The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-19
SHOT HIS ASSAILANT
OFFICER MALPHUs BADLY WOUND
ED BEFORE HE FIRED.
NEGRO RESISTED ARREST.
WITH BILLET OF WOOD HE AT
Tackled PATROLMAN.

Was Wanted for Robbing Another
Negro and Located in a House in
Yamncraw shortly Before Mid
night-MaIphus Did Not Expect
Trouble and the RObber Came Near
Putting Him Out OF Business-AI-
though Dazed the PntrOlman Drew
His Revolver and Fired Several
ShOts-BIending, Probably Mortal
Iy wounded, Arrested shortly Aft
crwards.
While blood from an ugly wound in the
head was trickling down his face and
almost binding him Patrolman c. NJ.
Malphus drew his revolver and sent
two bullets into William Blending,
negro, in Yamacraw last night.
The shooting occurred shortly before
midnight in a house near Lumber and
William streets. After shooting the
negro Malphus staggered to a gamewell
box and reported what had happened
TO Desk Sergeant McCool at police
headquarters The patrolman was weak
from loss of blood and the white am
bulance and several patrolmen were
hurried to his assistance.
The officer was suffering from the
wound in his head and had lost a large
amount of blood before the arrival of
the ambulance. He said that he had
been struck with a billet of wood by
Blending and had fired several shots
at the negro. Malphus believed that
he had hit his man. The injured patrol
man was taken to his home near Mont
gomery street and Park avenue in the
police ambulance and a search was
made for Blending.
The negro was discovered about Is
minutes later by Patrolman Lawrence
Kelly. Two bullets had entered in the
neighborhOod of the abdomen and he
was taken to police headquarters in the
Colored ambulance. Police Surgeon Os-
borne was summoned and after an ex-
animation of the wounds ordered the
negro sent to the Charity Hospital.
Blending was badly shot and the
chances for his recovery are against
him. IT was believed at an early hour
this morning that the wounds will ter
inmate fatally
Wanted for Robbery.
Isaiah Reece, a negro living at No
III Guerard lane,shad complained to
the police that on Jan. his home had
been entered, and in the neighborhood
of $50 worth of clothing had been tax
en-. Last night he caused the arrest
of Wylly Davis, colored, by Patrolman
Harley, at the Union Station, for The
theft, and at police headquarters told
Deck Sergeant McCool that another
man who was implicated in the same
robbery could be found in house in
Yam raw. Reece was told to point
the house out to Patrolman Malphus,
who was notified by telephone to look
out for the complainant.
When Malphus entered the house and
made known the purpose of'his visit he
anticipated no trouble. Blending, how
ever, mad no idea of accompanying the
officer without fight, and Malphus
was not prepared Tor what followed.
The patroman stated after the shoot
ing tnat the negro suddenly seized
plllet OF wood and dealt him a murder
Gus blow over the head As Malphus
felt the warm blood trickling across
ms forehead he reached for his pistol,
he stated. and fired at the negro.
would Make No Statement
The officer was in a dazed condi-
ton and backed from the house with
out Knowing what damage his shots
had done He was confident, however.
mat he had wounded his man. The
negro made no statement of the af-
fair, and only the police side of il
could be obtained. The assault upon
the police officer and the shooting of
the negro occasioned a great deal of
excitement on the West Side. but the
ponce hat no trouble in handling the
crowd. 1t was nearly o'clock this
morning whom hn
reached the Charity Hospital and an
operation will probably have to be
performed. Malphus was recently
MADE a member of the city force and
mad been before that time on duty at
the Union Station.
AT the Charity Hospital at o'clock
TINS morning an examination disclosed
the fact that Blending was shot in
the side, in the back and in the arm,
AT that hour it was not believed that
ne VIII live many hours 1t also devel-
cped at an early hour that Reece was
with Malphus when the trouble oc-
CURED, and that the complainant was
also assaulted by Blendinp