair, the two having been enemies
for some time Fnsons brother. Goldie,
came TO his assistance, drawing his gun,
and others also participated in the fulis-
ade reports varying as 20 the number Of
shots fired some declaring that three
six-shooters were emptied during the
rlelee.
Dead-Goldie Fnson married. aged y.
Wounded-rd Filson. aged 80, shot
through the lungs; VIII probably die.
John Wilkins. colored. shot twice in leg
shove knee. ard once in left wrist; viii
recover.
a mad scramble was made for the exits
by several hundred people who composed
the audience. Three windows four doors
and two stairways could not acconmo-
date those who were anxious to get TO the
outside The wounded Fison carried his
dying brother TO the yard in the rear of
the hail. where he died u a few moments.
The shots attracted the chief OF police
and the force on duty at headquarters
across the alley. Who arrived and =imme-
diately proceeded to close the doors OF
the place until ii could be ascertained
who had done the shooting.
By this time the crowd had scattered in
every direction. and it was with difficulty
that anything could be learned. Out in
the alley Goldle Ellison was lying dead.
with q bullet through his head, while
nearby was his brother. Ed, shot NOR
tally through the lungs. The latter
claimed that the man who shot him was
John Wilkins. colored man known
about town, and search for wilkins re
vealed the fact that he was living at No.
u California street. shot in the leg and
arm and suffering from the loss of blood
On the strength OF the statement made
~ Ed Filson. wilkins was placed un0er
arrest. and medical aid summoned. Ed
Filson sent for physician. saying that
II was an over, but that some relief could
he given durins his last hours. The Off
GERS arranged at once to have his ante
mortem statement taken.