The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-21
WHITE BOY SHOT
MAN AND A BOY
IN MINIATURE RACE WAR.
MILTON BRANNEN USED SHOT GUN
ON NEGRO ADVERSARIES

Shooting Was the Outcome of a
Rock Battle, which the Negroes
in Overwhelming Numbers Had
Precipitnted-Neithe the Man Nor
the Boy Was Seriously Hurt,
Though the Boy Was struck in the
Face by a. Number of Small Shot.
In a miniature race war on Alice
street early yesterday afternoon, Milton
Brannen. white boy 10 years of age,
the same age, and Mack Thompson,
a negro man.
Neither of the wounded persons is
seriously hurt, though the boy is very
painfully wounded. The shooting was
the outcome of a rock battle" which
the negroes are alleged to have start
ed. Three white boys were arraigned
against a dozen or more negroes, and
Milton went for a gun and used it
with good effect.
The nerve of the boy after the
shooting was remarkable. He did not
appear to be the least bit worried and
answered all questions as we'll as
matured man could have done. Ac-
cording to the boys story, which is
substantiated by numerous reputable
witnesses, the negroes made the at
tack with rocks and he merely de-
Tended himself and his companions.
Shot in the Face.
James Dwight, the boy who was shot,
was peppered all over the face. Some
eight or ten shot entered the face and
head, and he was painfully hurt. Mack
Thompson, the man who was shot, had
nothing to do with the row which led
to the shooting. He happened to be
passing at the time, and was struck
in the back with one of the shot. The
wound did not even inconvenience him,
though it was painful for time. The
boy suffered considerable pain.
According to the story told by young
Brannen, which is substantiated by
witnesses, he and John Peters and
Jeyie Mason, two boys about his age,
were playing leap frog in front of
young Brannen's home, No. 412 Alice
street. At Alice and Montgomery there
were number of negroes, and some
of these began to throw stones at the
white boys.
The white boys retreated, and Mill
ton ran into the house. He picked
up a SINGLE barrel shotgun, which was
loaded, and returned to the stoop of
the house. The negro boys were still
throwing rocks, he says, and they
shouted at him to shoot when he ap-
peared with the gun.
''They yelled Shoot and / shot"
said Milton at the police station after
the affray was over. "They began
throwing rocks at us first, and kept on
after l got inside the house. When
they said shoot shot"
Milton, though small for his age. is
manly little fellow. According to
the story he tells, the difficulty was
forced UPON him.
Defending His Home.
Milton says while he was inside the
house, looking for the gun rocks were
thrown against the stoop and front
of the house. When he came outside.
he says, the negroes were grouped
on the opposite side of the street.
When they saw the gun. they ran for
cover and yelled shoot"
i shot and they all ran," continued
Milton. Il stayed right there. Mr..
Christie the bicycle officer, came up
and afterwards some detective, who
l don't know"
Inc detective referred TO was De-
tective Bostick. He took the case in
charge and sent Milton to the police
station. After a brief confinement
there, s. L. Todd, the boys stepfather
gave bond for him and he was re-
leased. He will be tried in Police Court
this morning.
Johnnie Peters and Jeyle Mason, the
two boys who were playing with Mil
ton, when the trouble started, will be
witnesses. Mrs. Maud Richardson also
witnessed the affair, as did Mrs. w.
e. Douglass. Both of these have been
summoned for the hearing.