The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-02-27
J, M. Robinson Shoots Jim
Brown, Who Was Awaiting
Preliminary Hearing
AT Tackled HIS DAUGHTER
MORE THAN A WEEK AGO
Robinson Is Brought to County Jail.
Declines TO Make Statement Other
Than That He Has No
Regrets Over Killing.
BY ]. B. HOUSTON.


Bessemer, February 26.-(Special.) -This
morning at Il o'clock the city was thrown
into excitement by the rapid firing of
a pistol in Rebie hall and when the crowd
rushed upstairs it was found that j.
NJ. Robinson. whose daughter was at
tackled on Monday, February 10, near the
pipe works. by a negro, Jim Brown, had
shot and killed Brown as he was sitting
in Deputy Sheriff George w. Jones' office
handcuffed to another negro, and waiting
for his trial to take place.
The officers and others who were in
the office state that Robinson came into
the office and asked Officer Jones when
the trial would take place and that Mr..
Jones stated as soon as the justice could
get to the court room. AS Robinson
turned he caught sight of Brown sitting
in chair and he quickly drew his pistol,
a SO special and began firing -Four shots
were fired, three before the bystanders
could get hold Of Robinson and one while
they were trying to take the pistol from
his hand Brown and his companion, the
negro handcuffed to him, were lying in
the corner. Brown died with a bullet
through his heart and an arm broken.
having been dragged into the corner by
the man at his side.
Robinson was taken into the clerks
office, where he was later Joined by his
daughter, Miss bessie Robinson, who had
been waiting for more than than an hour
for court to convene so she could testify
in the case. After a short talk with her
father Miss Robinson returned to her
home near the pipe works, while Inc
father consulted with his attorneys,
Thomas T. Huey and Pinkney Scott. and
at n ha rob
Birmingham jail by Deputy Sheriff
George W. Jones, on a warrant sworn
out before Judge William jackson charg-
ing murder.
The story of the causes leading up to
the killing is as follows:
At nearly the noon hour on Monday,
February 10, Miss Bessie Robinson, who
is her fathers housekeeper, was prepar-
ing dinner in the kitchen when all at
once burly negro grabbed her by the
throat and struck at ner with a broom
handle. Miss Robinson screamed for her
father and he came running from the
store, and thinking that the negro was
only thief he knocked him down with
a shovel and dragged him out of doors
Officers We're telephoned for and in a
short time Deputy George Jones was on
the ground and took charge of the negro,
who proved TO be Jim Brown. After the
officer had hurried away with the negro
the father found that the negro had laid
violent hands on his daughter, who had
been so wrought up that she had not told
of the attack. Robinson at once came
to Bessemer on a car but the officers
had gone to Birmingham with Brown
Not until this morning had the father
seen the negro and it is believed that
when he saw him he became so infuriated
that he drew his gun and killed him. The
coroner will investigate the killing Satur-
day morning.
Robinson lived in Talladega for a long
number of years prior to his removal TO
Bessemer. He was a deputy sheriff there
Tor several years. During his residence
there he was thrice tried for murder and
thrice acquitted. One time was for the
killing Of a white man and the other two
grew out of the killing of negroes.
Sheriff w. r. Middleton of Talladega
county was in Birmingham yesterday and
called at Sheriff Higdon's office shortly
after Robnson's removal to the county
jail. He and Robinson are old friends
and as soon as he learned of the Iatter's
trouble he went to the Jail to see him.
In talking of Robinson he referred to
him as man without fear, and the only
surprise he expressed at his killing the
negro was that he had not done so prior
to yesterday.
AT the Jail Robinson stated that he did
not wish to make any statement bevond
the fact that he had no regrets for his ac-
ton.