The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-24
SHOT DEAD
FROM AMBUSH
ON ATLANTIC COAST LINE.
BLOODHOUND PVT on TRAIL OF
MURDERER WITHOUT SUCCESS.

Young Section Foreman on Atlantic
Coast Line Was shot Down Within
Less Than Seventy-Five Yards OF
Five Nfen-NOne of Them Saw As
sassin-Face and Head Filled
With Small Shot, and Death Was
instantaneous Murray Was Only
Section Foreman Between Here
and Jesup That Did Not Join
Strikers
Leon Murray, apprentice section
foreman for the Atlantic Coast Line,
shot from ambush and instantly killed
yesterday afternoon between l and 2
o'clock two miles north of Walthour-
vile. There were five section hands
within less than seventy-five yards of
where the shooting occurred, but none
of them saw the assassin, or know
whether he was white or colored.
The details of the crime brought
out by the investigation conducted by
a special posse which left Savannah
on a special train for the scene of the
crime developed the fact that young
Murray was shot down in cold blood,
without warning.
AS soon as the first shot was fired
the section hands took to their heels.
One of the number. James Larkin, was
wounded in the arm by one of the
shots fired at the fleeing negroes after
the first fatal shot had been fired
AS soon as the crime was reported
at Walthourville a message was sent
10 the general offices of the Coast Line
here, and the sheriff of Chatham coun-
ty was requested to furnish a special
posse to assist in the capture of the
murderer.
Where the Crime Was Committed.
The spot where the murder was COM
mitted is in a dense swamp. an en-
bankment of about fifteen feet being
thrown up at that point About twenty
yards from the railways right of way
is barbed wire fence. and twenty
yards from this fence is where young
Murray met his death.
The section gang had just returned
from dinner, and Murray started
over into the swamp. He hung his vest
on the barbed wire fence, crawled
through the wire and had gone dis
lance of some twenty PAGES when the
section hands, who were already in a
state of nervous excitement over the
many threats that had reached their
ears coming from the strikers, heard
gun fire. At first they thought
Murray had accidentally discharged his
own pistol, and one of the number
To I aVlrf ct cd - xrIa y 90.
or not he was hurt. The other four
members of the section gang became
frightened at once and commenced run
ming.
Second shot HIT Negro.
Larkin had only taken a few steps
when the second shot was fired. He
felt a tingling sensation in his left
arm, and knew that he had been shot.
He, too, started running towards Wal
thourville, and none of the quintette
stopped until they had reached the sta
tion ana reported what had happened.
There are less than hundred in
habitants at Walthourville, all told,
and as many men as could be mustered
were soon formed into a posse and Wis
ited the scene where the shooting oc-
CURED.
The body of young Murray was
found lying in the grass, face down
ward. In the side of his face and
head load of BIB. shot had been fired,
and his brains had oozed out. From all
indications death had been instan-
famous. There were no signs to in
dictate that he had moved after he fell.
saw Smoke from Gun.
From the story told by the negro sec
ton hands smoke had been sent to rise
from behind tree about fifteen yards
TO the left of Murray, and from the
g 4. l..
that a pine tree. standing alone. and
surrounded by a thick underground,
shielded the murderer as he prepared
TO fire. Tracks were found around this
tree, but so many had trampled around
that IL was hard TO distinguish any
special marks that would give clue.
Hanging on the fence where he had
first placed it, was young Murray's
vest The pockets had not been dis
turbed. nor had his clothing which he
wore been disturbed. On the hand car.
which had been placed on the side of
the embankment. the dead mans rifle
was found. and the assassin had evil
IDENTIFY not long tarried in the vicinity
of the shooting.
Asked savannah for Aid.
AS soon as it was found that there
was need for bloodhounds and expe-
rienced men, a telegram was sent to
savannah requesting special posse
TO come UP and assist in the work
President Erwin happened to be in
Savannah and he at once communi-
Gated with Sheriff Schwarz. Chief
Deputy Sheriff Sweeny was detailed to
form a posse as hastily as possible
secure bloodhoundS and report at the
general offices of the road to board the
special train that would be made up
to take the party to Walthourville
The party was formed as quickly as
possible, and Chief Deputy Sweeny.
City Detective Frank Wall, and Mr..
S. p. Braswell go into the latter's
automobile and went out to the con-
vict camp to secure dogs. In the
meantime the rest of the posse COM
posed of City Detective ]. ]. Murphy,
Gus S. Godbold of the Atlantic Coast
Line secret service. Deputies Hartigan.
Thompson and O'Connor, and a Morn
ing News representative. assembled at
the Coast lane yards to wait for the
return of the officers with the dogs.
The party left the yards of the Coast
Line at 6 O'Clock The train
was in charge Of Trainmaster j. d.
Andrews, Engineer Harry Gray. and
Conductor Shaw, and was made up of
an engine and one coach.
Armed with Winchesters and shot
guns the posse boarded the train at
sos o'clock. A large crowd was pres
ent and watched the special steam out
of the yards. The officers could only
secure one dog at the convict camp
but II was stated that several others