The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-07-29
Shot Just After Getting Off the Street Gar While Un-
 der Arrest
PARRISH SAYS THAT HE
 SHOT IN SELF DEFENSE
The Two Men Had Some Words On an Owenton Street car-Police- man Nix Tries to Keep
 Them Quiet.

Hollis B. Parrish, a young attorney who lives at Owenton, shot and killed George Leonard, a brick layer who lives In Smithfield, yesterday afternoon at 645 o'clock on the rear end of an owenton car which was just crossing Third alley on Twentieth street. The shooting re- suited from some words the two men had after boarding the car, according to the best information obtainable. A warrant was sworn out before Justice of the Peace Abernathy, charging Parrish with murder.
 When shot Leonard had been arrested by Policeman Nir, who tried to prevent any trouble and fin order to do so was taking Leonard off the car. Parrish reached his arm around the policeman and stuck the pistol nearly against the breast of Leonard before pulling the 1 trigger.
 Parrish states he thought Leonard was trying to resist Policeman Nix and. as well as he remembers, was putting his hand in the direction of his rear pocket giving cause for him to believe that Leonard intended to shoot the police man.
 When shot Leonard said to the police man; T am dead man. Policeman Nix replied: T am afraid you are" He then turned the wounded man over to several people who carried him Into War ner-Smiley's undertaking establishment where he died in a very few minutes. He never spoke after he told the policeman he was dead man.
 The ball entered the left breast just above the heart. It lodged In the body and has not been found. The weapon used was a 3S-calibre Iver-Johnson pis- tol. which Parrish says was given him by a man in payment for a debt. Coro- ner Paris was notified and will hold an inquest this morning
 Origin of the Trouble.
 It seems that when the two men board ed the car at the corner of Second ave- nue and Twentieth street Parrish brushed against Leonard and the other resented 1t. Some words ensued, and Policeman Nix, who got on the car at the same place, ordered the two men to stop talk ing loud. they did not do so and he threat ened to arrest both of them if they did rot hush. They persisted In talking and quarrelng and the policeman told the conductor to stop the car so he could take them off and carry them to the city jail, which is in Third alley. When the car stopped Leonard refused to go and pull | ed back when the policeman told him to l get off the car. Nix turned to Thomas l N. Harris. section foreman of the Bir- 1 mingham Railway, Light and Power Com pany, and asked him to take hold of Leonard and assist him in removing him from the car. Neal did so and just as he | laid his hand on Leonard's shoulder, Par | rish, it Is asid reached around the police man, who had stepped between the two men, and fired.
 Policeman Nix arrested Parrish and carried him to the city jail where he locked him up.
 Policeman Nix was probably the closest person to the two men when the difficulty started and he gives the fol- lowing account of 1t:
 Policeman Nx's Statement.
 T boarded the car at Second avenue to ride down to Third alley. When I got on heard Leonard say he would hang something over Parrish's head An oath
 
 car I commanded them to stop cursing and quarreling. Leonard replied that he was as good a man as Parrish and to make him shut up too. I told Parrish to stop quarreling and cursing. Both men continued talking, and I | again told them to stop talking or I would take them off the car. Leonard replied he was as good man as l was. 1 then asked the conductor to stop at l I al off T stepped between the men and started to take Leonard off the car. He pulled back | and l asked MT. Neal to assist me. Just | then Parrish, who was leaning against | the back of the car and behind me, reached around my waist and fired the pistol. Leonard fell backwards and said I am dead man. told him I was afraid he was. asked several people who had run up to hold him and would take care of the man who did the shooting arrested Parish and carried him to jail. T do not know what it was Leonard threatened to hang over Parrishs head do not know how the quarrel started. It was before l bearded the car"
 Parrish's Statement.
 Parrish made the following statement last night to an Age-Herald reporter:
 q do not know exactly how the trouble commenced. I think l brushed against
 
 were on there he made threat to hang something over my head. I think he said hang the trolley rope around my neck Policeman Nix told us to stop talking. He stopped the car.
 He asked someone to assist him in taking the man off the car. do not know his name and had never seen him be- fore that I remember. l thought he asked me for assistance. saw the man put his hand towards his pocket as if he would get a pistol and I reached around the policeman and shot him. I thought the policeman needed my help"
 Parrish seemd somewhat dazed when seen by the reporter When first asked for an account of the trouble he said he would give it as soon as he was given a drink of ice water. He asked if the man wes dead and was told that nc was. He did not seem to remember the de- tails distinctly and hesitated before re- plying to any question asked him.
 He asked if he had 10 stay Tn that place all night, and when informed that Attorney John Shugart was on the out side asked to see him. The latter went into the cell and will probably represent