Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-16
Mirlia Booker, Dodges a Rock and
Starts Shooting on Gen.
eral Principles.
CoL0RED BOY BADLY HURT
VIII Smith Shot Through the Abdo-
men on Commercial Street This
Morning Probably VIII Die.

a serious shooting ARRAY tnat WILL IN
all probability result fatally. oc-
CURED shortly after A clock this morn
Ing on Commercial street in front OF
the Alamo saloon.
Will Smith, colored, aged about 20
years, and residing at AZ Edison street,
or Franklin avenue. was shot through
the abdomen by Mirlia Booker, aged
25. white man and cook by trade.
Smith is now ut the Holy Cross hos
pital in a most precarous condition,
and there is little or no hope held out
for his recovery. Booker is locked
in the city Jail and with him is a man
named Austin Caylor who is beine
held as a witness. Booker did not deny
that he did the shooting. and, in fact
gloated over it, In jail this morning
he expressed joy that he had shot tine
colored man and declared he would like
to clean out the town OF Those ------
niggers."
Booker was arrested by Sergeant
Johnston and Officers Gulbransen, Cur
ran and Clough Immediately after the
shooting. Smith was taken To the emcr-
gency hospital, where a physician tenn
porarily dressed the wound and then
the young man was removed 10 tile
Holy Cross hospital.
BOYS START TROUBLE.
The police found II difficult to get
nj the real facts concerning the shoot
ing 1t appears that a young mes
senger boy named Sheppard had mac
some trouble with some one on the no
torious street, and he was slapped in
the face. Enraged at the blow he
seized -ock and hurled it at Austin
Caylor. The rock struck the latter 1t,
the head. Booker then drew a pistol
and fired, the bullet striking young
Smith, who fell to the ground mortally
wounded. Booker used an old time
Remington g. Sons cap and bah pistol
Several conflicting statements We've
made.
OFFICERS ESCAPE
According to the police Smith was
talking to Sergeant Johnston and Oni-
Ger Gulbransen when the shot was fired,
and Johnston narrowly escaped being
shot. Just prior to the shooting Their.
| had been some trouble between a crowo
! of men and messenger boys on the
| street,
BoCKER's STORY.
| in Jail this morning, Booker stated
that the negro addressed him and his
companion and used vile language to-
ward them and then made threat
Booker said he started toward Smith
and that the latter made q motion as
If to draw gun, Booker then pulled
his weapon and fired
Booker said that when the colored
man spoke to them he said:
You you had better hike
Then, according to the prisoner. Smith
made motion as IL to draw a weapon
and Booker fired at him. This oc-
Cured after the rock throwing episode
Bocker's statement Is corroborated by
Caylor.
THOUGHT TT WAS FOR HIM.
Smith stated that when the rock was
thrown Booker evidently thought he
had hurled It and Immediately drew
the pistol and shot.
The bullet struck Smith In the abdo-
men on the left side and came out the
back near the spine. Immediately fol-
lowing the shooting Booker walked
over TO the officers, handed them his
pistol and surrendered. The man came
here about 20 days ago from Texas. He
is cook by trade and worked at the
Alamo for a short time. He Is married
and his wife resides in this city A.
cordlng to the police the man is any
thing but a desirable citizen.
WITHOUT PRoYoCArIoN.
Young Smith has been at times en-
ployed as messenger At the emery e
ency hospital Smith stated that The
shooting was entirely without provoca.
tion and denied making any threats 10
ward Booker or the latter's companion
Caylor The latter will be held In ian
as witness and complaint will be
filed against Booker just as soon as It
10 determined the extent OF Smiths in
Juries.
At last accounts Smith was resting
as easily as could be expected but tho
wound is a most dangerous one and
the man WIN In All nrnhnhilItv die