The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-09-30
BEARD IS MUCH BETTER
THERE is LITTLE DOUBT NOW
THAT WOUNDED SHERIFF
WILL GET WE'LL.
Father of the Bus Boys Pays 5000
to Deputy Sheriff Murphey, Who
Killed George Thomas. Full
"Details of the Shooting.

Details OF the SnOOClng.
A message from FIT. Gaines to The
lawson News states that Sheriff w.
W Beard. who was so desperately
wounded week ago while attempt
ing 10 effect the capture of George
Thomas. the negro who killed Her
bert and Henry Bus and left their
bodies in the public road, was resting
we'll, and that with careful nursing
there is now little doubt that he will
get well. His condition, it is said,
is very satisfactory to his physicians
and friends.
Mr.. John Bus, the father of Henry
and Herbert Bus, has paid the re-
ward of 5000 he offered for the cap
ure of Thomas to Deputy Sheriff
Murphy of Clay county. Mr.. Muir
ply overlook and captured Thomas
after he had wounded Sheriff Beard,
and it is said that he fired the shot
which resulted in the Negroes death.
Mr. Murphy came up to Shellman
and received the money.
Details of the Shooting.
The following is an accurate and
interesting account of the shooting
of Sheriff Beard and the killing of
Thomas from the current issue of the
Ft. Gaines Sentinel.
On Monday morning a negro from
the turpentine still of J. c. Hatta
way, in the upper part of the county,
brought another negro to the city
to take the boat down the river.
Having reason to believe that his
passenger was George Thomas, the
negro wanted in Randolph county for
the murder of the Bus brothers,
the negro from the still, after having
carried the strange negro to the
wharf, at once reported his suspi-
cions to Sheriff Beard. The sheriff
went at once to the river, and in
order to avert suspicion walked in
an unconcerned way to the foot of
the stairway leading to the wharf.
4 But 1t seems the negro knew Beard,
and was on the lookout for him. AS
soon as the sheriff reached the foot
OF the stairway the negro rose from
a place of concealment, about five
4 leet away, and opened fire. At the
n nrSt shot the sheriff fell, being
Snot IN his left arm and lung; an
8 oIner shot, after he was down, en-
q Tered the abdomen. The sheriff emp
CleS MS pistol at the negro, but with
"nat result he could not tell. The
negro ran up the stairway a short
Instance and then turned down be-
'|een the river warehouse and the
wharf, turning in the rear Of the
Sarenouse UP the steep bluff to the
Ola tort, and thence across the.
Ofanch at New Park cemetery, and
vi 10 the little branch at the back
n u Judge Foote'S cow lot. He was
@epI IN sight after he reached the
olq Tort by Jesse Wade, the faithful
Loiored servant of the sheriff, who
81 liver.
deputy Sheriff Murphy, who was
lne JAIL when he heard that the
ueIIu mad been shot, and what di-
jouou the negro had taken, armed
) III u,,nSef at once and went in pursuit.
nv came upon the fugitive in the
gar OF Judge Foote'S lot and or
u u. him to hold up his hands,
suen lne negro turned and opened
,e IN MIN, the second shot passing
s a5oush the deputy's vest on his left
s se, AS IS stated above, this duel
1 ntoeQ until the negro staggered on
NV yue edge of the branch and fell
Nv 10y lying condition. The posse had
bo , s,S Time reached the scene, and
on T' o'lng negro was disarmed, placed
own anu drought up lhIo
on At At a aT it was decided to take him
ba W Us oneIIman for identification, and
load "%soh was driven on to the rail-
reao a 51epot, where the negro soon
bacL '4 70 breathe. He was brought
bio NO W town and some colored peo-
no P n,sLd him for burial, he hav-
lefrauro ney enough on his person to
bnnos al expenses. The body was
yerge[5u 10 Shellman, and there de-