The Aberdeen weekly., 1903-10-09
A Deplorab1e Tragedy.

Dalton Burdine," pleasantly re-
membered as bright lad of Alb
erdeen few years ago, will be
grieved to learn of his. tragic death,
hich occurred at bis Louisville
home Sunday night. While on
AN afternoon sailing recreation on
the Ohio river, he with several
companions, was set upon by
gang of boodlum negroes. by one
of whom he was stabbed to the
heart and died almost instantly.
His cousin, William Dalton Hayes,
Of Tuscaloosa, about the same age,
was also severely wounded but is
now probably on the way to recov-
cry. Many expressions Of sympa-
thy for the boys father, Mr.. r. B.
Burdine formerly an esteemed cit
izen of Aberdeen and Monroe
county, were uttered when the
news of his awful bereavement
vas received. A partial report Of
he affair is printed below from
he Louisville Evening Times:
'In a fight with a gang of ne
groes on The Point, Robert Dal-
on Burdine, a member of the
Louisville Boat Club and one of
he best-knOwn young men in the
city, was stabbed aud almost in
stantly killed by Thomas Fletch-
.r, one of the negroes. yesterday
afternoon. w. d. Hays, a cousin
of Burdine, was struck on the head
With lump Of coal thrown by
Frank Wilson, and is now lying at
his home in serious condition.
Fletcher escaped Immediately
ifter the stabbing, but was cap
tured by District Detectives Mo
ran and Ahern and lodged in Jail,
charged with wilful murder. Fan
nie Rawlins, in whose house the
negroes took refuge, and Frank
Wilson were arrested, and charged
with being accessories before the
TACT of the crime of murder. Mary
Loomis was arrested last night as
IN accessory in order to hold her
rs witness. Fletcher was pre-
sented in the Police Court this
morning and the case was contin-
led until October 13.
The tragedy occurred Mt the foot
Of Preston and Fulton streets, and
according to the story of eye-wit-
nesses. was unprovoked. Burdine,
With his cousin, Hays, l.. L. War
rem, Walter Maxey. Frank War
rem, Ernest Allen and Beverly
Nall, left the boathouse of the
Louisville Boat Club shortly after
noon yesterday in a sail boat to
take a trip up the river. When
hey reached a point just opposite
the foot of Preston street they
we're met with volley of rocks,
hurled at them by gang of ne
groes who made their rendezvous
on The Point" The negroes con-
,inued peIting the boat with rocks
and cursing the boys, until the lat
ter, unable to persuade them to
desist, started to shore to admins
ter whipping to the negroes. AS
they turned the bow of their boat
toward the shore, Hays was struck
on the head with a lump of coal e.
The boys, then goaded to desper-
alton, sailed the boat directly into
the shore and jumped out and
started after the negroes.
The latter ran and took refuge
in the house of Fannie Rawlins.
They ran into the house and hid
behind closed doors.
Fletcher appeared at the door
He walked toward the boys, edg-
ing closer to the fence as he walk
ed, and told them they would have
10 get a policeman if they wanted
the boys who had pelted them
with the rocks. He was joined by
Frank Wilson, and the two negro
rs walked to the fence, the white
boys remaining on the outside.
They stood in conversation a few
moments. when Fletcher with a
quick movement, reached to the
ground in an effort to grab an AK
that was lying near the fence.
Burdine and Hays grabbed the
handle of the ak, and a desperate
struggle ensued.
Burdine and Frank Warren, who
had joined him, started toward the
spot where Hays lay, and we're
followed by Fletcher. The hurley
negro pulled knife from his
pocket as he reached the boys,
and, while they were in the act of
STOPPING to help their fallen friend,
he stabbed Burdine in the breast.
the blade penetrating the heart.
Burdine staggered a second, then
started to run. He went about