Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-10-24
Moss Kiford, COlored, Shoots
Down Bad Allie at Door Of
The Methodist Church.
THREE SHOTS WERE FIRED.
Murderer When Arrested Denied Com
hitting Crime but Later Told His
Story of the Shooting

The bitter feeling that has existed
for some time between Albert Harvey
known as bad Allie" and Moss XII
fcrd, colored men who have resided on
Franklin avenue, eliminated in the
killing Of the former by the latter at
about C.3O o'clock last evening. The
trouble was renewed when the two
men met ON the avenue last evening
and Kifford drew a revolver and fred
three shots at Harvey, one Of the bull
let's taking effect IN his back He stag
gered into the colored Methodist church
and falling across one of the benches
quickly expired Klfford beat a hasty
retreat and escaped but about 10 o'clock
was captured by scrgt, Roberts and
cmcer Davies near Third South on
Second East street
"a BAD NIGER"
The dead man was known as "a bad
Niger" and has been under arrest by
the local police several times. Kifford
had fairly good record. Both men
came from Colorado Springs to this
city.
There has been bad blood between
the two for some time and last Sunday
night the two men had fight during
which "Bad Allie struck Kifford on
the head with brick. knocking him
out According to statements made by
Kifford and his friends, he was talking
with c colored man on the avenue on
Sunday night when Harvey came along
and without warning struck him on
the head with a brick. Kifford was
Knocked senseless to the ground and
when he recovered Harvey was gone.
They met again later and Harvey ask
ed kifford il he wanted any trouble.
Kifford said he was not looking for
trouble but wanted 10 know why Har-
yey struck HIM! Hot words Followed
and friends prevented another fight
Later In the week the two men met
on Second South and State street and
quarreled again, AZ the time kifford
was assaulted with the brick II Is said
he made the remark that he would arm
himself and fix bad Allie" The men
seem to have avoided each other until
last evening when they met face TO face
and the old trouble was renewed.
HOW TRAGEDY OCCURRED.
1t Is claimed that Harvey came to-
wards Kifford In a threatening manner
! and the latter drew his revolver and
| warned his enemy to keep away. Har-
q did not heed the warning and Kif-
! lord opened fire, At the first shot
Harvey turned on his heels and ran
| down the avenue. Klfford pur-
sued him and fired two more
| shots. The last shot took effect in Har-
| vey's back and went nearly through his
body. When the fatal shot was fired
| Harvey was In front OF the col0red NJ.
| II. church. He was seen to stagger and
| fall heavily against the door. The
| weight of his body brooks the door in
| and he staggered into the church and
| fell across a bench. In n few seconds
| he was dead. A large crowd Of white
and colored people quickly gathered
| around the body but no one would
touch It. Word was sent to the police
station and officers quickly responded
| and cleared the room. No attempt was
made by the colored people to prevent
| the escape OF Kilford. Sergeant Rob
erts and officer Ed Davies were given
| a good description Of tho murderer and
| they went out in search for him. When
| they found him on Second East he de-
| MED knowing anything about the shoot
! ing but the officers felt certain that
| they had the right man and took him TO
| the police station, where he was
| searched and booked on the charge Of
| murder Later he was removed to the
county jail where he is now being held.
| Kifford was Identified at the police sta .
ton, nfter which he made a statement
| in which he admitted killing Harvey
and declared that he would 10 the deed
again II occasion permitted.
KIFFoRD'S VERSION,
Concerning the trouble that occurred
last Sunday night Kfford said II
| was staniin' talkin' TO a frien' when
( Bad Allie he comes up aud bounces
| me on de head wild de brick and breaks
! de brick in two. ! done neyah had no
trouble wild dat man an | doan know
why foh he hit me. / was out an when
| ] comes to he am gone on Thursday
night we met an Kind a made II all up
again, but when asked him what he
| done hit me foh he gets mad and we