The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-10
Shooting of Joseph S. Trott
Occurs on the East Lake
Car Line Over Personal
Matters.
Bullets All Entered Back, One
Passing Through the Heart.
Young Trott With His fathar
When Killed.

Joseph s. Trott. manager of the Globe
Iron Bedstead Manufacturing plant at
Avondale, was shot and killed by William
N. Prowell, a conductor of the Birming-
ham Railway, Light and Power company.
yesterday afternoon about $3.50 o'clock at
the Mary Pratt station, about one-half
mile west of Avondale on the East Lake
car line Prowell came to the city and
surrendered.
Several conflicting statements have been
made as to the cause of the shooting. It
is stated that Trott was partially under
the effects of intoxicants, but several who
know him we'll say he was not drinking
man. 1t seems he cursed the conductor
and struck at him with his fist where
upon the conductor shot at him four
times, three of the bullets taking effect.
One entered the back between the
shoulders and came out in the left
breast. 1t is thought it penetrated the
heart. A second bullet entered the left
arm and the other the right shoulder.
Trott was on the rear seat of the trailer
of a car bound to East Lake when the
first shot was fired. but he had jumped to
the ground when the other three were
fired and they struck him In the back.
He was running away from the car.
Fired Four Shots.
The trouble commenced on the car.
Trott was accompanied by his son, Jim
Trott. When Conductor Prowell came to
collect the fare there were some words
and 1t is alleged that Trott used some
offensive language to him. 1t Is further
stated he rose from the seat and struck
at the conductor, who then fired the first
shot This is supposed to have missed
its mark. Trott then jumped off the car
and several persons state that he SEEM
ed to stoop down and run away from the
car The conductor then shot three times
more, each of the shots taking effect
Trott's remains were carried TO Gaudin
& Co.'S undertaking establishment and
prepared for burial. Prowell got on the
first car and came to the city and sur
rendered to Walter Maroney, who turned
him over to the sheriffs office. He was
placed in the county jail and a charge Of
murder was made against him.
Bullet Struck Heart.
Physicians examined Trotts body and
state that the bullet which entered be-
tween the shoulders must have pene-
trated the heart, or gone so near as to
cause death almost instantly. The bullet
which entered the shoulder has not been
found.
According to the statement made by
Prowell to Warden Morrow at the jail,
he and Trott had some trouble on the
street car Friday night. He did not
state what the trouble was. He said
when he came around to collect the fares
some distance west of Mary Pratt sta
ton yesterday evening Trott said There
is the man we had that trouble with
last night" and used an oath. He then
arose from the seat and struck at the
conductor, who pulled his pistol and
fired one shot. Prowell said the other
man jumped off the car and leaned down
as If to pick up some Stag used as ball
last on the line. to use as a weapon. He
then fired three more shots at Trott,
whose back was turned.
1t WAS impossible to see Prowell at the
jail last night, but it is understood he
has been given instructions not to talk
about the affair to any one. 1t is said
he was greatly disturbed over the kill
ing.
]. X. Handley. a Waterman employed
to watch the property of Ford, Bacon
Sc Davis, contractors on the East Lake
line. who was on the car. made the fol-
lowing statement last night when seen
at the Mary Pratt station:
81 got on the car at Twenty-seventh
street and was sitting near the middle
of it. There was a lady, the only one
on the car, sitting opposite to me. just
after we passed the Louisville and Nash
vile crossing Trott and his son began
quarreling and a number of oaths were
uttered. A man pulled the bell cord and
the car stopped. 1 helped the lady off
the car and onto the one in front. She
seemed frightened. Young Trott got on
the car and went around to the rear
seat which faces in the opposite direc-
ton from which the car is running In
the meantime Prowell had come back
and collected the fares. saying Get your
tickets out
"Prowell started towards the front OF
the car and Trott went back to the rear
seat, where his son was. 1 pulled the
bell cord and stopped the car, Trott get
ting off. Just as he did so Prowell came
back and several called out for him to
put the men off the car.
oLa4 L.. Ra1f<
"Trott said there was the man and
struck Prowel in the mouth. Prowell
shot him in the back. 1 do not know ex-
actly how many shots were fired,
whether 1t was three or four
Prowell lives on Fifth street in East
Lake. Trott lived at Spring street and
Powell avenue. in Avondale. He had
wife and two children, son about IS