The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-11-03
TWO NEGROES DEAD
IN SUNDAY MELEE.
Constable Wade Wounded
In Bessie Mine Fight
WOMAN WAS CAUSE
Negroes Kill Each Other and When
Third Is Arrested He Shoots the
Constable With the Lat
ter's Pistol
WOMAN WAS CAUSE

In IA tragedy-a Sunday tragedy--at
Bessie, ID. J. Wade, constable. WIS
seriously wounded and two negroes, one
of whom has not been identified, were
killed. The ''viliain of the play"
George Davis, alias London Dendon.
with residence mt Flat Top, escaped.
ed in the general melee.
Constable Wade was brought to Biz
mingham last night on freight train
and taken to st. Vincent's hospital. He
is in n precarious condition. The bull
let entered at the shoulder blade and
penetrating the body, was DETECTED by
contact with the spine downward He
has a wife and five children.
The tragedy resulted from desper-
ate encounter between three negroes,
and the cause was the proverbial wom-
an. George Davis, it is said, was III
possession of the wife of Foster, and
was preparing to turn her over to the
unknown negro. Foster interposed and
as a. result of an exchange of shots
no was killed, the unknown was killed
and Davis, with wound. attempted TO
escape. Constable Wade captured Da-
Wis. The desperate negro then
jerlSod pistol from the hands
OF the constable and fired upon
him, inflicting terrible wound
The would-be murderer then continued
his progress from the scene of the
tragedy although it is said that a num-
a
has not been captured up to the present
moment.
Constable Wade was well known IN
the Birmingham district. He was an
emJloye of, the Sloss-S sheffield com
paty.
THE shooting occurred about Sis
O'clock yesterday afternoon as the
Frisco train from Birmingham pulled
into Bessie. The shooting started as
Davis and the woman got off the train.
Constable Wade arrived in Birmingham
at Nineteenth street and Ninth avenue
where Warner a. Smneys ambulance
awaited about 9:45 o'clock. Mr.. Wade was
Immediately rushed to the St. Vincent
hospital, where after a brief examination
II was stated that while in a serious con-
-dition he would undoubtedly recover. Mr..
!, 'Wades wound had been dressed at Palos
Wy DR.. Snow.
AT the infirmary Constable Wade talked
vok1bly of the shooting He stated that
he had been shot because of his precau-
tions against harming any Of the women
and children that We're at the depot at
Bessie Junction.
There were at least 25a people at the
depot,n said Mr. Wade, 'and many OF
rhem we're women and children. l was
standing about 100 feet from the scene
~. -. H.
Brmin cham arrived [ had heard that
George Davis. a negro from Flat Top
would be on the train and that If he got
OF the Q would be trouble as John Foster,
IL Bes sie negro, had threatened to kill
Davis Il he set foot in Bessie I was at
the df pot to prevent trouble if possible
Foster Started Shooting
"Ay far as can understand it. the mo-
nlent the train stopped, the negro Fos-
ter Started shooting at Davis, who was
gettiifg off the train. Davis returned
the lire and killed Foster and / under
stanU another negro friend of Davis who
wasI also shooting. was killed by Foster
Aftfr the shooting Davis ran directly
towfud me and ran up to him with my
pist d In my hand He jumped at me be-
fort I could shoot, wrenched it out of my
grasp and, as | turned away to avoid q
blow he shot me in the back and then
RAM up the track.
Il could have killed Davis IL l had
cartd to, but there were so many women
children scattered about that l took
{. chance of arresting the desperate with
out shooting him. The scene out there
In that depot was a terrible one. Many
OF the women tainted. The shooting oc-
CURED right in the midst of great
crowd and can't understand why more
were not killed or wounded"
Coroner c. L. Spain was notified of the
shooting last night and stated that he
would investigate at once. A sheriffs
posse was formed last night to hunt
down the Davis negro.