The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-12
Coke Matthews Seriously Shot by Joseph L Meade in
 Soda Fountain
LADIES IN TIE PLACE
 WERE BADLY FRIGHTENED
Shooting the Result of Old Trouble. Gaddls Hughes, Who Was Slttinq In Stones, Hit By
 a Bullet.

Coke Matthews and Gaddis Hughes, both well known young men in the city. were shot by Joseph l.. Meade, Jr, last night about 10:15 o'clock in the Mims B. Stones soda water establishment at 1904 Second avenue. Several ladies were in the place at the time of the shooting and were naturally much frightened.
 Four shots were fired by Meade, who was attacking Matthews as a result of an old trouble. Two of the bullets took eff feet in Matthews body and one struck Hughes who Is not seriously wounded and who was able last night to walk around after the shooting
 The first shot was fired while Matthews, Hughes and Charlie Bishop were seated at the front table in Stones and the oth- CT three were fired after Matthews was on the pavement and running down Sec- ond avenue toward Nineteenth street.
 Meade Arrested.
 Meade Is under arrest in the county jail on a charge of assault with intent to murder. Hughes Is at his parents home on Twenty-first street near Avenue G., and Matthews Is in Hillman hospital, where he was carried in the ambulance of the Gaudin company. Matthews is not serious and painful.
 There were three witnesses to the shoot ing and they agree in their statements about the manner it came up They said that Meade walked to the door, leveled his pistol at Matthews and said:
 Take That Back.
 Take that back or I will shoot you" He at once commenced shooting The first bullet struck Hughes In the left leg and inflicted a slight flesh wound in the outer muscle. Matthews, Hughes and Bishop jumped up at the first shot and Matthews ran out on the sidewalk through the door nearest Nineteenth street As he ran on down the street the third and fourth shots were fired, and one of them struck Matthews, and both barely missed half dozen people who were standing on the streets.
 Matthews ran over to the barroom in the St. Nicholas hotel where he was picked up by Chief of Police wier, Police Commissioner McCary and others.
 Deputy Sheriff Sid Cowan was standing on the Peerless corner, and when the first shot was fired he ran towards Stones and met Meade. He leveied his gun at Meade and told him if he shot again he would blow his head off. Meade dropped his pistol and surrendered. Detectives Bodeker and Hamilton. Policeman Whit ney. Nix and other officers who happened to be close by. took charge of the sltua- ton.
 Taken to Jall.
 Meade was taken directly to jail by Deputy Sheriffs Cowan, J. N. Curl and Jerry Fountain. A 3S-calibre Iver-John- son pistol was used by Meade. and this is In possession of the deputies. Hughes walked to Twentieth street with friend and went to Davis infrmary in a hack. where his wound was dressed
 The trouble between Matthews and Meade Is said to have dated back about a month. They had a personal difficulty in the hall on the second floor of the city hall about three weeks ago, and at that time Matthews severely punished Meade. They were fined s each in police court on charge of affray.
 The affray in the city hall was the re- suit of statements made by Matthews concerning Meade. He spent the night with Meade about month ago. and stated openly afterwards that Meade was guilty of misconduct. It was believed that the matter was over and that no trouble would result from it, and the shooting last night was a surprise to every one.
 A few minutes after the shooting, and while the ambulance was being sum moned, Matthews stated:
 'It was about the old trouble. Hughes, Bishop and myself were sitting at the front table In Stone's, and I was lean ing against the wall. Meade walked into the door nearest Twentieth street, level- ed his pistol at me and said, Take it back or I will shoot you and at once commenced shooting. ran out on the