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
Unexpectedj Chief Lauds Victim.

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, negro, of No. 25
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
| witt the bury Slack man and by al
|most superhuman strength turned the
Iweapon upon his assailant, firing two
|slots into the negro's 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 nat I got over there" muir
INJURED Mckinney, and he nodded
weakly toward nearby cot where
oliver lay dying.
divers crime was as cold FLOODED
snd unprovoked as any the police
ever have encountered. Mckinney,
who is only 81 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
iounging there, and the officers sus-
pected nothing sinister in his pres
thee AS Mckinney walked toward
o'm divers hand suddenly darted
'h'o bag he held in his lap. When
4 was withdrawn, it held murder
'as-looking revolver.
Turns Gun on Negro.
ne negro fired twice, but before he
you'd fire the third time Mckinney,
desperately wounded, but game to the
ore was upon him. They struggled
'''N and forth across the floor The
'oaeeman had the negro's hand in
siip of iron. and was slowly turning
'ne revolver upon him.
Meeks, standing back with drawn
'eFolver could not fire for fear of
Nouhding his own partner. The ne
No apparently dope crazed, saw Nc
N'nheys intention, and made fren-
IN iunges to get free from the grasp
ne hands that inexorably were
lining the weapon toward him.
\ was no use. Two more shots
Fo0hded, but this time Oliver was the
'ym' He staggered, and then, as
~ nihney freed him, dashed for the
w tie was followed by three shots
y" McKinney's own revolver and
'e rom that of Meeks. The last one
!, sa'd TO have struck him fairly on
PACK of the head, but he ran on
~ 1,enecked. Meeks started after him
sN'hney collapsed.
electives Webb, Harper, Black and
+''sFd and Plainclothes officers AL
can ana Kirk happened to be on De-
rect at the time. They heard
continued on Page 2, Column 3