The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-30
CORNERED BY A MOB
ALEX BUTLER SHOT THROUGH THE
SHOULDER BY JOHN MURKEN.
WERE OPPOSING WORKERS.
BUTLER KNOCKED DOWN AND
DREW HIS REVOLVER.

Police Seized MurISen After the First
ShOt-The Shooting Followed
General Fight That Lasted Several
Minutes-ButIer Drew His Revolver
while on the Ground and Pressed
by the CrOwd-PatroIman CrOnin
Jumped in Front of MurI1en's Piss
tol and Caused Second Shot to Go
in Air-ButIer Claims He Was Shot
From Behind.
A general fight between the opposing
heelers at II 80 o'clock ended with the
shooting of Alex S. Butler by John H.
Murken, and but for the act of Pa
troIman D. J. Cronin some one would
probably have been killed. Patrolman
W. S. Winn also distinguished himself
during the ARRAY.
Murken was at work for the Citizens
Club while Buffers strength was being
used in an effort to elect the candidates
of the Union Club. The fight started
at the southeast corner of President
and Bull streets, and almost simulta-
neously three other fights began. The
entire squad of police went into the
game and the heelers of both sides got
busy at the same time.
The fighting was general and police
and heelers rolled together on the as
phalt. Blows were being passed right
and left and the fighting, maddened
mob moved around the square to State
street and then to Bull. Blows were
handed around without discrimination,
and to those who had perched them
selves on the outskirts of the mob. ii
seemed as if everybody was satisfying
a wild desire to punch somebody.
In the square on Bull street. between
President and State streets, Butler re-
Ceived a blow that sent him to the
ground. He was then the center of the
mob and looked as if he expected at
lacks from every direction. The police
were scattered, and doing what they
could to stop the fighting. They We're
outnumbered, however. and were being
fairly rushed from point to point.
Drew His Revolver.
When Butler struck the ground he
drew his revolver. This much those
who were in the ARRAY agree upon.
Opinions differ as to just what follow
ed. Butler presented the revolver at
the crowd in order, he said to pre-
vent mis- being kicked or struck while
on the ground. At the same time Muir
ken drew his revolver and fired direct
ly at the man on the ground. Butler
1t that time was in a STOPPING position
and, according to those who claim to
have been cool, made no effort to
shoot.
At the shot Patrolman Cronin Jump
ed in front of Murken and but for his
agility would have received the second
bullet. The officer grabbed Murken
tightly with one hand, and with the
other threw his right hand into the
air. and over the heads of the scat
tering crowd. The quick action of the
officer sent the second bullet into the
air. Had it been shot as it was aimed
by Murken some one would have been
wounded.
Attempted to shoot.
While officer Cronin was prevent
ing a homicide Patrolman VIM had
got into the game. Butler did not
intend, armed as he was, to be shot
down, and when the bullet pushed it's
way through his shoulder he prepared
to fire. VIM jumped forward and
grabbed the weapon. Butler had al
ready pulled the trigger and had the
cartridge exploded some one would
have been hit. The wounded man did
not appear to be aiming at anybody
in particular. In grabbing the weap-
on Officer Winn luckily caught it at
the right spot and the hammer fell
on his finger instead of striking the
cartridge
The crowd broke when the shooting
began and there was the widest sort
of excitement Murken was hustled
to the patrol wagon, which was
standing on the south side of the
square, and was hurried to the po-
lice station. Butler had taken adj
vantage of the break in the crowd
and had got away Il few feet. He
was finally secured and an eXamina-
tion of his wound was made by DR..
]. G. farrell. The bullet had entered
at the left shoulder and lodged in
the right shoulder, missing his spinal
column by a very close margin. The
young man was taken in a cab to a
physicians office. where his wound
was dressed. Later in the day he
again appeared at the polls.
Shot From Behind.
Butler charges that he was shot from
behind by Murken and some of those
who witnessed the shooting corrobo-
rated his statement. Deputy Sheriff
Charles Westcott, who was on hand
claims that Butler expressed a desire
to get at Murken even after he was
shot and seemed to regret that he had
not been able to get in the first shot
according to officer Westcott having
said so in so many words.
Murken charges that Butler snapped
bis pistol in his face, threatened with an
oath to kill him. and attempted to use
his weapon before the first shot was
fired
The prompt action of Patrolmen Gro
min and VIM prevented the firing of
more shots and in all likelihood the
wounding of other people. Their con-
duct at the time of the ARRAY was gen.
orally commented upon by those who
witnessed it, Cronin secured his po-
sition on the police force because of
his bravery during the Yamacraw riot
Several years ago he rescued a family
from burning house in Colinsville
and came near being burned to death
Because of his conduct on that occa-
sion Cronin was awarded a gold
medal by the Police Commission, then
in charge of the police department