Bloody Craps

Title

Bloody Craps

Source Type

Newspapers

Publisher

Vicksburg Evening Post

Publication Place

Vicksburg, MS

Publication Date

02/17/1890

Transcript

BLOODY CRAPS. Bill Canada Murders Spencer Evans. The Scene of the Game and its Bloody Sequel the City Workhouse. A crowd of two or three hundred negroes in front of the workhouse gate, and after an entrance into the yard the body of a man weltering in a pool of blood bespoke a tragedy, and was the scene which greeted THE POST reporter about one o'clock today. Bill Canada is a notorious yellow negro here, a regular inmate of the workhouse, and was in there on an unproved charge of rape and also abusive language. Spencer Evans, another notorious negro, was in for 28 days for stealing some goblets from a lady some time ago. The two negroes were shooting craps for 2 1/2 cents a shot and Spencer Evans "got into" most of Bill Canada's quarter but grabbed it and run. Canada went into the kitchen, got a long, keen butcher knife, nearly worn out, and returned to the hall where the altercation consequent to the game took place, saying, "If you don't give me that money, I will kill you." Evans still refused and Canada went at him. Evans turned to run and Canada plunged the knife to the hilt behind and under the right shoulder blade, penetrating the heart. The workhouse keeper, Mr. P. McSweeny, who had heard the row and had gone away returned about in time to see the blow given, as did also a number of others. He did not see the knife and as the wounded man ran past him, he paid no attention to anything except to secure Canada and lock him in a cell, intending to prefer a charge against him of assault and battery. His horror can be imagined when he returned to the hall to find that the stricken man lay at the entrance in the agonies of death. He immediately returned to the cell, searched Canada, and got the knife, which had done the deadly work. Evans had just received a visit from his wife who had brought him a new hat. In the yard by the body was the old hat he had torn off and the blood-stained new one that had fallen off his head. The Coroner at once empaneled a jury and they examined witnesses and gave a verdict of death by a knife at the hands of Bill Canada. The reporter had only one to interview in this matter, the slayer, and he was questioned from behind the cell bars. He made a rambling statement of the crap game and claimed former threats, on his life by Evans but did not seem to realize that he was not justifiable in killing a human being over a dispute about a quarter of a dollar. The body was taken charge of by the undertaker and the Coroner gave a burial order. This is the first funeral for the slayer is sure to swing if there be a law punishing wilful murder with death.

Sources for

See all items with this value Bill Canada