The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-04
A TRAGEDY AT TROY
POLICEMAN JACKSON IS KILLED
 WHILE ATTEMPTING ARREST.
Dead Man Very Popular in His Home Town and Was Soon to Have Wed-Slayer Captured
 by Henderson.


 Troy, June 3.-(Special.)- )--Policeman W. G. Jackson was shot at the union passenger station here this afternoon about 4:45 o'clock by James Johnson. while attempting to arrest the latter, and died from the effects of the wound about fifteen minutes later at Gold thwaite's drug store, where he had been carried.
 The difficulty was occasioned by the effort of Jackson to arrest Johnson on account of the latter falling to pay his street tax. Johnson. who Is engaged in getting out timber for one of the local mills. had been delinquent in paying his street tax for some time and the chief of police had given orders that a case be made against him.
 Just prior to the shooting Chief D. M Henderson and Policeman Jackson had started to the union station to be present and keep order on the arrival of the afternoon train. as was their usual custom. When about one block from the station some one detained the chief and Jackson proceeded alone AL most immediately on his arrival at the station he met Johnson and the shoot ing occurred.
 Accounts of the shooting vary great ly and The Advertiser correspondent can only give the statement of wit nesses as he heard them. Martin c.
 
 just around the corner of the station at the time he heard the first shot and remarked to a bystander that sounds like a Deringer," when he heard a sec ond shot sounding like the first. At this time he walked around the station in the direction of the shooting and saw Johnson with a pistol in his hand and Policeman Jackson backing away from Johnson and at the same time trying to draw his pistol, which seemed to be hitched in his pocket. As soon as Jackson succeeded in extracting his pistol from his pocket, he began firing and advancing on Johnson, who was behind a post from him.
 When Jackson had emptied Ms piss tol he turned toward the statiCn %k if to enter it and after making a few steps In that direction he lurched for ward and remarked that he believed that fellow has shot me. but 1t don't amount to anything At this point MT. Folmar and a bystander rushed for ward and supported Jackson and ob- served that his clothing was on fire in the region of the wound and some one extinguished it. They then sup ported Jackson to a nearly vehicle and carried him to Goldthwaite's drug store, where he expired in about fifteen minutes without again speaking.
 The ball which killed Jackson enter ed his breast just below the center os the left nipple. There was a heavy note book in Jacksons left inside coat pocket and the ball, on entering, cut through the upper edge of this book, which no doubt gave an upward course and kept it from killing him instantly, Jackson's clothing showed evidence of having been burned in the region of the wound.
 Policeman Jackson had been on the police force for number of years, and was cool. collected and fearless in the discharge of his duty. He was rug gedly honest in his private life and was a prominent member of the Ma sonic Lodge, K. of P. and Elks, and stood well in the estimation of his fel- low citizens. His death was particu- larly sad in the fact that he was the only near relative and companion of an aged grandmother, and that he was to have been married in the near future to one of the sweetest young ladies in the city.
 Johnson, who killed Jackson, was hIt one time by the latter just above the elbow of the left arm, and would have been killed by Jackson except for the fact that he sought shelter behind a column which was penetrated twice by balls from Jackson's pistol. On being visited at the jail and asked if he wish ed to make a statement, Johnson was found in company with his little daugh- ter and son, whom Sheriff Reeves had kindly allowed to remain with him. He seemed cool and although suffering from the wound In his arm made l clear statement as follows
 Tt was about my street tax. Will Jackson came to me Saturday before last about it, and told him did noi have the money, but as soon as got II I would pay him. I went off last Mon day to work at Jonesville and shipped one car of timber and have one loaded now at Iinwood. He came to me this evening and asked mo how about our business l told him I needed what money I had to pay expenses, and that as soon as could get out another car, I would pay him. He, Jackson, said, That's no good to mo, I'll have to ar rest VOL 1 cant walt on that re- piled that l had my wife and children to go off on the train and did not have time to go before the Recorder. Jack son replied that that was not worth damn to him About this time he Jackson. pulled his gun and fired twice ana sIapepd his hand to one side and the bullet went through my left arm. After this I fired at Jackson and he fired at me again.
 One of the neatest pieces or police work which has been done in this city t, sonoe time was done by Chief Hen derson in the capture of Johnson. As Soon aa the chief heard the shooting he started on run for the scene of it and on arriving there found Johnson leaving in a run with pistol In his band He did his best to overtake Johnson on foot but soon found that | tha latter was too fleet for him and tbat he was going to lose him. so he returned toward the station and se- cured a saddle horse on which ne agai1 | took up the pursuit. He overlook ToHnson in the outskirts of the city and although the latter was endeavor- ing to escape with a pistol in his hand the chief rode boldly up to him and cnn,n3anded him to throw his hands up. which he very promptly did. After Q donbie-barreled derringer. the chief brought his prisoner to the city pris- | m where he later turned him over to | the Sheriff.
 The affair has cast great gloom over the city and there are many express sIons of sympathy for the aged grand n,othar of Policeman Jackson as well as for the wife and children of John- son.