The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-25
SHOT
 JAS. A. ACH0R "A Bloody Encounter in YeSuviuS. TROUBLE DUE TO WOMAN Railroad Engineer May Die of
 His Wounds. Both Men Were Terribly Iniured--one
 is in Hospital, the Other Is
 in Montgomery Coun-

At the point of death at a Montgom- cry hospital lies James A. Achor, rail- road engineer and incarcerated in a cell in the Montgomery County jail is w. c. Sanford 53 years old, a merchant of Vesuvius. The charge now against the merchant is assault to murder but att tending surgeons give no hope that the charge will not be murder before many hours elapse.
 are in the body of Achor. one through his mouth and the other through his intestines. Sanford, an old man, is ter ribly beaten. His eye Is blacked and mu- tilated and three broken ribs give him excruciating pain.
 A woman, Maggie Hickman, who lived in the same house with Sanford Is said to be responsible for the shooting. Trouble About q Woman. The bloody tragedy occurred yester- day afternoon at o'clock at the store of Sanford in Vesuvius. From common gossip in the neighborhood and from in- formation gathered from reliable wit nesses, it seems that Achor, Maggie Hickman. and her brother Walter Ham melt had been absent from the store and the residence of Sanford all day fishing. It is indicated that when they returned they showed signs of too much drink. Young Hammett walked into the store of Sanford, while Achor and Mag gle Hickman remained in the residence wing of the building. In a few seconds, Walter Hammett was astounded by hear ing his sister crying for help. Accord ing to his statement on reaching the room he beheld his sister and Achor in fisticuff. He rushed between them in time to receive a blow from the fist of the engineer. He returned the blow and claims that Achor made an overt motion to his rear pocket. He fled toward the store followed by Achor. He succeeded in reaching the rear of the building when he heard several pistol shots. Return ing he saw Achor lying prostrate on the floor of the store and Sanford bleeding from face wound.
 Achor's negro fireman, who was in the store at the time of the difficulty, says that when young Hammett reached the rear room, Sanford intefposed. A short struggle between the two men followed and the old, storekeeper began firing with a pistol. Achor turned and grasp ing a beer glass from the bar counter hurled it at the storekeeper, bruising and cutting his face.
 Sanford fired again and Achor fled, Sanford firing the shots that may prove fatal as he ran.
 Another Version Told. Still another version of the affair Is that Sanford was behind the bar coun- ter, when young Hammett fled through the room. He went forward and grap- pied with the engineer. The men strug- gied from behind the counter to the to- bacco stand to the right of the bar and from that position the shots were fired.
 The police authorities were immedi- kafn NU Taylor accompanied by Night Sergeant Miles Smith and Special officers E. w. Jackson and Ed. Graham hurried to the scene of the shooting and arrested Sam ford He was brought to the police sta- tion in the buggy of the Police Captain, On the docket, he is recorded as being 53 years old, native of Ohio and merchant.
 The old man wore no shoes He Is feeble and moved around with difficulty. He was seen shortly after arriving at the police station. Sanford was in terribly nervous state. He appeared to be suffering from both the wound on his face and the wound in his side.
 Do you care to make a statement, MT, Sanford" he was asked through the bars of the little cell. >
 Yes" he murmured undecidedly and then breaking into tears cried out: NO, no, old Sandy ain't got no friends" He threw himself disconsolately on the floor of the prison and wept.
 It is said that Sanford's home is in Battle Creek, Mich, where he owns con- siderable property. His wife lives there and telegram was sent to her last night.
 At the vesuvius store last night, a crowd of negroes and railroad men gath cred around the scene of the shooting, peering through the closed windows. Great care was taken by the people in the store. Conversations in bated breath were heard and when the people walked they walked on tiptoe. The floor of the half grocery, half bar-room had been