Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-01-06
NEGRO MAKES An
ESCAPE
AF TER HE IS SHOT

A forged money order brought about
the evidence which it is believed con-
clusively places the guilt of writing
an obscene letter through mails n
Peter Reid, the negro who was shot
Wednesday afternoon by Deputy Unit
ed States Marshal Duncan Davis, of
Albany, when Reid resisted arrest near
his home in the suburbs Of Ameri-
Gus.
Inspector ]. w. Cole, of Atlanta, had
been in the city several days working
on the case drawing all the informa-
tion possible from all facts in hand.
He visited Joe Robinson. the suspected
negro was being held in the Musco.
gee county Jail at Columbus for safe
keeping.
Peter Reid was summoned to he
postoffice for a conversation with t he
parties interested in the case. Several
incidents took place which gave the
officer reason to suspect his guilt, but
after private conversation Mr. Cole
released the negro.
Turning his efforts towards another
crime, he began working on a forged
money order and in searching through
the records found several applications
which impressed him as remarkable
resembling the handwriting of the per
son who wrote the note. Upon the in
1estigation it was found that Peter
Reid was the negro who wrote the
money order application which at
tracted his attention.
With this evidence in hand and be-
lieving in the guilt Of Reid, Inspector
Cole communicated with the federal
officials and secured warrant for
Reid's arrest. This was placed in the
hands of Deputy Marshal Davis, who
arrived in Americus Wednesday after
noon, and in attempting to serve the
paper became involved in the alterca-
ton which resulted in the shooting of
Reid.
The detective work in the case by
Inspector Cole, ably assisted by the
authorities in the local postoffice, is
being generally commended for it's
efficiency. ..
Reid was brought to Americus i'm |
mediately following the difficulty, and
Deputy Davis ordered him to be taken
to Albany Immediately. Under the
care Of DR.. D. B. Mayes, the negro was
placed in an automobile with the dep
uty and Frank Stapleton, of Americus,
driving the car.
About two miles below Leesburg
Reid made an effort to escape. He was
seated in the rear of the car with DR. |
Mayes, who grappled with him and
held the negro until Deputy Davis AMI
MIR. Stapleton could come to the res
cue and securely place him back in
the automobile.
Dr. Mayes, in conversation with d
representative this
morning, said that it is his belief that
the bullet from the 80 calibre pistol
entered the base of the brain, and at
least the negro's skull is fractured. AL
though his pulse was normal, Reid |
was bleeding profusely, but displayed
a remarkable nerve.
The negro has had no change in his
condition this morning, but the posi-
bilities of his recovery are considered
as extremely unlikely.
Robinson Released.
Lieut.. John T. Bragg, of the Ameri-
Gus police force, went to Columbus
this morning to explain and arrange
the release of Joe Robinson, the
Americus negro arrested several days
ago in connection with the crime of
which Reid is now believed to be
guilty. Mr. Bragg will explain to
Robinson all the developments in the
case and state that there is no danger
involved in his return to Americus.
lobinson's wife also went to Colum- u