The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-10
A I. Wright a MO|det, Shot Down in Home of
 GifI He Loved
YOUNG MAN WHO FIRED
 SHOTS ONLY 19 YEARS OLD
As Wounded Man Lay Bleeding on the Bed He Called for the Girl and Said He Loved Her-Smith
 Claims SeIf-Defense.
IN A FIT of jealousy John Smith.
 mot orman, shot and fatally wounded

IN A FIT of jealousy John Smith,
 mot orman, shot and fatally wounded A. T. Wright in their boarding house, 1SOO1k Avenue F, last night between l2:So and 1 o'clock. Wright was shot three times. and is in dangerus condition. The girl in the case is pretty Miss Gus sic Gardner, about nineteen years olo' who boards at the same place. The house is conducted by Mrs. M. D. Kirkland.
 Miss Gardner has been at Mrs. Kirk lands for the past three months. First she would keep company with Smith and then with Wright rivalry existed which soon grew into intense jealousy. Last night Miss Gardner went to the Bijou theatre with Smith. They returned home and were standing in the hallway when Wright emerged from his room. The difficulty then took place.
 Smith Hurries to the Police.
 As soon as the shooting took place Smith gavo himself up to the police. Three policemen-Hawkns, Brown and Williams-were patroling their beat near Avenue E and Twentieth street.
 Hearing some one whistle they stopped, and in a few seconds young man dashed up to them. saying he had shot man in self-defense and at the same time hand ing the officers two pistols. One showed that three shots had been fired from It. The other was fully loaded.
 The ma n was John Smith and he was at once locked up in the city prison on charge of assault with intent to nurcer.
 Physicians Summoned.
 As soon as Wright was shot three phy- sicans were summoned and went to Mrs. knkiands s boarding house. They discov- cred three ugly wounds, one m the abdo- Ten, ano ther near the right eye and n third in the back of the head. At 2.3O o'clock the wounded man was carried To the Morris infirnary
 Wright is employed as moulder at the plant of the Decatur Car Wheel works. He came to Birmingham year ago from Hartselle where he has rela- lives, to whom he telegraphed last night that he was dangerously wounded.
 Smith is a motorman, running on the North and South Highlands line of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company's tracks. He has been in the employ of the company for three years, and has relatives at Avondale. He would not discuss the shooting last night, but said it was done in self-defense.
 Smith is the motorman, who controlled an electric car that ran over and killed Mrs Elizabeth B. Norris and her little child at the corner of Third avenue and Twentieth street, August 31, 1901.
 It is said that for several weeks there had been ill feeling between the two men. This feeling was intensified week ago, when Miss Gardner told smith that she preferred Wright to him.
 Returning to the Boarding House.
 However, she consented 10 go with Smith last night to see the opening per- formance of "The Christian" Returning to the boarding house they talked for some time in the hallway. As they were about to part for the night Wright came out of his room. Seeing the two together he became enraged. Miss Gardner says he had a pistol in his hand, and that as soon as Smith saw the weapon he pulled a revolver from his pocket, and as quick as a flash fired. Three times in rapid succession the weapon was discharged. At the first shot Wright was hit and the pistol he held fell to the floor. Two more bullets also took effect.
 Boarders rushed from their rooms, and the women in the house screamed. Con- sternation. reigned. Smith picked up Wright's pistol from the floor and left the house.
 Girls Scene With Dying Man.
 The wounded man was laid on bed in the front room. Blood gushed from the wounds and ran over the bedcothes and mattress Lying thus he asked for Miss Gardner. She went into the room, and the man took her hand. He said, "Now Gusse, I want to tell you I love you. I am going to die, l know, but l want to tell you this before l go." The girl gently smoothed his hair, as the blood dripped from the bedding to the floor A half dozen men stood in different parts of the room and the scene was intensely affecting.
 Jealousy showed itself even as the wounded man lay gasping for breath. He asked the girl What. were you and Smith doing out there in the hall so later The girl answered, ''Why. we had come from the show and were just about to part The man became excited and raised himself on his elbow. The girl ap- pealed to him to be quiet and soon left the roorn-
 Girl Only Eye Witness.
 Miss Gardner the only eye witness to the tragedy. She said in reference to 1t: Yes, I suppose jealousy caused 1t all You see I have been going with both MT Smith and MT. Wright for some time. They both seemed to think a great deal of me and when I would go with one the other would get angry. told MT. Smith I liked MT. Wright better and for week or two have been keeping regular com pany with MT. Wright, but I consented to 20 with Mir. Smith to the show tonight We enjoyed it and arrived home about 12 o'clock.
 We chatted for some time out in the hall. Just as we were about to say good night MT. Wright came out of his room He looked furious and had a pistol in his hand. He said that he wanted MT. Smith 10 look al what he had, meaning the pis- tol. Suddenly I heard pistol shots and fAn down the hall. I think three shots