Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-02
IN NIGHTMARE.
MAN SHOOTS
FRIEND
CHARLES E. BELL WOUNDS
HUGH ABERCR0MBIE BUT DE-
CLARES HE CAN REMEMBER
NOTHING OF THE AFFAIR.

Struggling in the throes Of some weird
frightful nightmare, Charles E Bell, OF 9
Pulliam, Friday night shot and seriously
wounded his friend and neighbor. Hugh
Abercroflbies bookkeeper for ]. ]. & J. p.
Maddox, wholesale grocers. The shooting
took place shortly after IL o'clock at the
Bell residence, Mr.. Abercrombie having
been summoned there by the screams OF
the frightened family. AS he entered the
front door Bell, who was standing in the
hall, fired three times. Only one ball took
effect entering the left side and passing
within an inch of the heart.
The shooting was most peculiar one.
Bell who is So years of age, has lived in
Atlanta all his life and has been known
as a sober and industrious man. His
friends and family say he does not drink
For some time past he has been suffering
greatly from headaches, which were al
most constant Nothing serious was
thought of this. however.
Friday night he retired about 10 o'clock
and went almost Immediately to sleep.
Shortly after IL o'clock Mrs. p. A. Bell,
his mother, and the children in the house
we're aroused by his screams. They were
long. terrible calls. as though the man
was in awful agony and fright. Louder
and louder the calls came, as the mother
approached his room. Inside, the man
was found lying on his bed. screaming
as though demons were surrounding him.
In terror the mother seized him and tried
to wake him up. She called his mans.
called him my boy shaking him all the
while, but being unable to get any re-
spouse save the awful screams that were
rapidly arousing the neighborhood she
rushed to a window and herself called for
help.
Abercrombie lives at 81 Pulliam. next
door to the Bells, and he soon answered
Mrs. Bells summons. telling her he was
coming. She went to the front door 70
let Mr. Abercrombie in and thought her
son was still in his room. The demon Of
fear was still working on the man. He
had arisen from his bed, secured a pistol
from his bureau, where 1t had been kept
for years, and followed his mother into
the hall. AS the front door opened. Bell
advanced with drawn gun and face
distorted with the agony of terror. Seiz-
ing his mother about the waist with one
arm. he fired at Mr. Abercrombie, who
had just entered the front door. The first
shot was fired before Abercrombie realized
what was happening. The pistol was SO
close that II burned his coat. The two
subsequent shots were lodged in that re-
markable manner that sometimes happens
during intense excitement. but can not be
explained later. Mr.. Abercrombie re-
members trying to get behind some OF
the furniture in the hall and later that he
retreated out OF the door He walked
back to his home. where his frightened
sister met him at the gate.
Il am shot" he said Get a doctor
quick. think have been hit twice. -
His left arm was paralyzed for the time
being. and he thought II, too. had been hit.
Meanwhile neighbors had notified the
police. and Call Offlcers Doyal and Rosser
rushed TO the scene. The man still had
the weapon when they arrived, but his
mother took 1t from him as the officers
entered the door.
When the officers took charge OF Bell and
he was told what he had done, he did not
appear TO realize what he had done. He
was taken to police headquarters and lock-
ed in a cell. He is charged on the state
docket with assault with intent to murder
Nothing will be done in the case until It is
seen how the wounded man gets.
Bell appears to greatly regret the whole
affair and seems unable to yet grasp the
facts entirely.
Bell says he has nothing in the world
against Abercrombie They are neighbors
and have been friends. 1t was learned at
the Abercrombies' home that Bell had Of
fered his services every night for weeks
when there was illness in the family. The
relations between the two could not have
been closer or more friendly.
At o'clock Saturday afternoon the doc
tors removed the bullet. Mr.. Abercrcmbie
stood the operation very well and Ii is
now expected that he will recover. His
condition Is very favorable. Unless unfore-
seen complications should arise the doc
tors say he will get we'll