The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1913-02-11
Negro Killed in a Saloon BraWl.

George Thomas. colored, was shot
and wounded Saturday night by For
| rest Lawrence, a white man, from the
effects Of which he died several hours
! later. The shooting occurred about
/ II 80 O'Clock in the saloon of Mike
Woods on Nam street, and is said tC
have been the result of previous
difficulty.
The saloon was crowded and num-
Der of men in the place were eye-wit-
| placed under arrest by Patrolman Fred
Link and lodged in Jail.
Stories as to the cause Of the shoot
ing are conflicting, it being said that
the negro had threatened the life of
Lawrence and that the shooting fol-
! lowed number of remarks that had
been made by Thomas to white
woman.
According to the most reliable infor-
nation Lawrence entered the place
and going back to the pool room in the
rear of the saloon engaged in an argu-
ment with Thomas. who it is said ap-
pealed to the bartender, A. K. McKen-
ney, for protection.
Al this time the men were standing
in the doorway between the saloon and
pool room and Lawrence was making
an effort to get at the negro. McKen-
ney, it is said. was between them
when Lawrence suddenly drew his re-
volver, pushed the former to one side
and fired two shots. A third cartridge
IN the revolver failed to explode when
McKenney wrenched the weapon from
his hand.
Thomas fell to the floor, one of the
bullets taking effect, the other missing
Ito mark. The bullet from the 38-cali-
bre liver Johnson revolver entered the
right side between the sixth and sew
enth ribs, passing through the right
lung. inif1cting a mortal wound.
The second shot fired by Lawrence
was while the negro was on the floor
and it took effect in his body about
four inches to the left of the first
wound.
DR.. ]. T. Brown and DR.. William
Kenney were summoned to attend the
wounded man. who aside from suffer-
ing from the severe shock blei intern
ally. RestOratives were administered
and he was removed to the home of his
mother on Williams street where he
died about two hours later.
Thomas was employed at the butcher
shop of Albert Anton and was consid-
cred an expert butcher. Lawrence.
who was formerly employed as tele-
phone lineman, had more recently been
doing farm labor.
Thomas, it is also said. had threat
ened the life of Lawrence because of
the fact that he had been accused by
the white man of killing his lchickens
and only few days ago the latter had
warrant out for the negro and he
was placed under peace bond.
EXAMINING TRIAL THURSDAY.
Lawrence was arraigned in the
county court yesterday afternoon, be-
ing a plea Of not guilty his eXamin-
ing at ten O'Clock.
CORONER INVESTIGATION
Coroner Rudolph Davis yesterday
conducted an investigation before a
jury at which number of witnesses
were examined, resulting IN a verdict
being returned in accordance with the
testimony given.
A. K. Mckinney, bartender at
Woods saloon said that he saw the
shooting and was standing between the
men before Lawrence fired. He was
pushed out of the way when he fired.
He said Thomas told him that Law
renee had been making trouble for him
and asked what was the best thing to
| do. He testified that he had told the
| negro to leave the saloon by the rear
door and a second later Lawrence free
the fatal shots. He said Law renee
came in the saloon after Thomas hac
been there tor some time. The mer
did not talk to each other and Thoma:
sand that Lawrence had it in for him
Kirby Woods said that he did not see
the first shot fired but saw Law
renee standing over the PROSTATE
negro with his revolver in his hanC
and saw him fire the second shot
Was engaged in counting at one of tn,
pool tables when the first shot wa
fired. He went to get an officer afte
he saw the negro was wounded. Hal
not noticed either of the men in the
saloon. Saw Mike Woods take pisto
from the coat of Thomas.
Mike Woods, proprietor of the saloon
said be was tending bar when tn
shooting occurred and did not see an.
of the trouble. he was attracted b!
the two shots and went to the rea
room finding Thomas on the floor. Sal,
he took pistol from holster tina
was concealed under his left arm.
Walter Gray said he saw Lawreuc
fire the second shot while Thomas wa
on the floor hut did not see any diff
Guilty before the shooting.
Horace Steele, a negro boy. testifie,
that he went in the saloon after tn
shooting but was not in there at tn
time.
Sam Biddle, colored, said he say
both shots fired. At the first Thoma
fell to the floor and Lawrence holdin
his revolver in both hands stood owe
him and fired the second shot.
At the conclusion of the evidence tn
jury retired returning a verdict as fol
lows:
eve, the jury, fird that Georg
Thomas came to his death by a CUR
shot wound inflicted by the hands Z
Forrest Lawrence.