The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-05
SLAIN BY MISTAKE
NEGRO WIFE SLAYER DUPREE's
STORY OF HIS CRIME.
INTENDED TO STAB HIS ENEMY
SADIE DUPREE's FATAL JUMP BE-
TWEEN HER HUSBAND AND
HER PARAsKOUR.

Dupree Brought From Jacksonville
Yesterday by Chief Deputy Sheriff
Sweeney Who. Arrested Him Mt a
Circus-NegrO Killed His Wife
East of the City on Nov. Last.
Gives an Altogether Different YER
sion of the TraEedy-Snys He Did
Not Know wife Was Dead Until
Deputy Told Him-CIaims That He
Attempted to Cut Bob Anderson, a
negro Carpenter With Whom His
Wife Was Talking.
That a knife blow intended for
another inflicted a mortal wound in the
neck of his wife is the defense made
by James Dupree, the negro arrested
in Jacksonville Monday night by Chief
Deputy Sheriff Sweeney. The Savan-
nah officer arrived from Jacksonville
with his prisoner at 2 o'clock yesterday
and Dupree was lodged in Jail on
charge of murder.
In a At of jealous rage the negro kill
ed his wife. Sadie Dupree, east of the
Plant System wharves. Nov. 9. and
made his escape. The negro had Sc
cured employment with the Great
American Railway Shows and was at
work when arrested by the Savannah
officer, who had gone to Jacksonville
on another mission-to solve the double
murder at Whiskey Hill Friday night.
Deputy Sweeney pounced upon Dupree
before the negro knew what was in the
wind and he had no chance to escape.
Two Jacksonville officers also grabbed
hold of the prisoner and he was march
ed to the station house.
Dupree told a Morning News reporter
that he had no idea that his wife was
dead until he was informed by Deputy
Sweeney, and claims that if he had
known the result of the wound he
would never have left the city. The
negro tells an altogether improbable
story, and one that agrees in no wise
with the statements made by the ne
groes who were employed on the build
ings OF the Southern States Phosphate
and Fertilizer Company. The wife
slayer claims that it was not his inten-
ton to kill anyone, but admits that he
attempted to shoot a negro named Bob
Anderson.
He says that his wife ran in front of
Anderson and that she received the
blow intended for her paramount. He
says that he and Anderson had been
fighting, and that the other man made
as if to draw a revolver when he began
using his knife. Dupree says that An
derson had been running after his wife
1o- three years, but that he had never
ah1 20 On
the day in question. he unexpectedly
came upon them, and according to his
story found them hugging and kissing.
He says that the sight but naturally
angered him, and that fight was pre-
cipitated about 600 yards from the
building. According to his version of
the ARRAY his wife did all in her power
to protect Anderson, and in shielding
him received the fatal wound.
The negro says that he knex that
he had either cut his wife or Aneer-
son, but had no idea which one until
told by Deputy Sweeney. While he
claims that he did not Know the
wound was a serious one, and that he
would have surrendered had he
known his wife was dead, Eupree
offers no explanation for mis- depart
ure from the city. He left almost i'm
mediately for Florida and secured
employment with the circus at ram
pa The prisoner seemed anxious to
gather details of the incidents fol-
lowing the homicide, and wanted to
know where his wife had been buried
and what had become of Anderson.
The negro Anderson was not very
laxative at the time of the tragedy
and claimed not to have witnessed it,
lie declared that he was in the build
irgS when Dupree used his knife so
ssvagely. The woman had several
cuts in her head showing that the
knife had been used more than once
as stated by the prisoner in his story
yesterday.
Dupree came to Savannah from
Charleston and frequently fought
with his wife, of whom he was in
sanely jealous. This was what
prompted the crime which was ap-
parently premeditated. The negro
said in the morning that he would
Kill his wife before dark and seemed
determined to make good his threat.
He left his home at No. 616 Indian
lane at o'clock and three hours later
his wife went out The woman had
stated to him tha% she was going to
see woman named Emma who lived
at Bruton Hill. She was at the phos-
phate company's buildings when the
men knocked off at noon for dinner,
and began talking to the negro car
penter, Bob Anderson. The two were