The Semi-weekly leader., 1908-08-19
NEGRO Killed by Policeman Davis.

uCStV NtAteu w tVttNGtA0M w0vns
Between / and 2 o'clock yester-
day Policeman J B. Davis, of this
city, shot and mortally wounded 3
negro giving his name as Henry
Jones, whom he had gone to arrest
on the siding just north Of the |.
g. depot.
Davis, accompanied by Constable
Jesse Smith, approached Jones, who
had been pointed out to him as the
man wanted, and placing his hand
on his shoulder, before he spoke,
told him to consider himslf under
arrest. A few other negroes were
present and an engine and some box
cars were standing on the siding.
The negro apparently yielded with
out any intention of resisting, but
Policeman Davis, knowing he
would have to pass a good many
people before getting the negro tc
Jail, thought he would take extra
precaution against his giving
trouble by placing the nippers on
his wrists. When he pulled these
out of his pocket he accidentally
let them fall, and, as he was in the
act of STOPPING to pick them up OF
to have Constable Smith to do so,
Jones, who was six-footer and a
giant physically, struck him stun
ming blow with his fist and broke
for liberty. Recovering his bal
ance from the blow, Policeman
Davis, quickly drew his As revolver
and fired one shot at the retreating
form of the negro, just as he was
about to disappear around car.
The aim was true and the bullet
entered the upper part of Jones
back and came out in front, just tc
the right of the neck. When the
officer overlook him, he made mo-
tion as if to draw a weapon out OF
his pocket, but the policeman was
too quick for him, and throwing
his pistol in his face, told him to
throw up his hands, which he re-
luctantly did, the blood meantime
having commenced to stream from
his mortal wound in front and rear.
He was conducted by the officers
as promptly as possible to the office
of Drs. Parsons & Collins, leaving
bloody tracks as he went, and in
spite of all efforts to stanch the
blood, died in about an hour.
Jones is comparative stranger
here, even among the negroes.
Some of them say he has been en-
ployed on the Mississippi Central
Railroad and came here from Hat
tiesburg. He was charged with
being one of the negroes who broke
open and robbed freight car here
several months ago.
He was of a dark ginger cake
color, about 25 or 80 years old,
about six feet tall, very muscular
and weighed 100 or 200 pounds.
He remained conscious up to with
in a few minutes before he expir-
ed. He was told frankly by the
doctors and a reporter of The Lead
er that he could not live but lit
tie while, but refused to tell where
he came from or anything whatever
about his past, and said he had nc
message to leave for anyone. The
only scraps of information that
could be extorted from him was
that his name was Henry Jones and
that he had wife named Ola,
whom he claimed was sick, but
whose whereabouts he refused to
disclose.
1t has been learned since from
other negroes that this woman,
formerly his wife, but from whom
he was separated, lives in the
northern suburbs of this city, and
that Jones came originally from
Baxter, Ark, where his parents are
said to live. The same negro au-
thority states that his fathers
name is Madison Monroe, but could
give no explanation of this negro
having changed his surname from
Montroe to Jones. 1t is believed
he was a fugitive from justice
somewhere else, and that this made
him dread arrest and refuse to give
any account of himself.
After he was dead DIR. Parsons
found a double-barreled 41-calibre
derringer in one of the pockets OF
the blue Jumper" he had on, with
one cartridge in it. 1t was doubt
less this for which he was reaching
when the policeman threw his pis-
tol on him the second time, and
Policeman Davis may well congrat-
ulate himself that he did not use it
on him to start with when he
struck him with his fist.
After his death the officers had a
photograph taken of him by Girod
for future Identification, if needed.
Davis, who was the leading can
didate for Marshal in Mondays pri-
mary, is being upheld on all sides
for the unexpected killing, and was
not arrested, but put under bond
and at a preliminary trial before
Justice ]. B. Daughtry this morn
ing he was discharged.
For Rent A six-room dwelling
within one block of the depot. Ap-
,,1rr a. w NJ l.n,nr.l.