The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-02
NEGRO TRIES TO
SHOOT CONDUCTOR
Chicken Thief Fights Hard for
His Plumber
WET CARTRIDGE FAILED
With a Shotgun and a Sack of Stolen
Birds, Negro Tries to Hold UP
an EnsIey Car for
Ride.
WET CARTRIDGE FAILED

wet cartridge, in the cheap gun OF
negro chicken thief, was the only thins
that saved the life of Conductor l.. l.
Camp on the North Ensley car last night.
The conductor, in defending himself,
mot the negro, but inflicted only flesh
wound.
The story, as told by the police, was 10
the effect that Andrew Perkins had peeh
out since dusk prowling around with
sack in one hand and a shotgun IN the
other, looking for fat specimens OF thas
toothsome bird which a negro can swal-
low whole, and then ask for more
A negro who Is chicken hungry is
dangerous individual. He has the ploou
in his veins and will shoot any and every
thing between him and platter OF
chicken, corn bread and gravy Andrew,
after stalking around through the rain,
craning his head up in this tree. applying
his eye to that hen house crack, and
finally coming upon the object OF his de-
sire perched on a coal house, evidently
smacked his lips with satisfaction, opened
his sack and dropped them, one by one,
into its roomy depths.
The Hen Squawked.
One unlucky fowl must have given
sauawk. Andrews eyes rolled as he
reached within, and pulled the red
combed head off, and the hen squawked
no more. So with confidence treasured,
the bold thief was once more in the
street with his bag of chickens upon his
shoulder With shotgun in one hand he
vowed upon a solemn chicken leg tina.
nothing should come between him ana
that co vorv dish of sweet meat.
So great was his hurry to see the
steam rising from the broiler that he
took street car home. Now Andrew
did not have any money, but he had
gun.
Fought for Birds.
Conductor Camp entered the colored
apartment and demanded his fare. An
drew shuffed his feet and said nothing.
The conductor insisted, whereupon An
drew shifted his old shotgun across his
knees. Well he would have to get off.
No, indeed, the old faithful was quickly
at his shoulder. 1t was pointed at the
conductors heart. Andrew pulled the
trigger The gun did not go off.
Poor Andrew had forgotten that those
hours in the rain had moistened the
powder in his shell. Casting an eager
eye down at the sack, he threw 1t over
his shoulder, and made break toward
his opponent.
By this time Mr.. Camp had his pistol
in his hand, and fired just in time. An
drew fell to the floor with bullets
path traversng his side, just under the
heart but CHANGING off on the ribs 1t
seemed as If all hopes of his meal were
gone.
Motorman Cox and all the passengers
rushed forward, and after considerable
confusion, order was restored. The shoot
ing occurred at $50 o'clock. When the
car arrived on Second avenue and Twen-
tieth street the prisoner was turned over
to Policemen Parker and Nation, as well
as his gun and bag of chickens.
At the warden's office his wounds were
dressed, and prpnounced not serious. A
charge of grand larceny and assault
with a weapon were docketed against
him. In the sack were found five fat
birds, one of them with it's neck off, the
victim of it's own squawk.
They will be held until identified by
the owner.
On it's arrival in the jail. one of the
finest looking hens celebrated the occa-
sion by laying large egg. which. by
common consent will be fried and given
to poor Andrew Perkins. that he may be
counforted in his troubles