The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-08-05
JOE M'DERMOTT is
KILLED IN SALOON
Shot Four Times by G. W.
Jackson, City Guard
DIES ALMOST INSTANTLY
jackson, While Attempting to Escape,
Arrested BY Lieutenant Eagan.
jackson and Eaean Make
Statements.
DIES ALMOST INSTANTLY

Joseph McDermott, horse trader who
lives on Twenty-fourth street near Ave-
nue. A, was shot four time, three In the
body and once in the hip. and almost in
stantly killed at $3.50 o'clock last night
in Dusenberry's saloon on Twentieth
street and Avenue A, by G. w. Jackson,
one of the city guards, who lives at 34la
South Twentieth street.
McDermott died few moments after
he was shot, and his body was taken to
Lige Logs undertaking establishment.
While attempting to escape down Ave
nue. A toward South Nineteenth street,
Jackson stumbled and was arrested by
Martin Eagan, a leunenant on the police
force. jackson was taken TO the city jail
where he was detained without bond.
jackson Makes Statement.
When seen last night in the city pfis-
on, jackson made this statement;
Il was in the saloon waiting for drink
thatI had ordered when McDermott en-
tered. l had seen him before and he
probably had seen me, but we did not
know one another well enough to speak
a drink told him l had just ordered a
drink and declined his invitation lie
then called me an insulting name, pulled
out his gun and fired at me twice When
he did that | reached for my gun and
shot him. | am sorry | had to do IT,
but it was either his life or mine
Eagan Tells What He Heard.
Martin Egan, who arrested Jackson,
made this statement concerning the affair:
81 was riding on my wheel in front of
the saloon at Twentieth street and Ave-
nue. A As soon as | heard the first shot
| dismounted from my wheel and ran
into the saloon twenty or thirty yards
away. Before ] got there ! heard six
shots fired in rapid succession. When
entered the front door of the saloon l
saw man running out of the side door
on Avenue A. | followed him and he ran
down Avenue toward Nineteenth street.
He had not gone far when he stumbled.
overlook him, arrested him and brought
him back into the saloon.
''As soon as | arrested him he told me
that a man had called him an insulting
name and fired two shots at him, and he
had then pulled out his gun and returned
the fire, killing the man who, he said mad
begun the shooting.
II picked up a gun on the floor of the
saloon which I was told was either drop
ped by Jackson or knocked out Of his
hand after the shooting was over All
six chambers of the revolver We're empty.
McDermott was apparently unarmed. No
weapon was found ON his body.
Witnesses Account.
"There were three witnesses to the
shooting continued Egan They were
G. w. Bufford, the barkeeper; A. S. Car
ter, who lives at 2l1 South Twentieth
street, and j. t. Wade of 514 South Twen-
ty-first street.
'Bufford told me that both men had
been drinking and got into an argument.
one word led to another. he said, and
Jackson told McDermott that his (Me-
Dermott's) face looked like a piece of
raw meat Bufford told me that when
Jackson said that McDermott hit him
across the cheek with the palm of his
hand Then Jackson, Bufford says, pulled
his gun out and shot at McDermott six
times. McDermott fell between the ice box
and the refrigerator in the saloon, Buff
ford said. and Jackson ran out of the
saloon through the side door.
IA S. Carter, another witness said
Egan. gave an account that tailed ae-
curately with the version given by Buff
ford l did not talk with Wade about the
affair
Bufford Wouldn't Talk.
Bufford, the barkeeper, when seen at
the saloon after the tragedy took place
declined to make statement for news
paper publication.
The building where the shooting oc-
Cured is a combination 'of white and
negro saloon, the bar for negroes being
in the rear portion on the first floor. Po-
liceman Thompson said last night that
the place had the reputation of being
quiet and orderly
Juror Attends Mothers Funeral.
MI. c..