The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-05
A. A. COLLINS KILLED
DARKROOM BRAwL IN MOBILE ENDS
 IN A TRAGEDY
Policeman Mike Connolly, While on Duty, Fires His Pistol and an Innocent Man is Found
 Dead

Mobile, May 4.-(Special.)- "A. A. Collins. proprietor of saloon at the corner of Conception and New Jersey Streets, was accidentally shot and in- stantly killed this morning shortly af- ter midnight by Police Officer Mike Connolly in a barroom In Oakdale. Fred Wasserlaben, another saloon pro- prietor, and the man whom Connolly was shooting at, when stray shot killed Collins, was slightly wounded in the leg..
 The men were in the barroom in Oakdale drinking and some words were passed between Connolly and Wasserlaben about woman, who was in the place. They decided to fight the matter out, and, going into the yard in the rear of the oar, they began fighting. Collins was a personal friend of both men, and he followed them into the yard in the act Of peacemaker. However, his pleas for the men to stop fighting availed noth : ing and the two men fought hard ana fast for several minutes, when Wasser- laben struck Connolly severe blow and knocked him into the ditch. As Connolly arose to his knees, he came up with his pistol and began firing, the first shot, 1t is supposed. striking Was serlaben in the leg and the second killing Collins, striking him just above the right eye and penetrating the brain.
 It was not known that Collins was shot until about two hours after the trouble, when everything had been quieted and Collins was missed A search was instituted after Wasser- laben had stated that Collins followed them into the yard to try to stop the fight, and he was found lying on his back with a bullet wound in the fore- head.
 The police station was immediately notified, and the patrol wagon, with a squad of men, went to the scene. Con- nelly had left the scene of the trouble when the police arrived. and while the officers were searching the city for him he called the station up over telephone and stated that he had heard that he had killed Alex Collins. He was told he had and was wanted by the authorf- ties. whereupon he immediately sur rendered to police headquarters.
 Officer Connolly was off duty at the time of the trouble, reporting sick for duty last night. He refused to talk when seen in his cell.
 The case will be tried in the Interior Criminal Court next Tuesday morning.
 On account of a rumor which was current on the streets this morning to the effect that Collins was killed by a party other than Connolly. Coroner Hirschfield decided to hold an autopsy over the body this afternoon. This. with the assistance of Ambulance Stew ard Jack Dair. he did.
 A section of the skull at the back of the head was removed and the bullet found where 1t had hattened itself against the inside of the skull at the base of the brain on the right side The bullet was evidently from a 3S-calfbre revolver, the size of the pistol used by Officer Connolly in the fight. From the appearance of the head 1t was evident that the bullet left the revolver at level below that of the head. This cor roborates the statement of those wit nesses who said that Connolley was lying on the sidewalk when he fired the two shots.
 The body of the dead man was sent to the home of his parents at Oak dale this afternoon. The funeral will be held from the family residence Sun day afternoon.