Smyrna times., 1908-07-15
NEGRO FUGITIVE ESCAPES IN
CORN FIELD AND IS SHOT
COLUMBUS JACKSON A MIDDLE
TOWN NEGRO MEETS DEATH
Was Wanted For Violating Local Option
Law, But Breaks Away From Officer
-Coroners Jury Finds Verdict

/
-Coroners Jury Finds Verdict
Christopher Columbus jackson.
colOred, aged 27 years, was shot and
killed Sunday by a member of a
posse of citizens near Clayton. He
had been placed under arrest by
Detective Hawkins on a railroad
train charged with keeping a speak
easy. When the train reached Claw
ton he broke away from his captor
and started to run. Constable Boyer,
OF Clayton, and number of citizens
gave chase. When Jackson ran into
Cantwell's cOrnfeld several shots
were fired, one of which struck him
in the back. He died about an hour
afterward. 1t is not known who
fired the shot. Jackson had been
arrested on the charge of being a
walking speak-easy and for running a
crap game at Duck Creek bridge.
State Detective James L. Hawkins
having made the arrest. There had
been much complaint regarding the
gambling and the illicit sales of lio
uor in and around Clayton and SMYRNA
and the responsibility for both are
said to have been fastened upon Jack
son, and he was arrested on a Della
ware railroad train shortly after
leaving Middletown.
Jumped from Train to a Cornfield
Just as the train was entering
Clayton station the nego jumped and
ran out the rear end of the train.
The officers command to halt was
unheeded. Soon a crowd of Young
men who were standing around the
station Joined in the chase, and two
OF them caught the negro on the
farm of R. E. Cantwel, a short
distance outside of Clayton. He
fought them off and disappeared in
a cornfield on the farm, being hidden
from view by the standing corn.
At this juno ture it is said that the
crowd began firing bullets into the
corntield in the hope of wounding
him, with fatal result. Jackson
was picked up by Constable Boyer,
who had followed in carriage, and
was brought to Clayton, where he
died within an hour after arriving
there. DR.. Charles G. Harmonson
was called in by Detective Hawkins,
but cOud do nothing to aid him.
The body was turned over to Deputy
Coroner w. A. FAIRIES to await an
inquest. DR.. Harmonson reformed
a post mOrtem examination upon the
body, and found that the bullet had
entered the right side of the back,
penetrated the intestines and dropped
down into the stomach, causing
internal hemOrrhages. Jackson,
when captured, had several boxes.
and these we're found to contain a
quantity of liquor and several glasses.
1t is alleged that he had been selling
liquor and running the gambling
games near Clayton for the past
five Sundays.
Much Feeling Over The Shooting
The killing of Columbus jackson
supposedly by mob of men has
aroused the office of the attorney
general, and thorough investiga-
tiOn is being made into the mans
death. Much feeling has been
stirred up in this vicinity. The
State Detectives have been ordered
to find out who fired the fatal shot
and to arrest the person, but they
are unable to place the blame. The
strange part of the affair is that the
members of the mob who are alleged
to have done the shooting fled in all
directions Immediately after the
negro, was shot. 1t was reported
that none of the crowd was known
either to the authorities of Clayton
or the people who live there. The
investigation now on foot, however,
will, it is believed, determine who !
was responsible for the mans death. |
1t is pointed out that the shooting of !
jackson is nothing less than murder.
He was not wanted as a criminal and |
had been arrested simply as a suspect |
in the liquor selling cases. The
fact that he ran away was not !
sufficient to warrant his being shot !
at the hands of the mob. and the |
State authorities are trying to
discover who fired the bullet that !
ended the mans life.
Cornors Jury Investigate Case
Deputy Curoner William A. FAIRIES
called an inquest last evening at six
O'Clock at his undertaking establish
ment. A jury of twenty-four was
empanneled with George H. Dick as
forman and Walter w. Hynson as
mn