The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-08
CARRIED PAST STATION
 AND GOT INTO QUARREL
Says When Conductor Cursed Him He Hit Him Whereupon the COnduc-
 tor Opened Fire-Excite-
 ment on Highlands

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 As the result of an altercation witt t street car conductor on the High land avenue line, Larry Smith, one oi Brminghams most popular young men lies at the Robinson infirmary witt one bullet hole in his head, and one in his thigh. and very little hope fol recovery.
 Two wounds above the eyes, at frsi thought to be bullet holes, were later found to have been caused by his fall' ing against the pavement
 His red blood is smeared over the lbitulithic pavement at Arlington ave- nue. his wife and family in tears almost overcome with grief, and the street car conductor. H. B. Hudson, Is locked in the city jail.
 Within a half block of his home 2163 Highland avenue, where his wifa was waiting the porch for him young Smith fell before the leaden bull lets of Colts automatic He had nc time to get his gun, .32 Smith | Wesson, which was found untouched in his pocket
 ! Within a few moments after the shooting, which occurred exactly at 7:15 o'clock, all Highland avenue was agog, and until late at iight the peo- ple of the neigh borbood gathered at the corner, and on the porch of MT Smiths home, discussing the unfortu- nate shooting.
 Dispute With Conductor
 Briefly. the facs seem to be these Smith attempted to leave the High land avenue car at Enslen station. The conductor either thought he had sig naled too late or did not care to l stop, for he refused to ring the car down. Smith became angry and ex- pressed himself strongly. When the car stopped at Arlington Smith invited the conductor off the car; words passed Smith struck him in the face. and tiud- son emptied his revolver in smith face.
 "He called me vile name. l hi' him. Then he shot me- was MT Smiths explanation when seen for q moment at the hospital. corner oi Eleventh avenue and Fifteenth street Just before going under the hands oi the physicians, after his head had been shaved around the wounds, he was perfectly conscious. though his eyes | were bloodshot.
 q did not pull out my gun until l got off the car.'' said Hudson at the city jail. He hit me. and tried 10 XIII me- I shot him first
 Russell an Eyewitness
 James E. Russell was the closest eye | witness and states that in his opinion the l shooting was unwarranted. MT. Russell was the only other man on the platform | as he expected to get off at Arlington. lccording to his statement, MT. Sml'n signaled from the center of the car and inc conductor did not ring his bell, al- though there was plenty of time to stop at Enslen.
 The shooting occurred immediately after the car stopped. MT. Russell was the | first person to reach the wounded man. He was soon joined by Sam Earle, Henry Going who lives in the neighborhood' Dr. Courtney w. Shropshire and pr. k. S. Casey. Others assisted in carrying Mir. Smith to his home where he was taken to his room on the second 1'oor' hut upon the arrival of Greens ambu- lance was hurried to the Robinson in firmary.
 He had the careful attention of phy- sacians from the first There were, three wounds in the head, one in the left tenn tle. two over the right eye, one on the bridge of the nose, and the other went entirely through his right thigh. He was conscious until the time of the oneration. about o'clock. When his ,nother-in-law, Mrs. Charles s. Sibley, leaned over and asked How did lit happen he replied, I'm sorry. l couldn't help it."
 statement to Brother
 To his brother, Frank w. Smith, well known as an attorney he said: 'I balled i'm out for carrying me by He called me vile name. I hit him. Then he shot me five times"
 The indifferent attitude of the motor man was the cause of no little comment. He is said to have appeared unconcerned, boarded hit car and sala: Come on, let s so to town" A negro butler shouted to stop him. and a number of prominent cit ixens, including MT. Russell, MT. Going and others stopped and held him until the partol wagon arrived. There was general anger expressed. Had the in- c!dent occurred In less orderly neigh norhood, Hudson might have been in some danger.
 Family Is Prominent
 Larry Smith Is we'll known as the sor of T. S. Smith, brother of Frank w. Alph, Jack and Miss Grace Smith.
 His wife was Miss Edna Sbley, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles s. Sibley with whom they lived at 2163 Highland avenue.
 He is the manager of the Smith Motor company Twenty-first street and Avenue ID. which handles the Knox car.
 Unfortunately, just three weeks ago the victim underwent an operation for ap- pendecitis, and his vitality is very much lower than usual. Ordinarily he has 8 very strong constitution.
 Dr. Cunningham Wilson, Dr. R. B Hardness, Dr. w. w. Long and Dr. E. M Robinson were the physicians attending They were unable upon first examination to state the extent of the damage, but said that his consciousness was encour- aging.
 II Scene of the Shooting Immediately after the shooting, Con- ductor Hudson and Motorman Talks started of with their car, but were pre- vented by the passengers and bystanders who took possession pending the arriva of the police authorities. who had beer | notified over the telephone.
 Officers Bagley, Sigsbee and Taylor an swered the call and hurried to the scene with the patrol wagon. When they ar rived at the place of the shooting Hud son was placed in the machine anc brought back to police headquarters by officers Sigsbee and Taylor. while Of ficer Hssley boarded the CT and came