The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-26
KILLED HIS RIVAL
JEALOUSY CAUSED MURDER IN 4
HOUSE ON LOUISVILLE ROAD.
ROBERT SIMMONS SHOT GEORGE
HARRIS.

Anna Garvin, who Was in the House
with Harris when the Shooting
Took Place, Worked for Both Men.
jealousy on Her Account Was
Cause of the Murder-WOman' 9
stories Are Contradictory But Au-
thorities Do Not Suspect Her of
Completely in the Crime-Sim m IA
stole Boat After Shooting and
Escaped Across Savannah River.
The county authorities searched all
day yesterday for Robert Simmons. a
negro farm hand who shot and killed
George Harris, colored workman en-
ployed by the Seaboard Air Line Rail-
way in house on the Louisville road
the night before, but up to late hour
last night no trace of the negro had
been found and it is believed that he
has crossed the river and gone into
South Carolina.
The first information of the shooting
was brought to the city yesterday
morning by Anna Garvin, a colored
woman who was in the house when it
occurerd. She fed when the shots
were fired and did not return to the
house until daylight
On a WOman's Account.
1t is said that the shooting was
prompted by jealousy on the Garvin
womans account. She has been en-
ployed by both men to cook and do
their washing. She is said to have
been living with Harris recently and
they were in the house together when
the fatal shot was fired.
The woman at first denied having
lived with either of the men, but later
admitted having lived with Simmons.
She stuck to the story, however, that
she had never lived with Harris, and
said that he was visiting her when
Simmons called for a pair of shoes
which he had left with her.
The woman and Harris, according
to her story, were sitting in the room
from which the outside door opens
when Simmons came in. He asked for
his shoes, and the woman went TO
look for them. Then Simmons began
shooting at Harris. Four shots were
fired, two of them taking effect, one
in the mans chest and the other his
left leg.
Fled in Her Night Clothes.
The woman says that when the shoot
ing commenced she jumped from win
dow and ran to a swamp, in her night
clothing, where she remained for sew
eral hours. She then went to the
house of another woman who lives in
the vicinity and came to the city in
the morning. where she told her story
TO the authorities.
She says that after Harris was dead
Simmons searched the house for her,
with the evident intention, she believed
of killing her also After he gave up
the search the negro took to his heels
and has not been seen since.
Shot Through window.
The body of Harris was found lying
on the floor IN the woman's bedroom,
and a newly broken window pane sug-
gests the theory that Simmons may
have shot through the window. The
wonans story is not altogether
straight, but the substance of it is be-
lieved by the authorities.
The woman says that sometime ago
she tired of Simmons and accepted the
attentions Of Harris. This, she says,
made the farm hand very jealous, and
he often declared that he would get
even with Harris.
It was discovered yesterday after
noon that the negro had crossed the
river in a row boat, which he stole, and
his chances for escape in South Caro-
lima are believed to be good.