The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-03-16
JEALOUSY CAUSE
oF.NEGRO MURDER
George Freeman Shoots and
Kills Essie Cobb.
Roth Natives of Metropolis and Essic
Cobb Separated Freeman ANA
His Wife.
POLICEMEN BATTLE WITH HIM

Jealousy caused George Freeman,
colored. to shoot and kill Essie Cobb
colored. in the restaurant in the rear
of Edward Reynolds saloon, Saturday
evening about Z o'clock. Both OF
them lived in Metropolis. but Free
man has been in the city some time
working for a doctor. The Cobb wo-
man, il is alleged, separated Freeman
and his wife. Saturday evening she
was sitting before the range in the
kitchen talking to another, when
Freeman stepped into the door.
Freeman was enraged and quickly
pulled his pistol and fired the five
shots without stopping. After empty
ing his gun he started on a run out
of the saloon. Many of the negroes
congregated about the saloon began
throwing bricks at the murderer, but
he was not struck.
Patrolmen Cross and johnson were
at the south end of the market house,
about a half square from the shoot
ing Patrolman Cross said the first
they knew of the trouble was when
they saw the crowd. and the bricks
flying. They started to the saloon to
duell What they thought a fight, when
Freeman, who is a big yellow negro,
ran between the patrolmen, They
thought he was a white man running
for safety, but in a few seconds some
one yelled to Cross and johnson to
catch that murderer. Freeman was
half way between Broadway and Ken
lucky avenue when the officers start
ed chase. but passing Broadway Pa
trolman Cross pulled his revolver and
shot into the air. This frightened the
and he darted in between
Friedman & Keiler's and a small
blacksmith shop Patrolman John.
son guarded one entrance and Pa.
trolman Cross went after the pris.
oner.
Freeman saw Johnson guarding
the exit and he turned to run when he
met Cross. He threw his gun" into
the patrOlman's face and said, 81 has
got you" Patrolman Cross quickly
knocked Freeman's hand up ant
threw" his big Colts revolver int,
the murderer's mouth. Every cham
Der of the negro's revolver had beef
emptied or Patrolman Cross Nigh
have been killed. Patrolman Crosi
secured good nip on Freeman
sleeve and he and Patrolman johnson
started for the city hall.
Freeman is large and strong an,
partially under the influence of liquor
he gave the patrolmen a fight all tn,
way to the hall. One time he lifted
Patrolman johnson off the ground
When nearly to the city hall Freeman
became desperate and lunged to es
cape. The patrolmen We're almost ex
hausted and quickly subdued hin
with their clubs. The remainder oil
the distance Freeman went in peace
The Woman Dies.
After the shooting Essie Cobb fell
to the floor and Patrolman Thad Ter.
rel carried her TO Riverside hospital
as quickly as possible. An examlna.
ton showed that but one bullet had
gone wild, and each of the four bull
lets would produce death. She 1fves
until O'Clock. One bullet entered
through the right breast, one above
the right hip, one went through the
liver, and another entered the back
Freeman used a 39-caliber liver.
johnson revolver.
Yesterday the body of the woman
was taken to Charlie Howell's under.
taking establishment and kept. Al
noon yesterday c. w. Emery, acting
coroner. took the jury and looked al
the body OF the woman and then gave
the Metropolis undertaken charge Of
the body.
Waived Examination. =
This morning in police court Free
man waived examination, and Judg
Cross held him TO the grand jur,
without bail Freeman was guardet
carefully lest he attempt to break 70
freedom. Freeman appeared uIeon
cerned about his fate, and did not no
tee the large crowd of spectators.
After court c. w. Emery, actin
coroner, held the inquest. Jane
Washington and Carrie Fletcher, bot
colored, were the only witnesses
Washington said Freeman entered tn
door to the kitchen while Essie Cob
was sitting before the range, an
without word began firing. At tn
third shot she fell to the floor an
murmured "You have shot me.
Freeman advanced a step or two an
fired two more shots into her body