The news & observer., 1905-11-04
Christmas, HaIf-Crazed,
Rushed for a Doctor.
BUT NONE COULD SAVE
Wilson Died Soon After, But Ere the
Last He Made a Statement Show
ing That the DepIorabIe Affair
Was an Accident, and Exon
Grating His Friend.
Especial to News and observer)

Durham, N. c., Nov. 3.v-W. j.
Wilson, assistant ticket agent and
night man at the union depot lies
dead at the Watts hospital as the re-
suit of not knowing a pistol was load
ed. He was shot to death by his
friend, Robert Christmas.
The fatal affair occurred at the
union depot station, in the waiting
room, this morning at 11:25 O'CLOCK.
The wounded man fingered until 2:05
this afternoon and died in the Watts
hospital where he was carried sooli
after the wound was received. For
more than an hour he was uncon-
SciouS.
1t seems that Wilson had a pistol
that he wanted to get rid of and WAS
in the act of selling to Christmas
when he was shot. The two young
men talked about the pistof UP the
street and then walked to the union
ticket office to get it. In less thau
five minutes after they entered the
station the shooting occurred. and ii
was soon known that Wilson was
badly wounded. Christmas rushed ouC
of the station to get doctor, an
Wilson went to a seat and waited
for him. He was attended during
this time by Ben, the colored man,
VIM was lhe olly NltllcSs~ ~ titV
! tragedy. ~~~-
Before leaving the depot Wilson
having been advised of his condition
made a sworn statement to Mayor
| Graham. completely generating his
friend who did the shooting.
Dying Mans Statement.
The story was told in broken seu-
| tences, Wilson being in great misery
and so weak when it was completed
that instead Of signing the statement
he made mark. Here is his state
nam and CHER of Police j. A. Wood
all, the oath being administered By
| the mayor and signature Witnessed
| by both:
1T was all an accident. Robert
Christmas had the pistol; l was fix
ing to sell him the plstof. / was stand
/ ing in front of him. He did not
know it was'o)sU rdll dddl liliq qyqy
pulled the trigger. l was about TWO
! feet in front OF him. Christmas and
never had a cross word in our lives.
No scuffle of any kind. l did not
have hold of him; he did not have hold
of me. He had said. Just before
| | said 'Oh, Lord, / am shot
lie said: Lord have mercy.
[ did not go to do it. l Will
! run for a DOCTOR l did not fall.
| was hit in the stomach, on teft side,
| in lower border of ribs. | was facing
directly towards Christmas at the
time of the shooting and he was fac
| ing directly to me- | know nothing
else about how it occurred. / had
| known Christmas a year and half.
| Had always been friends and were 1T
| the time | am twenty-one years olG.
Have been in Durham Two years the
9th of last April
His Life SkctChed.
The dead man was the son of Jno.
B Wilson, of Garner. His father is
living, but his mother is dead. He has
one brother, who lives in Raleigh
and it is understood that he is now
seriously i'll with typhoid fever. He
has one small sister. The family
| lives about one mile from Garner. Mr..
Wilson came here about two years
ago and for sometime was in the
office of the Southern road in this
city Several months ago he received
| the appointment as assistant in the
union ticket office and since that time
| has been assistant ticket man and
looked after the night business.
Mr. Wilson was we'll known among
our people and had large number
of friends. By his polite and courte-
Gus manners he made friends of all
and held them. His sad death has
cast a shadow over the entire COM
nunity
! Arrangements for the funeral have
not been made at yet. His father
reached here on the afternoon train
and will complete all arrangements
| for the funeral. 1t is supposed that
the body will be taken to Garner for
/ bUri2l