The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-01
CRAzED NEGRO IS
CAUSE Of TROUBLE;
THREE ARE KILLED
John Morgan King Slain After
House Is Dynamited And
Fired
Continued From Page One.)


picked up Sheriff Faulkner of
Shelby county at Calera and rushed
to the scene Other officers came
from Birmingham
When reinforcements came, it was
decided to dynamite and fire the
house in an effort to dislodge King
from his barricaded position. The OF
ficers finally succeeded in setting
fire to the place King was slowly
forced from the house by the neat
taking refuge feneath. When the
blaze became int6lerable, he dragged
himself from til house toward the
gate, firing at random. His last shot
struck Phillips. who was unarmed'
standing on an embankment ana
looking down 1T the negros mouse
for signs of HIM The bullet from
Kings rifle en- cred at the chin and
ranged backward to the brain, killing
Phillips, a driver in the mines, In
stantly. He fell back into pool or
water. This Vas at o'clock at night,
after the seize had endured more
than four hours
CrawIed to Gate
After killing Phillips. the negro
crawled to The gate, where bullet
from hieh powered rifle struck
him lust abote the right eye killing
him. His body was then taken to
the negro lodge hall maintained by
the companl where :he white miners
looked him over with the aid OF
pocket flasnlight in the hands of
deputy sheriff. A dozen rifle car
tridces were taken from his peck cts.
The only casket avai.s5le was
rather expensive one, with silver
plate bearing the inscription AT
Rest"
Negroes of Helena remained quiet
during the shooting, although more
than 2,o'0 rounds are estimated 10
have been fired. Grim miners VINO
galloped to the scene astride their
mules, their rifles and shotguns slung
over a shoulder, bode evil to any fur
Their trouble
MORE
Carried to Lodge Room.
AS the flames from Kings house
leaned high, after his body had been
taken to the lodge room on a door,
solemn visaged men stood about in
knots speaking little. The telephone
office held a throng, eager to listen
to reports of the tragedy going to
Birmingham Miners wearing their
lamp-burdened caps stood around
discussing the unusual incident of
John King. a negro who for IA years
| had caused no trouble, running
amuck and causing the death OF two
! men besides himself.
! At last, remembering that Tuesday
! Nas another work day. the crowd
broke UP about IL o'clock, leaving
! foantv officers and State Officer
/ MllamSon to keep down any posi-
lhle trouble.
Phillips Sent To Ashby.
The body of Charley Phillips is to
/ lal k-1,l
! day morning.
The body of King was placed in an
expensive coffin a Helena Monday
night, there being nothing else in
he city to bury it in. The outside
Of the coffin was covered with black
silk, and a silver plate on top an
nounced 70 the world that the aged
nssrasAsas AT Rest" He was said
-, Navel lived in Helena for the last
% years, and was always considered
rather quiet.
Sheriff Faulkner and Law En-
forcement Officer Williamson stayed
at Helena throughout Monday night,
but it was reported that everything
had queted down, and little fear was
expressed of the danger of race
trouble breaking forth.
J. w. Roy. father of the younger
Roy. who was shot through the left
wrist and hip. and was brought to
the South Highlands infirmary, Bir-
mingham, where his wounds were
dressed.
Alternately Was Marine.
Allen Alternately was % years old,
and had resided in Birmingham the
greater part of his life. He was we'll
known here, and liked by all who
knew him. He was educated in the
public schools of Birmingham. and
after having finished his courses in
the city high schools. he entered
Howard college. He left college and
enlisted in the Marines during the
war. and saw about two years active
service. Following the signing of
the armistice he was discharged, and
UPON returning to Birmingham en-
tered his fathers employ, working in
the office of the company at Helena.
While in the Marine corps he was
engaged in wireless telegraphy work.
He was unmarried.
Alternately is survived by the faith
err and mother, Mr.. and Mrs. T. w.
Alternately; one brother, Dawyer
Abernathy, and one sister, Mrs. Ro-
land. wife of the well-known Bir-
mingham insurance agent, all of Biz