The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-25
POULTRY SALESMAN
IS SHOT AND KILLED
BY ANGRY HUSBAND
VIM. L. Reeves Surrenders
After Shooting E. J. Ran
som at His Home
CORONER'S JURY TO
MEET TOMORROW
Mrs. Reeves Is Eye Witness to the
Tragedy in Home Near Conner
Station on. the North Bes-
semer Car Line

F. J. Ransom, a poultry salesman, was
shot and almost instantly killed about 10
o'clock yesterday morning by William
Leroy Reeves, a floor walker.
The shooting and killing of Ransom oc-
Cured at Reeves home, about a quarter
of a mile from Conner station on the
North Bessemer car line. Reeves had re-
turned to his home from the city and
upon finding Ransom he shot him twice
through the head with a .3S-caliber Colt
pistol, killing him almost instantly. Mrs.
Reeves was an eye witness of the shoot
ing.
Following the shooting Reeves notified
the sheriff's office that he had killed a
man. and that he would await the coming
of the officers to surrender. Coroner
Charles L. Spain was also notified and
preliminary investigation was at once
started. An hour following the shooting
the body of Ransom had been ordered re-
moved to the morgue of the Warner &c
Smiley company to await the inquest of
the coroner.
Move Toward Hip Pocket
According to the information of Coroner
NrAieiA ANo IL spain iNCSNtS NdS uOllll1o Ill
some way yesterday morning that RAN
som was at his home, and he at once
hurried there. 1t is said that Reeves made
the statement that as he entered the room
where Ransom was the latter made a
quick move toward his hip pocket and
Reeves at once drew his pistol and shot
Ransom. There was no pistol found on
the body or Ransom when he was
searched after death.
Deputy Sheriffs Elijah Reeves and Jack
Brown arrived on the scene short time
after the shooting and arrested Reeves.
who would make no other statement than
that he had shot Ransom in self defense
Reeves was placed in the county Jail and
is being held on the charge of murder
without bond pending the inquest of Cor
oner Spain.
Mrs. Reeves was also brought to the
city by the officers and taken to the cor
oner's office. After a short conference
with the coroner Mrs. Reeves was al
lowed her freedom and she went to the
residence of a relative in Birmingham
She will be the chief witness Wednesday
morning when the coroner's inquest be-
gins.
Both Men Well Known
William Leroy Reeves is a well-known
clothing salesman. He is about 80 years
of age and very popular with his en-
ployers and all who know him. He has
been married about five years and the
couple have a small daughter about 4
years of age. Mrs. Reeves maiden name
was Preston.
The dead man, f. j. Ransom, was about
So years of age and was a poultry feed
salesman of Newark, N. J. He had been
the travelling sales manager of the Spratt
Poultry Feed company of Newark, n. J.,
for the past Is years. He was married
but lived separated from his wife. He
arrived in Birmingham yesterday morn
ing from Jacksonville. Fla.
The remains of Ransom will be held
at the morgue of Warner & Smiley until
the relatives of the deceased can be COM
municated with in Newark.
Coroner Charles l.. Spain when interro-
hold a jury inquest Wednesday morning
at 10 o'clock in his office.
This latest killing will be thoroughly
investigated and l will allow a jury to
decide whether or not Reeves was justi-
fed in killing Ransom, whom he found
in his home. | have nothing to say fur
ther on the matter" IS.