The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-09

JOHN H. MAY
SHOT TO DEATH
Mike Davis Fired the
Pistol.
TRAGEDY in WEST END
Victim of Bullet Had Just
Been in Court.
Fatal Result of Dimculty Between n
Butcher and His Former Emu
plOye-slayer ia in County

L
for selling liquor without a license.
May lies dead at the residence of his
| brother in-law C. e. Parks, 1872 JEFF
ferson Davis Avenue. and Mike Davis,
formerly in his empioye is in the
Montgomery county Jail charged with
murder.
The tragedy occurred at 7 o'clock
last night at the store and bar room
of D. H. venable in West End. Bad
feeling is said to have existed between
May and Davis for several weeks.
About two weeks ago, Davis, who was
employed in Mays butcher shop, was
discharged.
Several days ago, May was arrested
| by Deputy United States Marshals on
| a charge of retailing beer in bottles,
| labeled ginger ale." Yesterday morn
ing, he was acquitted at his prelimi-
nary hearing before United States
Commissioner John A, Elmore.
| 1t is said that yesterday afternoon
the remark was made by Davis that
| May was guilty of the charge and ne
knew 1t because he had worked for
him and sold the beer. 1t is further
lalleged that yesterday afternoon, May
was advised of these statements and
made threats against Davis.
At o'clock Davis was in Venables
store, leaning against the bar counter.
may TuSneu IN apparently excited.
VenabIe Tells of Tragedy.
D. H. Venable, the proprietor of the
store. was present and was an eye
witness to the tragedy. According to
his statement the man who ten min
utes later, was lying dead on the floor
of the store, dashed into the place and
| in an excited voice cried out to Da-
| Wis, Whats that you've been saying
about me?"
Davis turned and the two men
grappled. According to the statement
| of Mr.. Venable, the men exchanged
blows and fought their way to the
middle OF the store. Davis was hurl-
ed against a show case and as the
men broke away, May drew revolver
AS he did so, Davis's pistol was I'M
sheathed and a loud report followed.
May fell to the floor, gasped, and
died.
Pandemonium reigned in the store.
Both men were well known in the
neighborhood, and the shooting caus-
ed a sensation.
Davis ran to til front door and as
he reached the street he fell into the
arms of Mounted Patrolman James
Avant who hearing the shot, had
forced his horse into a gallop and ar
rived just in time to catch the slayer
of May.
Patrolman Avant, when seen last
night said: Mounted Patr ian Clar-
ence Curbow and myself were riding
out Bell street and had Just crossed
the railroad bridge. when we heard
the report of a revolver and shouts
from Venable's store. l spurred NV
horse into gallop and dismounted
Just in time to catch Davis.
He had pistol in his pocket with
three loaded shells and one empty 1t
was 3S-calibre old style weapon. 1
asked him If he had done the shooting
and he replied that he had.
i turned him over to Curbow and
went inside the store. May was al
ready dead. The bullet HAD entered
his left eye and pierced the brain. BY
his side lay pistol. qnloaded
Il telephoned for Coroner w. H.
Tfce and then took Davis to the sta
ton. 1 didn't have to use cuffs, he
came with me willingly"
No COroner's Inquest.
Mays body was taken to the morgue
OF Coroner Tice, where 1t was prepared
Tor burial. The coroner said last night
that he would hold no inquest as the
grand jury was in session and besides
Mr.. Venable, there were three negroes
eye witnesses to the tragedy. The ne
groes are Jim Evans, Lewis Reese and
George Hubbard.
AS soon as Davis reached the DO
lice station, he was transferred to the
Montgomery county Jail. where he re-
NAMED last night. A warrant charging
MIN with murder was sworn out before
Justice II. II. Jones by Deputy Sheriff
George Jones.
Seen at the Jail last night by a rep-
resentative of The Advertiser Davis
politely declined to make a statement.
saying that he had been advised nv
friends not to talk until he appeared
in court
Both men are well known. May was
born and reared in Montgomery. He
was a son of the late j. d. Nav. and
had a large family connection through
out Alabama. He was married re-
Gently He was 80 years old and a
man of robust appearance and genial
disposition.
Davis has passed This fortieth year.
He has wife and a number of chill
dren who reside at IRA Martha street.
West End.
Friends of May said last night that
all of the eye witnesses were friendly
to Davis. but they indicated that 9th
er things would develop at the ts4aI
They indicated that Davis nurtti, d
an i'll feeling against May for having
discharged him from his employ.
Although a warrant has been sworn
out before magistrate, a preliminarv
hearing will hardly be held as tho
county grand jury is now I'm session
and VIII investigate the case at once
NEGRO SHOT BY OFFICER