Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-25
Graphic Account Given
By An Eve Witness

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. March 24-On9
OF the members OF the crew Of the train
on which Porter Williams and Conductor
wellman were murdered in cold blood
last night gave a graphic story of the
tragedy.
we left Washington at O'Clock. 3"
said the member of the crew. but moth
ing peculiar I'm the actions of Bethea was
observed until the train pulled out Of
Baltimore We had scarcely reached the
outskirts OF the city when Bethea, who
was occupying a chair in the parlOr car.
threatened to chastise williams. because
of no apparent reason. other than he
took exception to the porter being q
negro
a short time later the porter again
had occasion 70 pass through the car.
He was busy opening a veutilatOr. when
Bethea arose and lunged toward him. The
porter hurrIedIy left the car and re-
ported the matter To Conductor WeIlman.
The latter told Williams 10 remain out
Of the car unless IL was absolutely neces-
sary for him IN enter. Bethea in the
meantime had taken a seat in a coach.
when the train was between Havre
de Grace and Newark. the porter started
through the coach. not noticing Bethes
The latter was apparently doing in his
seat. but just as the cOlored man passed
him he rose and said: You d negro:
III SN00N YOU NNA OF NuAe>-
KILLING COLD FLOODED.
Williams was less than four feet from
the enraEed man and as Bethea spoke
Williams turned half around i'm evident
surprise. As he did so Bethea fired n
bullet into the porter's heart Williams
fell back into n seat. and as Conductor
wellman approached the murderer
Bethea fired again. This last shot went
through Williams thigh and buried it
Ev, q - ga -
car BY this time pandemonium reigned.
There were about % persons in the car
and they made a mad rush for both
doors. Conductor Wellman apparently did
not know that Williams had been fatally
shot, as the negro was sitting upright
in the seat. As Williams spoke 10
Bethea the latter turned. lived with rage.
and placing his revolver almost against
the conductors chest. fired. Wellman
dropped without moving an inch and
Bethea- fourishing his revolver. backed
toward the toilet room. entered and
closed the door. In the meantime the
train had reached Newark Del. No stop
was made. but message was thrown OF
asking the railroad officials at Whining
ton. u miles distant. 70 have policemen
IN hand to arrest Bethea- None Of US
knew At this time that either Williams
or Conductor wellman was dead. Before
the train reached Wilmington the door
was barred from the outside and a hasty
examination 81 both men showed that
life was extinct
so bitter was the feeling against the
desperate man among the passengers
that he would have been torn limb from
limb had they been able to gain admit
lance TO the toilet
When Wilmington was reached a
score OF policemen and citizens were
waiting on the station platform. The
top OF Bethea's head could be seen
above the window blind as he was
standing in the toilet Captain Kane, Of
the Wilmington police force, was the
first man TO step on our train He was
followed by half dozen other police
men. As they approached the toilet
room Bethea threatened tn murder the
whole bunch n they attempted to enter
the room Tho officers withdrew from
the car and held n consultation. Their
conference was interrupted by several
shots from the toilet window Rethea
then drew back as the policemen return
cd the fire.
CONTINUED To BLAZE AWAY.
AT this juucture a fire apparatus sp-
reared and a stream was turned In the
broken window. Bethea kept on firing.
hus Ne had ali secured convenient posts
aud waited developments. In few min
utes Bsthea stagKersd from his arsenal