The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-16
DOCTORS AFRAID
 OF BEING SHOT
Firing at Or. Wilson by PoIice-
 man Makes Them Nervous
OLD INCIDENTS RECALLED
Case Against the Policeman Will Be Pushed and Police Commission Meets Tonight to Take Up
 the Matter Officially.


 still worked up over the affair on the South Highlands the other night when Dr. Cunningham Wilson was taken for burglar and fired upon by Policeman Carleton and, it is said, will assist Dr.. Wilson in pushing an investigation of the affair. Many of them say they went on their night calls during the last two nights with many misgivings as to their safety. Whether there be any real danger or not from the police men, by being mistaken for burglars or highwaymen, the doctors have grown nervous, and the experience of Dr. Cunningham Wilson is not easily forgotten.
 A well known physician says that he has great difficulty in getting his latch key to fit and while standing on the front veranda of his residence, which was partially dark, he became very nervous, fearing that some one might shoot at him. "I tried the key several times" he said, land I simply could not make it fit. As I grew nerv- ous the task of unlocking the door grew more difficult and 1 kept contin- ually lodging from one side of the door to the other, any minute expect ing a shot. l finally got inside just as neighbor had left an adjoining house, and he looked at me very sus- piciously. In fact, he started towards my door, thinking was breaking into the residence
 Incidents Recalled.
 The shooting at Dr. Wilson recalls an incident of several years ago when a MT tra .l,1 Sl.1 I,xr & policeman near the gas works. At that time there was a great scare about hign- waymen holding up pedestrians in that part of the city and policemen were in- structed to stop every man who came along at late hours and ascertain the na- ture of their business. Policemen Sud dith and Gardner were patrolling that section of the city and as MT. Laird passed by en route to the gas works, where ne was employed, the policemen ordered him to halt. Thinking they were highwaymen, he started to run towards the gas house.
 Policeman Suddith opened fire and, 1t is said, MT. Laird returned the shot A running battle was then fought in the di- rection of the gas house and Mir. Laird finally fell inside the door exhausted and suffering from pistol wounds. People felt very much outraged over the affair and Policeman Suddith was criminally prose- euted by MT Laird. He was found guilty and fined.
 Since the Laird-Suddith affair several negroes have been fired upon in like manner but Dr. Cunningham Wilson Is the first white man to go through such an experience in a long time. A negro butler on the South High lands, came near being shot to death about three months ago because he ran when ordered to halt and, 1t Is said at least seven shots were fired at his fleeing form.
 Pathetic Case. The most pathetic case which has come to the attention of the police de- partment and the public is that of the little Lee boy who was shot dead in Second alley near Nineteenth street about two years ago by Policeman Rich ardson. This little boy was the son of a shoe manufacturer in Memphis and with some other boys had run away from home The escapade is said to have been the result of reading dime novels, but that has nothing to do with this story.
 Four of these lads had been doing what is known as "panhandling.' that is, they were going from house to house ask ing for food and money. They had entered Second alley, where the First National bank building now stands. and while the three waited on a back doorstep, cne was sent to a house nearby occupied by soma women for the purpose of begging. The policeman in making his rounds saw tn. boys ir tte alley and began Slipping up on them, keeping post between him and the young trio. I he boys finally spied him and began to run. The policeman gave chsse. and after running the boys up Twenty y-first street, down Third avenue. along Twentieth street and into the alley at Pattons drug store began firing his pistol. He said that he had ordered them to stop several times but they paid no heed. The policeman fired at young Lee as he was near Nineteenth street the bullet entering his back and causing al- most instant death The policeman claimed that he thought the boys were burglars and that they were about to break in store. Young Lee was 12 years cd.
 All of these former unfortunate experi- ences are being discussed since the affair 1 in which Dr. Wilson received such a scare and persons who are on the streets | at unreasonable hours whether for work 1 or pleasure. are very nervous. Newspaper l reporters who have been used to being out at all hours for years say they can't 1 shake off the feeling that they are liable l to be shot by mistake. The dread of being | fired upon by being mistaken for another person Is said to be much worse than the fear of actual contact with criminal. When the case of Dr. Wilson against l Policeman Carleton has been thoroughly investigated the nightworkers say they