The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-06-24
MURDER At RODMAN
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Leslie CHM While Filled With Booze
Pumps 0 Bullet into GEO. h. Pye.
The Murderer is Now Il Fugi-
tive From Justice, Hiding
In the SWamps.

Last ouuuay dlutInOou dDOuC Uli -
O'Clock the numbering town of Rod
man, in the southern part of the
county, was the scene of a murder
which is directly traccable to drunk
enncss, and the young man who
stands charged with the crime and
who was crazcd with drink at the
time is less than 20 years Of age and
fugitive from Justice His name is
Leslie CHM, and he comes from
South Carolina. His only relative
in Florida is Il married brother who
lives near the scene of the crime.
The victim is George H. Pye, who
was sober, industrious young man,
employed by the Rodman Lumber
Company, and % years of age.
The story of the crime is as follows
Sunday forenoon CHM appeared at
Cummings hotel partially intoNicat-
ed. He had IA bottle of gin from
which he took frequent pulls and
was making himself generally a nui-
sance. He went to Pye's room where
Pye was sitting with some friends
and borrowed razor with which he
shaved himself. When he returned
the razor he was n little more under
the influence of liquor than when he
borrowed it, He was lippy and made
| half-drunken efforts to be funny. He
knocked the pipe out of Pyc's mouth
and exhibited a revolver, which Pye
took away from him and only return
ed after eXacting promise to be-
have himself and keep quiet. But
CHM didn't keep quiet. He made so
much noise and was so profane that
Mr.. Cummings, proprietor of the no.
tel, had to order him to leave the
house, which he did.
After dinner Mr.. Pye went over to
the blacksmith shop, back of which
the ROdman Lumber Company's
railroad track runs, and on which
stood locomotive which was being
cleaned up by the engineer and fire
man, who We're at work under II e
engine,
Soon after Pycs arrival at the
blacksmith shop and while he was
talking with Engineer Hammond,
CHM appeared. He still had his
Jag" and was quarrelsome. He ap-
Iproached Pye and said: "What
made you try to bluff me this morn
ing?' Pyo denied any intention to
bluff. Then CHM called Pyo dam
ned liar. Pye struck ut him and as
he did so CHM pulled his revolver.
The men were close together when
CHM fired. The ball entered Pye's
stomach, penetrated both walls of
the stomach and lodged in the hip
bone.
After he was shot Pye grabbed for
the pistol and was trying to take it
away from CHM, when Mr.. Ham
mond, who was attracted by the
quarrel and the shooting, came to his
assistance and took the pistol. CHM
then walked away.
Pye was assisted to the hotel and
fell to the bed when he reached his
room. He lived ~ hours after the
shooting, though physicians were
summoned by telephone from Palat
ka, probcd for the ball and did all
that was possible to save him.
Before his death Mr.. Pye made an
ante-mortem statement which was
taken down by Mr. Porter, II local
notary public, signed by Mr.. Pye and
witnessed by Sheriff Howell and 9TH
ers who We're present.
Justice Rowton impanneled jury
and held an inquest over the body,
at which Engineer Hammond, P. A.
Thomas, lumber inspector, and A.
X. Patrick, section foreman, who
were near the shooting, or familiar
with the fancied difficulty of the
morning, testified substantially as
above. The jury rendered verdict
charging CHM with murder.
Mr.. Pye's body was brought to Pa
latka where Undertaken Mooney
prepared it for shipment to his
former home in EStill, s. G.. He was
a large. fine looking young man of
exemplary habits.
The murderer is described as a
slender, thin featured, sallow conf
plexioned youth with decayed front
teeth. His whereabouts have not
been ascertained. But Sheriff How
ell is after him.