The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-09-13
OF FICER KILLS NEGRO.

S$~ANOy OAlSCtAIol OnI1uII
Negro Fired First Shot-Jus-
tifiable Homicide Verdict of
Coroner's Jury Mean Whis-
key and Woman at the Bot
tom of Trouble.
AS result of a pistol duelSat-
urday night between Policeman
A. +. Currie and Neill Goodman
colored, Goodman died at the
Thompson Hospital yesterday at
noon. Mr.. Currie was not hurt
though he had a close call and
his escape was a miracle.
The shooting occurred about
lO:45 O'Clock. At first it was at
close quarters. Policeman Cur
RE, who had been told that the
negro was on the streets with a
negro woman, curSing, with a
pistol in his hand and threaten
ing to kill some white man, over
took the negro man and woman
on Water street, between Sd and
4th, on the sidewalk. When he
touched Goodman on the shoulder
and called him under arrest the
negro wheeled and began shoot
ing at once. The fact that he
was drunk was all, perhaps, that
saved Mr., Currie's life, for the
shots went wild. The negro shot
at least once, perhaps two or
three times testimony Of eye
witnesses is not clear on this
point before Mr.. Currie got his
gun out. The negro fired five
times, Mr.. Currie three. The
shots were in rapid succession.
AS the negro fired he backed
away and as he fired the last
shot he wheeled, the shot going
wide across the river. Mr.. Currie
fired his last shot at the same
time and that was the shot that
took effect, the ball entering
Goodman's back and lodging just
under the skin at the lower part
Of his abdomen. Goodman then
ran. Mr.. Currie went back up
town to reload his pistol and fol
lowed Immediately with Messrs.
Tom Pate and Dock Miles to ar
rest the negro. They found Good
man at his home in the negro SCI
Element near the railroad, and
when it was learned that he was
wounded, Mre Currie at once
summoned DR.. N. A. Thompson.
1t was not at first thought that
the wound was serious. Every
thing possible was done for his
relief, but death resulted yester-
day.
All this and more was in
evidence at the investigation
m a de by Coroner G. E.
Rancke yesterday afternoon.
Mean whiskey and a Wo-
man was at the bottom of the
trouble. Goodman overlook Eliza
beth Harrington, colored, near the
Jewish synagogue, on Water
street, and cursed her and swore
ne would kill her white friends.
Messrs. Tom Pate and Dock
Miles, who had been to the arte-
sian we'll, overheard Goodman S
remarks and notified Mr.. Currie
that the negro needed attention.
Elizabeth testified that Neill led
her by the hand down the street,
cursing, accusing her and
threatening to kill somebody;that
when Mr.. Curlie put his hand on
Nejll's shoulder he turned and
! fired, still holding her hand, anG
that she snatched her hand ava !
and ran. Others testified to
practically the sama as to the
shooting.
The coroner's jury was compos.
ed Of the following: A.W. Peace
l.. E. Whaley, S. A. Edmund
Frank Cough, W.P. Barker, J. A
McDougald. The body was
viewed near the court house, as
it was being taken from the hos
pital, and the evidence was takel
in Mayor Rowland's Office. The
investigation lasted two hour
and at the end Of that time the
jury returned u unanimous yer
dict Of Unsuitable homicide.
There were several men nea
by when the shooting occurred
and they wisely dropped and ef
faced themselves as nearly a
possible by hugging mother earth
, Even so it seems miraculous tina
no one else was hurt. The shot
were in rapid succession an
heard all over town. Policema
Currie pulled his gun only whe
! fired upon, and he. showed hin
: self cool and nervy. The verde
of the coroner's jury is unversa
2 ly approved, as all the evidenc
showed there was nothing #
the officer to do but protect hin
: self.
Goodman leaves a wife ar
two children. He was bricl
n layer, about 80 years old, consi
k cred a good workman whe
!. sober. Mean liquor was his u
: doing. The remains were inte
It red at Sandy Grove colored Ba
: fist church, near town, tn
o morning.
ii Mail Service on the V. & c.
IS Mail service will begin on t
G. Virginia & Carolina Southe
10 Railroad on the 9th inst. Pc
q ton was made for this servi
n. some time ago and Congressm
..a4-ao+ol l.,