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AS YET BUT LITTLE HEADWAY MADE IN THE GREAT TRIAL.
THE SHOOTING ON THE BRIDGE
"I Shot Him, the Fool; He Opened Fire On Me in My Buggy" - The Cry of "Oh God!" or "Oh Murder!" The Trial's Progress.
Special Dispatch to the Avalanche
Brandon, Miss., March 7 - The ninth day of the Hamilton trial began promptly this morning. Chas. Fitzgerald, chief of this division of the railroad mail service, was the first witness. He was at home, about 150 yards from the bridge, the night of the killing and heard the shooting. There was one shot and the cry of "Oh God!" or "Oh murder!". Then there was rapid firing, sounding like a volley. He went to the bridge, saw Gambrell and asked him three times who shot him and received no reply, but Hamilton, who was there, stepped up and answered: "I shot him, the d----d fool; he opened fire on me in buggy, and I got out and shot him." The cry of "Oh God", or "Oh murder" was one of anguish and pain. Saw a pistol near Gambrell, but is not clear as to what went with it. Could not tell how many shots, but it sounded like a volley firing. There were dents in the floor of the bridge and a pool of blood where Gambrell lay. The examination of witness continued at great length, during which he drew a crude diagram of the bridge and surroundings, and explained it to the jury. Hamilton's coat was on fire when he came. The street was the usual one traveled by Hamilton and his most direct route home.
A. J. DAVIS
saw Hamilton the night of the killing up town. He had a stick and told witness he was going to West Jackson to meet a gentleman and was going to kill a dog. It made no impression on the witness. He only asked about the stick, as he did not usually see Hamilton with one. The depot, Edward House and Lawrence House, were at 10 o'clock at night the most public places, except the beer saloons. Capitol street, was the route that a person would travel going to Hamilton's house, but the bridge is the most isolated part of it.
J. R. LEWIS, A DRUG DRUMMER,
was in Jackson the night of the killing and was going west, walking on the north side
of Capitol street. When near the east approach of the bridge heard a shot and "Oh, don't do that".
Don't know which come first, the shot or the "don't do that". Heard more shooting and then cry
of murder. There were some fifteen shots fired. Witness retreated, and after the firing went across
the bridge to West Jackson. Just as the firing ceased saw two men on the bridge, who talked together and
moved around for some time, seeming to hesitate what to do. One of the men passed by him and went and got
into the hack. The other got off on the south side and was lost sight of in the crowd. The man who
got in the hack spoke to the driver in a low tone. Couldn't tell what he said. Hamilton was pointed
out to him and he was not one of the men who ran off the bridge. He came off afterward. Heard a beating
like the butt end of a gun was being used, accompanied by the rattle of a ramrod immediately after the shooting,
but did not see it. Saw two or three shots from the north side and ten or twelve from the south side.
Saw three flashes at the same time coming from south side of the bridge, all converging to one center. Can't
swear to the flashes, but gives them to the best of his recollection and belief. Saw the hack the man got
in standing there during the firing. It was a little west of the postoffice (sic) door. Knows there
was a driver in the back, because he saw him. Witness was cross-examined at great length and said that he
could be more positive as to distances, etc., now than when he testified before, as he had since examined the ground.
Was in 100 feet of the bridge when the shooting began. He went back up the street in a fast walk. There
were three distinct pauses. Two or three shots were fired, rapidly at first; then he spoke to the driver
and asked what the shooting at the bridge was. The driver did not reply. After more shooting he repeated
his question to the driver, but got no answer. The witness not being willing to swear that there was more
than one person firing from the south side, the court ruled his impressions out. The court worked faster today,
and it now looks like the trial might be closed next week.
March 8, 1888
The Memphis Daily Avalanche
Submitted by Debora Reese