The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-05-19
MARSHAL KILLS
NEGRO In BATTLE
OVER REVOLVER
Unidentified Man Dies Sit
ting Astride Halleck Will
son in IllmO Yards.
MAN HAD BAG FULL
OF STOLEN PROPERTY
Attacked Officer as He PrObed
Sack-knocked Wilson
Down with Fist.

Halleck Wilson. the fighting city
marshal at limo, last night shot and
killed an unidentified negro. 50 pounds
mis- superior in weight. who had
knocked the marshal down and was
beating his face into pulp in battle
over the officers revolver.
! The negro sat astride Wilson and
slasEed at him with knife in one
hand and rained blows on the officers
face with the other fist. Wilson at
I tempted to ward off the blows Of the
negro giant with his left hand and arm
as he tugged for his revolver with his
other hand.
He finally got his revolver free from
| his pOckat and shot the negro in the
chest and stomach three times, press
ing the muzzle of the weapon against
the ncgrO's body as he pulled the
trigger
The negro fell over upon Wilson
and died instantly, without having
uttered Il word. The weight of the
dead mans body pinned Wilson to the
ground for 4 moment. He managed
to roll the body over and crawled out
from beneath.
Wilson summoned assistance and
the body was taken to the city hall at
Illm0. where it was held last night
The authorities also took charge of a
sack filled with articles that had been
stolen from the store of Rufus French
a week ago.
The marshal was arresting the negro
on suspicion when the fight WAS
launched The affair occurred in the
Cotton Belt yards on what is known
as the Bridge track. 1t occurred at
$50 O'Clock.
Wilson was making the rounds in
the !ards when he saw the negro
walking some distance ahead carrying
a sack over his shoulder. The officer
followed him and finally stopped and
watched the man try to hide himself
by squatting down in the weeds.
The marshal walked up to him and
ordered him to step forth He asked
the negro what he was doing in the
yards and what he had in the sack.
The negro replied that he was on his
way home with some groceries. The
negro stood on higher ground than
Wilson and weighed about 1S5 pounds.
Mr. Wilson weighs 133 pounds. He
is feet inches tall and is - years
old.
He ordered the negro to carry the
sack further down the yards to light
in order to permit an inspection Of its
contents.
As he made the order, the negro
dropped the sack and Jumped at Viii
son. He struck the officer on the head
as he leaped upon him. The weight
of the negro centered behind the blow
and Wilson went down under the
smash
The negro followed this up with
blows on Mr.. Wilson's face and got
his knife into action. Mr. Wilson de
scribed his fight to reporter for The
Tribune as being fight TO his life
from the time the negro proceeded
to carve away at him.
He said he lay fiat on his back as
the negro hammered at him. He
retained his presence of mind and
directed his energies to getting out
his revolver The negro slashed the
thumb of his left hand open with a
long wound running along the thumb,
and another cross-wise, before Mr..
Wilson got his revolver into action.
When he succeeded in pulling the
weapon from his pocket, he pushed the
muzzle against the negro's stomach
and pulled the trigger. Three shots
were fired in quick succession.
"He didn't say word" Mr.. Wilson
related. "He had been sitting on top
OF me and cursing volubly as he struck
me. When | shot him it just seemed
like he let loose all hold and sank
down on top of me-
Il had to roll him off 10 order TO
get upon my feet again. ! was pretty
badly hammered up on the face. My
hand isn't cut badly"