Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-25
MURDER IS DONE
0 n MOVIN c
TRAIN
WILD WITH LIQUOR FRED STE
PHENsoN KILLS MAN WHO
WAS TRYING TO QUIET
HIM.

A man supposed to be James B. Ewing,
a news agent vas shot and instantly
killed in the smoking car of the Southern
train for Chattanooga Monday after
noon about o'clock. near the. Peters
street crossing. Fred L. Stephenson.
Waterman for the Southern. shops.
who lives at S6s Cooper street is being held
az police headquarters for the killing.
When told next morning that he was
charged with murder Stephenson was
stunned almost speechless and could not
believe the officers. He declared that he
remembered nothing since Monday
morning when he got of the train at Nc
Daniel crossing, going TO the Southern
shops. where he worked, and he has no
recollection whatever OF having shot and
killed a man.
James B. Ewing. thought 70 be the man
who was killed, came TO Atlanta on No.
vember Q from Chattanooga. He was
given employment as news agent by the
Union News company. but only made
few trips when he was discharged.
Stephenson has been employed by the
Southern road about two years.
Those who know him say that he is a
Woodworking man but that whisky makes
a crazy man of him. He was arrested last
fan and getting drunk and is said to have
been at this time absolutely without
sense. Stephenson himself makes no de-
NAL of having shot the man but says If
he did il he was In a drunken Mt and he
knew nothing about it, .-.s t-.
eye Witness 70 Killing. -
Hon. Nat Harris, Of Rome, one OF the
best known attorneys in the state, was a
passenger on the smoking car I'm which
Ewing was killed and was an eye witness
10 the tragedy which he characterizes as
cold blooded murder"
Mr.. Harris was en- route home. but this
morning he called the The Journal office
over the long distance telephone, in order
TO let the officers know that there was an
eye witness to the crime and to make
the first tangible statement in regard to
the shooting +.
II see that they have branded Ewing as
a crook said Mr.. Harris. Il don't
know what he was. I never saw him be-
fore In my life. But was an eye witness
TO the murder of the young man. Ewing
was acting I'm a straightforward, honora-
bic and manly manner when he was kill
ed.
Il was injured about year ago, and
when boarded the Southern train yes
terday afternoon in Atlanta I had to be
helped into the smoking car. A few mo-
ments later Stephenson came into the car
drunk He began walking up and down
the car brandishnig a revolver.
Ewing, WHO was the lIDIll OI
the smoker, spoke to Stephenson. and ask
ed him to put the pistol in his pocket,
telling him that he might injure some
one by waving IL around so recklessly.
was crippled and could hardly move. and
was afraid that Stephenson would begin
shooting.
Stephenson refused to place his revolt
yer in his pocket. but kept up his march
through the smoker. still brandishing his
gun. There were four or five men in the
car, and 1 called, some of them to help
Ewing who had risen and walked toward
Stephenson. with the evident intention of
disarming him.
Stephenson told Ewing to hold up his
hands. Ewing, who was as nervy as any
man ever saw. refused to do this. Ste
phenson repeated the order. telling him
that IL he did not do so. he would be
shot.
Il struggled to my feet and tried to aid
Ewing. throwing my cane at Stephenson.
for I thought would be shot A second
later a shot was fired and Ewing fell to
the floor. dead.
Ewing was protecting the passengers
in the smoker and was protecting him
self. stephenson was drunk. / know
nothing OF Ewing. He may have been
crook. but IL was one he did not show it
in anything he did in that car. He was
trying TO protect others and in that way
met his death"