Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-12-12
FRENCH PARTIES IN WARM ROW
OVER ENTERTAINING OF VIII SON
SHERIFF HARVEY,
AFTER FUGITIVE
GONE s YEARS,
IS SHOT IN HAND

Sheriff Lucius Harvey, of Sumter
county, was shot and badly wounded
in the right hand last night in Crisp
county by negro escaped convict
whom he had gone to arrest. The ne
gro used double barrelled shotgun,
which he fired at close range. One
charge struck Sheriff Harvey suuarely
IN the index finger, filling it with shot
and breaking the bone of the index
finger. The other charge struck his
coat, tearing away one corner and per
torat1ng a number of papers which
he was carrying in an inside pocket.
These papers, being thick, stopped the
charge before it reached his body and
probably prevented an abdominal
wound that might have proved dan
gerous. The attending physician stat
ed he thought it unlikely Mr. Harveys
hand would have to be amputated.
The negro who did the shooting was
George Edwards, who had been going
under the name of George Jackson.
lie escaped from the chaingang here
eight years ago, having been convicted
of assault with intend to murder ant
robbery, and had not been heard from
since until a few days ago, when word
came to Sheriff Harvey that he was
living on a farm midway between
Coney and Walton. Taking Deputy
Summers and J. w. Lassiter with him,
he left by automobile yesterday after
noon for the negre's home for the
purpose of ?rresting him. On arriv-
ing there he found the negro had gone
away with team to bring a load of
corn from a farm some miles away
from which he had recently moved.
The three motored to Walton hoping
to meet Edwards on the way. They
missed him and returned to his home
after dark There they found the
overseer, man named Kelly.
With Mr.. Kelly and his son, the Off
GERS and Mr.. Lassiter, who had been
deputiZed, started for the negro's
cabin. AS they approached they saw
Edwards some distance away watering
his mules. MIR. Kelly called to him to
come, saying he wanted to see him a
moment. The negro answered "all
right" but turned and fed. Mr.. Las
sitter is said to have shot at the negro
as he disappeared behind the stable.
The moon was shining dimly
through the mist and the fugitive was
seen running from the barn toward a
wagon, and in the direction OF his
house. 1t had been reported that he
kept a high power rife in his house
and Sheriff Harvey ran in an eHor,
to cut him off from reaching there. AS
the negro left his wagon he ran to-
ward Mr.. Harvey and when the two
were about Is steps apart the negro
fired. wounding the sheriff. The
sheriff had not seen the gun in the
dark. and, not believing the negro was
armed, had not drawn his own pistol
which was in his right coat pocket
When the shot hit his right hand he
was powerless to reach his own pistol
and his assailant escaped in the dark
ness. firing one more shot at the party
without effect.
Because of the sheriff's wound no
further attempt was made to catch the
negro, but Deputy Summers and Mr..
Lassiter assisted Mr.. Harvey into the
car and they returned to Americus as
quickly as possible, reaching here
about 8 D. m. Mr. Eassiter returned
to the vicinity of the negro's home
this morning to organize a posse to
arrest him.
Edwards had aroused the suspicion
of Mr.. Kelly, although the Overseer
asserted he did not know he was an
escaped convict. He said he had been
unable to get Edwards to drive to town
the negro seeming always to ssire to
avoid being seen. Negroes about the
place said he carried shotgun with
him wherever he went.