The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-02
ANOTHER OFFICER KILLED IN DECATUR Wm. A. Baber is Shot by
 Percie Couch GUILTY MAN IS CAPTURED Officer Was Attempting to Arrest Two Men Who Were Fighting on La fayette Street Near Amer
 ican Hotel.
GUILTY MAN IS CAPTURED

Decatur, July 1.-(Special)--A 12:2 this
 morning Police Officer William A. Baber
 met his death at the corner of Railroad
 and Lafayette streets while in the dis
 charge of his duty, he being the second
 police officer to be shot down on the streets of Decatur within the last few weeks The other officer was E. l.. Steele, who, was shot by Will Jackson colored, and Jackson paved the penalty of his crime on the gallows here on June 16.
 Last night as Policeman W. A. Moore
 was walking his beat on Lafayette street
 he came upon Percie Couch and Henry
 Gearstman, both white. and both residents
 of the Decaturs, engaged in a difficulty just in front of the American hotel. He
 arrested them and turned Couch loose to search Gearstman, when Couch ran behind
 a billboard just across the street. About this time Policeman Baber came up and went after Couch. Couch said: Don come any closer to me or will kill you."
 The officer paid no attention to Couch, but proceeded. Couch drew his gun, A Colts revolver and fired four shots at
 Baber. all taking effect Two shots hit
 the officer in the chin, one in the back |
 vein The latter shot caused his death. of-
 ficer Moore. for some reason, had no gun with him at the time.
 Cearstman, who lives in South Decatur, told your correspondent that he was not acquainted with Couch, that he passed
 him on the street and called him names
 which brought on the quarrel between them He also stated Couch drew gun on him. When searched nothing but a small pocket knife was found on Gearst-
 man.
 Attacked Wrong Man. It is said that earlier in the evening
 Couch had had a difficulty with another
 man. and 1t is presumed that when he met Gearstman he took him for the man with whom he had duarrelled
 When Officer Baber fell he fired two shots at Couch, but they went wild. He sank to the ground and cried. He has got me" Couch then ran and fired two shots at Officer Moore as he ran, but | these shots were wild. Couch then went to the Louisville and Nashville yards | where he remained for a while, then re- | turned to the depot and purchased a 1 ticket for Chattanooga He left the train | at Huntsville, however. and took the Nashville. Chattanooga and St. Louis there and was arrested in Fayetteville, Tenn
 this morning while on the train. telegrams
 having been sent ahead. When arrested 1 he acknowledged he shot Baber. but
 said he did not know whether he was | dead or not.
 | Couch was taken to Huntsville at 3 l D. m today and will be brought here at | II o'clock tonight. Sheriff James Wiggans | of this county went to Huntsville this af- | ternoon and will accompany Couch here.
 The feeling against Couch in the De- l caturs is strong, but there Is no apprehen- l sion of trouble of any kind at this time although there Is considerable talk on the
 streets and large crowds were discussing | the colb- b-bloodedness of the affair on every l corner before day this morning.
 We'll Known Young Man.
 | Couch is member of one of the oldest ! and best known families in the Decaturs 1 He is a young man. scarcely 30. and was , only recently married His mother Is still | living. but his father has been dead for ! a number of years. One of his sisters is I the wife of John C. Evans. manager of |, the Tavern hotel in New Decatur. And | another one of his sisters is the wife of | J. Lee Barns. manager of the Majestic | hotel in Atlanta. He also has a sister and | brother here and A brother in Atlanta. | The shock to his mother in her old age | Is very trying.
 l Paber was one of the most popular mo-