The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-30
DEATH AFTER DANCE
MIDNIGHT FESTIVITIES STOPPED
BY A TRAGEDY.
WITH TWO REV0LVERS
RICHARD INGRAM MADE DANCERS
AT DAUFUSKIE SCATTER.

Stampede from Pavilion to Steamer
CIaytOn-On Lower Deck of YES
sci Ingram Was Shot TO Death by
Willie Thomas, AIins Chinama m.
Thomas Had Been Dancing with
a Woman Who Received One of
Thomas Threw His Weapon Over
board and Went Back on the Is
land, hut Surrendered Later.
Following the shooting affray on the
pavilion at Daufuskie early yesterday
morning, in which hundred of more
negroes were badly frightened, and
Mamie Haines was shot in the nose,
Richard, Ingram, alias "Bulger Cope"
was shot and instantly killed on the
steamer Clayton by Willie Thomas,
alias "Chinaman."
The killing occurred about $3.50
o'clock and according to Thomas story
he was justified A dozen negroes who
are prisoners at the police station
house, however, do not agree in de-
tail with Ingram's slayer. They claim
that the negro known as Cope was
making no effort to draw his revolver
when shot down on the lower deck of
the vessel
A large number of negroes had gone
to the island for night of it and
dance was in progress when the first
trouble began, All of the witnesses
agree that Ingram started on the pa
Vilion with two pistols and began
amusing himself by shooting into the
floor and causing the dancers to stam-
pede. Thomas was at that time dane
ing with the Haines woman and one
of the bullets made a flesh wound on
her nose.
The shooting broke up the dance and
almost everybody returned to the
boat. Thomas sent for the commit
tee in charge and reported that he
was afraid that the man who had done
the shooting was going to kill him.
He stated that negro known as
Toes had fired the shots but later,
when seen by Toes, admitted that he
was in error and declared that the
shots had been fired by the negro
known as Cope. A few minutes later
ingram asked Thomas if he had said
that he had fired the Shots Thomas
replied in the affirmative.
The lie was promptly passed and the
fatal shots were fired Immediately aft
ei WdIuS. HOlldS says IndI lnSfd m
was reaching for his pistol when he
fired, but the witnesses do not agree
with him on this point. Three shots
were fired by the man known as China
man, and Migrants death was almost
instantaneous. Thomas threw his
weapon overheard and went back on
the island. The tragedy broke up the
excursion party and the Clayton start
ed back for the city with the dead man,
but without Ingram.
When the steamer reached the city
she anchored in mid-stream and the
police call was sounded. A sergeant
and a detail of uniformed men were
hurried to the water front and twelve
negroes We're made prisoners, pending
an investigation. Later in the morn
ing Migrants slayer boarded the steam
er Louise at Daufuskie and came to
the city. Upon his arrival at the boats
dock he surrendered to Patrolman
Becker and was sent to the police sta
ton house on a charge of murder
Sheriff Porter of Daufuskie was mott
fed of the arrests and arrived in the
city last night in response to a tele-
gram from the superintendent of police.
The sheriff will interrogate the wit
nesses this morning and determine just
how many it will be necessary to take
back to South Carolina with him.