Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-25
PatroIman W. A. Mckinney in
Critical Condition and Negro
Dying After Fierce Hand-to-
Hand Pistol Battle in Decatur St.
Crowds in Panic as a FusiIIade Of
Shots Ring Out in Cafe; Attack
on Officer Unwarranted and
Unexpected; Chief Lauds Victim,

A desperate gun battle, as the re
suit of which Policeman W. A. Nc
Kinney is lying at Grady Hospital
lowering between life and death, and
Charles Oliver, a negro, of No. rs
Shelton street, was fatally wounded
with a half dozen bullets, created a
panic Saturday night on Decatur
street and sent hundreds scurrying TO
cover to escape the fusillade of shots.
Police department annals seldom
have recorded a more courageous and
fearless resistance than Mckinney
put up when the negro, seemingly
without any provocation whatever,
suddenly opened fire upon him in
Dobbins Cafe, little negro restau-
rant at No. SO Decatur street.
Regardless of one bullet wound
through his abdomen and another
through his arm Mckinney grapped
with the buriy black man and by al
most superhuman strength turned the
weapon upon his assailant, firing two
shots into the Negroes stomach while
the revolver was still in divers
hands.
Draws Own Pistol and Fires.
Then, hurting the negro from him,
Mckinney drew his own weapon and
fired three times at Oliver as the lat
ter dashed out of the doorway. An
instant later the young policeman
sank down to the floor, the blood
pouring from his two wounds.
Mckinney, weak and with the spec
ter Of Death standing before him,
smiled when Chief Beavers came to
see him at the hospital as soon as
the news of the sensational battle
was carried to police headquarters.
Chief, I'm shot all to h, but
look at what I got over there" muir
INJURED Mckinney, and he nodded
weakly toward a nearby cot where
Oliver lay dying.
divers crime was as FLOODED
and unprovoked as any the police
ever have encountered. Mckinney,
who is only 27 years old and super
numerary on the force had been de-
tailed with Policeman E. D. Meeks to
see that there was no disorder nor
gambling in the Dobbins place and
nearby buildings. The two walked
casually into Dobbins' place Saturday
night on their customary rounds.
Everything was quiet, and they
went to the rear room. oliver was
'ounging there, and the officers sus-
pected nothing sinister in his pres
ence. AS Mckinney walked toward
aim, divers hand suddenly darted
into bag he held in his lap. When
II was withdrawn, 1t held a murder
ous-looking revolver.
Turns Gun on Negro.
The negro fired twice, but before he
could fire the third time Mckinney,
desperately wounded, but game to the
core, was upon him. They struggled
back and forth across the floor. The
policeman had the negro's hand In a
grip Of iron, and was slowly turning
The revolver upon him.
Meeks, standing back with drawn
revolver, could not fire for fear of
wounding his own partner. The ne
gro, apparently dope crazed, saw Nc
hinney's intention. and made fren
lied lunges to get free from the grasp
~ the hands that inexorably were
lurning the weapon toward him.
II was no use. Two more shots
sounded, but this time oliver was the
victim. He staggered, and then, as
mckinney freed MIN, dashed for the
aoor. He was followed by three shots
rom McKinney's own revolver and
one from that of Meeks. The last one
IS said to have struck him fairly on
NE back of the head, but he ran on
unchecked. Meeks started after him
Mckinney collapsed.
Detectives Webb, Harper, Black and
Hullard and Plainclothes officers AL
ien and Kirk happened to be on De-
ldtur street at the time. They heard
Continued an pa1. . Haluran 2