The Marlin Democrat
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, March 31, 1904
NEGRO STABS SAVAS XYDIAS
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Three Negroes Placed In Jail By
Officers
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Savas Xydias was seriously stabbed in the abdomen Saturday afternoon about six
o'clock by a negro. Jeff Parmer, by name the negro who did the cutting and
Chatman Parmer David Slater were arrested and placed in the county jail.
Mr. Xydias was taken to his room and given attention by
physicians at once. Examination showed that it was made with a knife, the blade
of which was of more than ordinary length. The incision was made a little to the
left and below the navel. The wound bled profusely and the patient weakened
considerably.
The trouble was started by what Savas construed as very
peculiar actions of the negro Chatman Parmer, who entered the store for the
purpose, as he said, of making some purchases. Some talk followed as to the
price of a cabbage head and some other articles. Believing that the Parmer
negroes were there for no good purpose, Savas asked them to get out of the
house, they stopped in the door and refused to go any further. A fight followed
between Savas and the older negro when another negro, believed to be Jeff
Parmer, ran up and stuck his knife into Savas. About this time Anthony
Xydias and Atthos Fiunas appeared on the scene and the fight became a three
cornered affair, between the white men and the, three negroes. Savas was
disabled by the stab and Anthony's right arm was clinched in the teeth of one of
the negroes and until the fight could be stopped. At?hos (I can't
read this name,kc) had it nearly all to himself and his movements very much
resembled those of a professional slugger, as he cleaned up the three before he
got good into the game.
The interference of officers and citizens stopped
hostilities at an opportune time.
Two large pocket knives were taken from the Parmer
negroes and they were placed in jail.
Matt Slater was arrested later on at the restaurant in
rear of Peacock's saloon and locked up.
Savas is getting along very well now, though the full
extent of his injuries may not be definitely known for a day or two.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for
printing by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.