Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-04
NEGRO SHOT TO
DEATH; POLICE
Get MURDERER
Oscar Davenport Killed IN Cold
BIOOded Murder at Booming
House On Eleventh Street

Oscar Davenport, colored, aged
80 years, was shot to death by
Colas Smith, aged 40, also colored
and an ex-convict, at 3:45 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon, the murder
taking place at the rooming house
of Davenport. SOC Eleventh street
Smith was captured shortly after
the shooting, Chief of Police Tom
Cox and Detectives Herman Sch
merit and Dennis Bennett making
the arrest. He is now being held
at the county Jail without bonds,
charged with the deliberate muir
der of Davenport.
There were two witnesses to the
shooting, Mrs. Matte Davenport,
wife of the victim, and Joe Pretit,
a roomer at the same house. I'm
madiately following the tragedy,
Smith fed south on Tenth street
and hailed George Stewart, color
ed, who was driving an automo-
bile at the time Smith forced
Stewart to drive him south On
Tenth street, directing him to head
for the Watch Tower. At this
juncture, however. Chief Cox and
the two detectives, who were in
search of daylight providers in the
vicinity of Ninth street and Ninth
avenue, were attracted by the
large crowd gathered in front Of
the rooming house on Eleventh
street and in response to their
query they were told that "a shoot
ing had taken place"
Apprehend Smith.
Chief Cox Immediately ordered
the police machine to be driven
south on Tenth avenue. intending
to make a roundabout trip to the
house of Davenport. AS he near
ed the corner of Ninth avenue and
Ninth street, Chief Cox espied
Smith on the running board OF
Stewards machine. The murderer
Carried his right hand in the right
hip pocket, but show of resistance
proved futile against the quick eff
forts of the police trio, Cox, Sch
merit and Bennett.
Handouts were placed on his
wrists and he was taken to the
station.
Met Instant Death.
dered by the police to be taken to
the Hodgson undertaking parlors,
and it was discovered at the post
norton, conducted by DR.. Albert
N. Mueller. that eight bullet
wounds had been inflicted by a
Colt 80 calibre automatic. One
bullet entered the brain, another
lodged in the heart, while a third
and fourth took a criss-cross
course, shattering the bowels and
intestines. One bullet lodged in
the right hand, while two others
shattered Davenport's elbow.
1t is the belief of the police that
there was a motive to the crime,
which dates back prior to the ar
gument OF yesterday morning,
when Smith claimed that Daven-
port owed him some money.
Smith had been employed by
Stone & Webster on Rock Island
arsenal for the last several weeks.
but had remained home yesterday.
Davenport had also worked for the
same concern and both had appar-
emily been friends during the last
month Smith, according to the
VI I1A "ALC
Of the victim, given at the inquest
last night, said that Smith ap-
preached her husband with the re-
quest that he pay him some mon
ey. Before the latter could reply,
Smith had fired a shot into Dayen-
ports brain, killing the latter in
stantly. He then. according to
Mrs. Davenport, continued pump
ing bullets into the PROSTATE form
which lay on the floor.
Smith is known to the local po-
lice as a desperate criminal who
will stop short of nothing. He was
sent UP from Salina county in 1915
on the charge of manslaughter and
released on parole. His parole ex-
pired in this city on Dec. 80 last.
Since that time Smith had been
rooming at 500 Eleventh street,
while Davenport and his wife had
made their home for some time at
SOC Eleventh street.
= Still Keeps Silent.
At the county jail today Smith
refused to make q statement. He
appeared sullen and apparently
had not the slightest interest in the
outcome Of the case. He made one
statement to the police last night
when he said that Davenport had
started the argument which led to
the death of the Iatfar