The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-24


that may cost Collins his life.
why He Did 1t.
my God. Henry. why did you do
that? asked Alderman Robert l.. Cold
ing who had appeared in Police Court
in behalf of Greene.
Because l was told that Collins in
tended to kill me if he was discharged
Greene replied
But he made no effort to do that.
and the investigation had only just
been begun"
We'll, he insulted me-
When the patrol wagon arrived
Greene begged that he not be taken
through the clerk of Councils office,
where Collins wound was being exam
ined.
4 don't want that man to shoot
me- he said. 80
In the custody of Lieut.. Fleming, and
accompanied by a representative of
the Morning News, the prisoner was
placed in the patrol wagon. On the
way to the police station he again
made the statement that he had made
to Alderman Colding.
This case has had me crazy and for
that man to insult me like that" he
said.
Greene was held a prisoner at the
station house about an hour. Then he
was transferred to the county Jail UNI
der the direction of the superintendent
of police. He was not allowed bail, be-
cause Of the condition of the wounded
officer.
Witnesses of the Shooting.
Besides Collins and Greene there
We're in the Mayors Office at the time
of the shooting Mayor Myers, Superin-
tendent OF Police CTarfunkel. Lieut..
Fleming, Aldermen Dixon and Colding,
.5tenographeT Edward Cohen, Recorder
Myrick, Clerk of Council Dreamer, Po-
lice Clerk Hyams and Mr.. Marion Lu-
cas-, representing the Morning News
All of the witnesses were more or less
in danger, and some one else would
certainly have been shot but for the
prompt action of Supt. Garfunkel in
Seizing Collins.
The investigation was begun at 4
o'clock. Collins entered the Mayors
office in uniform. Before the case was
taken up the Mayor stated that his
usual rule would be followed; that is,
that Greene would be permitted to
question Collins and the witnesses, and
that Collins would be given the same
privilege, neither party being permit
ted counsel. The Mayor sat at the
head of the small table in the room,
with Stenographer Cohen on his right.
Collins stood behind and a little to the
right of the stenographer, and Greene
stood near the opposite corner of the
table
Greene's story of His Arrest.
When he began his statement Greene
did not appear in the slightest degree
excited, although al intervals he pitch
ed his voice to a high key and geSucu-
lated. He told of his actions on the
night of Sept. 30. He said that he
left the Central Fire Station, at Ogle-
nd baranrn Sfraat
about midnight. He met three friends
who wanted him to go with them into
the Tenderloin. He refused, saying that
he never went in such places, but walk
ed to a point at about Lincoln street.
He agreed to sit in Colonial Park, he
testified, until his friends returned.
Greene testified that he sat in the
park probably three-quarters of
an hour, when he decided that
his friends were making a
rather long stay of it and he
had probably better not wait any long
er. He walked to Habersham street
and saw the patrol wagon coming with
a prisoner. He said that he walked in
the direction of Hull street to see the
wagon enter the yard. 1t went in
before he reached the corner. Greene
stated that he crossed the street and
walked north towards DIR. Norton's Of
flee at the northwest corner of Ogle-
thorpe avenue and Habersham street.
He continued west on Oglethorpe
avenue to Lincoln street, where
he was first accosted by the patrol
man.
Greene's Meeting With Collins.
In a dramatic manner he told of the
meeting. He charged that the officer
was unreasonable in the extreme, and
threatening and abusive. He declared
hp n9rtip1I1nrlV aim Give WI he
was reminded of his duty. The officer
took him to a lady at Habersham and
Hull streets who had complained that
| there had been a man lettering around
| her house since 10 o'clock. She told
| the patrolman that Greene looked like
the man. and he replied that if she
| was speaking of a minute before, it was
true that he was at the corner. Greene
declared that Collins seized him rough
| ly by the arm and carried him into
| the barracks yard. He charged that
the officer was continually abusing him.
and became particularly violent when
! ever told what his duty was.
Greene said that Collins drew mis-
billy and threatened to crush his skull
in. He behaved outrageouslY and
forced him into the station house,
where his name was taken and where
he was searched. He said he was
ehrown into a cell and was refused the
right TO see the desk sergeant or fur
nish bail for his appearance in Police
Court. He asked to have the keys to
his store sent to his home so that his
place of business could be opened at Z
o'clock in the morning, and this priv
ilege was also refused.
1t took Greene thirty-five minutes to
make his statement, and once or twice
he appeared greatly wrought up, al
though at these times he declared to
the Mayor he was not excited. Both
| Greene and Collins were standing
throughout the statement.
Ready for Questions.
~ will be glad to answer any ques-
ton now, your honor" said Greene.
Collins held sheet or more of legal
| cap paper in his hands and glanced
| at the first pages. They were evident
| ~ questions that had been prepared
IN advance and were typewriter.
| Mr.. Greene, Were you not walking
| with woman on Oglethorpe avenue
! in the direction of Habersham street
on the night of Sept. 2s?' asked Col
| Inns.
Greene answered that he was NOT
| If il was a Monday night He wanted
to know the day of the week, however.