The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-02

ned rom eViocnCe presented 10 uS that very few If the principals at and are responsible for it's inception and continuance. that their pockets might jingle with unholy gain"
 A DECATUR TRAGEDY POLICEMAN BABER KILLED IN DIs-
 CHARGE or DUTf.
 Slain by Percie Couch, whsn, He Was
 Attempting t0 Arrsst--MurAerer
 Captured on Train-vIoieace
 Considered Improbable.
 Decatur, July 1.-(Special.)--At 12:20 this morning Police Onicer William A. Baber met his death at the corner of Railroad and Lafayette Streets while in the discharge of his duty. he being the second police ofiicer to be shot down on the streets of Decatur within the last few weeks. The ether oncer was E. l.. Steele who was shot by VIII Jackson. negro. Jackson paid tho penalty of his crime on the galiows in the jail here on June 18th.
 Last night as Policeman W. A. Moore was walking his beat on Lafayette Street he came upon Pcrcie Couch and Henry Gerstman, both white, and both residents of tho Decaturs. engaged in a difficulty just in front, of the Ameri- can Hotel. He arrested them and turned Couch loose to search Gearst- man, when Couch ran behind a bill board just across the street. About this time Policeman Baber came up and went after Couch. Couch said: Don't come any closer to me or I will kill you" The officer paid no attention to Couch but proceeded. Couch drew his run, a A Colts revolver and fired four shots at Baber. all taking effect. Two shots hit the officer in the chin. one In the back and one in the neck, severing tho jugular vein. The latter shot caused his death. Officer Moore. for sosus reason, had no gun with him sf ths time. s
 Gearstman, who lives in South De. catur, told The Advertiser correspon- dent that he was not acquainted with Couch: that he passed him on the street and called him names. etc, which brought on the scrap between them He also stated Couch drew a gun on him. When seache5 nothing but small pocket knife was found on GearstmaE.
 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 hnd auarrelied.
 When Officer Babcr fcli he fired two shots at Couch. but they went wild. He sank to the ground and cried. Tho has got me" Couch then ran and hrei two shots at officer Moore AS he ran. but these shots were wild. Couch then went to the Louisville and Nashville yar1s, where he remained for a while, then returned to the depot and pur- chased a ticket for Chattanooga, Tenn. He left tho train at Huntsville. how ever. and took the Nashville. Chatta- nooga and St Louis thers and was ar rested in Fayetteville Tenn. this morn ing while on tho train. telegrams hay ing been sent ahead. When arrested he acknowledged he shot Baber, but said or not.
 Couch was taken to Huntsville at 3 n m. today and will be brought here at II o'clock tonight. Sheriff James wizeins, of this county. went to Hunts yilIe this afternoon and will accompany Couch here.
 The feeling against Couch In the De- caturs is strong. but there Is no ap- prehension of trouble of any kind at this time, alth ough there is considera- bls talk or tho streets and large crowds were discussing the ccld blood ed affair on every corner before day this morning,
 Couch fig a member of one of the old est and best known families Tn the De- caturs He is a young man. scarcely 30. ana was only recently married: He had been very wild boy, however, TOT s number ,f years and had figured in many difficulties here of late. His mother is still living. but his father has been dead for a number of years. One of hIs sisters Is the wife of John C. Evans manager of the Tavern Ho- tel. in New Decatur Another one of his sisteers Is the wife of J Lee Barns, manager If the Majestic Hotel In At lantA. Ga He also has a sister and brother here and another brother In Atlanta, Ga The shock to his mother in her old ago Is very trying
 Baber was enc of the most popular policemen in Decatur. He was a mem Der of the Jr. q. l.. A. M, Odd Eel lows. Masons. Woodmen of the World. and several other secret orders. He owned considerable country property. and was quite well of. He leaves a wife and several children. His wife Is almost crazed with grief The scene at the home this morning was one of the saddest ever witnessed in Decatur.
 Why Couch fired the fatal shots is a mystery He and Baber were. appar- entity. warm IFlfDIS. lney spent fnuCn time together 9n the streets.
 Huntsville. July i.-(Special. )-Per- cy Couch. slayer of Policeman Baber, at Decatur. was captured at Winches- ter today on the train from Huntsville to Nashville After leaving Decatur Couch came to Huntsville and spent several hours with a friend and the police were notified of his departure tor Nashville The rest was easy.
 Couch was brought to Huntsville this evening and the officers are awaiting instructions as to whether 1t is safe to take him back to Decatur.
 Couch in Danger.
 Decatur, July 1.-(Special. )-Percy Couch. who shot and killed Policeman William A. Baber last night. was brought here from Huntsville tonight at iI:4O. Fully 1000 met the train at the denot Couch was slipped of the front end of the smoker by Sheriff wigeins and taken to jail by him and Chief Young and Policeman Sall.
 Fully 500 people followed them to the tail and open threats of hanging were made. though these threats were not carried Into execution. Couch showed signs of fear. Great crowds throng the streets tonight and there is