The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-10-17
PRELIMINARY TRIAL
IS SET FOR FRIDAY
Officers Attempting to Arrest Two Ne
groes on Suspicion, Kills One of
Them-The Other One is Caught and
Lodged in Jail.

A negro giving his name as Sylves-
tor Taylor was shot and fatally wound
ed by Constable Morris Riley, about
four miles South of Hattiesburg, on
Saturday night at about 1880 o'clock
Taylor was shot in the back, the bull
let passing almost entirely through
the body. He was taken to a local
hospital, where he died a few hours
later.
| According to statements made this
morning by Deputy Sheriff D. G. Nc
Gilvray and Constable Riley, early
Saturday evening some parties living
in the vicinity of Irene Chapel called
Deputy McGilvray over the telephone,
informing him that two suspicious ne
groes were loiteding about the neigh
borhood, and that they were believed
to be the parties who robbed the Car
ter store at McCallum, recently. The
officer was requested to come imme-
diately and arrest the negroes.
Deputy McGilvray and Constable
Riley left Immediately for the resi-
dence of Mr.. S. w. Barksdale, from
whom the telephone message came
and upon arriving at Mr.. Barksdales
house were informed that the negroes
were somewhere in the neighborhood.
A search was instituted, Mr.. Barks-
dale accompanying the officers, and
presently the negroes were located on
the gallery of a negro cabin near by
The Officers Statement.
According to the officers statement,
Deputy McGilvray approached the ne
groes from the front of the house,
while Riley and Mr.. Barksdale came
up from the rear. Mr.. McGilvray told
the negroes to sit still, that every
thing was all right. About this time,
after Mr.. McGilvray had gone upon
the gallery and stationed himself by
the door leading into the front of the
house, one of the negroes made rush
as if to pass by the officer and go in
side the house. AS he did this Mr..
McGilvray drew his weapon, and the
negro grabbed the officers arm, and
at the same time showed him back
ward against the door facing. Hear
ing the scuffle, Constable Riley and
Mr.. Barksdale came upon the scene,
and as Mr.. Riley came upon the gal
lery, the second negro made rush as
if to assist the man who was strug-
Cling with Deputy McGilvray. Believ-
ing the man intended to murder the
officer, Mr. Riley drew his revolver
and fired one shot, McGilyray and the
negro both falling to the floor. The
second negro ran around the house,
and was captured by Mr.. Barksdale
as he was attempting to leave the
premises.
According to a statement said to
have been made by the wounded ne
gro to Deputy McGilvray, he had never
been in Forrest county before, but a
number of Hattiesburg negroes who
saw the man after he was shot, say
he worked with the Graham Construc-
ton Company in Hattiesburg about
three years ago.
The other negro, who gives his
name as Robert Williams, is now con
fined in the Forrest county jail, and
the officers have been advised that
the men answer the description OF
the negroes who recently killed q
, deputy sheriff at Bay Minette. This
information may be true or it may be
false. ts
:. This morning an affidavit charging
!. Constable Riley with murder was
!. sworn to by Deputy Sheriff McGilvray
f as is customary in such cases. Mr.
Riley was released on $1,000 bond, t
I appear before Justice Bolton on Fri
day morning for pre,in,jnary xria,