Bullets Fly in Savannah Streets as Notorious Burglar A.B. Smalls Takes Aim at Justice

In a tense and deadly encounter on the streets of Savannah, Georgia, Detective James Humphries found himself in the crosshairs of notorious burglar A.B. Smalls. The shootout occurred on February 7, 1894, around 8 o’clock at night, when Smalls, a man wanted for a string of recent robberies in Jonesville, made a desperate attempt to escape capture.

Humphries, a seasoned detective with years of experience, had been tracking Smalls for weeks alongside his partner, Detective Wetherhorn. Their investigation had recently led them to a suspect, Scott Childs, a local man who was arrested on February 7. It was during this interrogation that they discovered Smalls was part of a gang responsible for a series of high-profile burglaries in the city, including the break-ins at W.B. Brannons store on West Broad and Congress streets and J. Itowlinskis jewelry store on Jefferson street around Christmas time.

As Humphries and Wetherhorn closed in on Smalls, the fugitive opened fire, sending a bullet flying towards the detectives. Humphries, caught in the line of fire, was struck in the face, with the bullet severing the facial artery and causing a catastrophic wound that would leave him seriously injured. The bullet continued on its deadly path, exiting through the neck and lodging behind the left shoulder.

A team of medical professionals, led by Dr. Joseph D. Hanby, were quickly summoned to the scene and managed to remove the bullet, taking great care to dress Humphries’s wounds. The detective would later undergo extensive treatment for his injuries, which were deemed serious but not life-threatening.

The brazen attack on Humphries has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the risks that law enforcement officers face every day in their pursuit of justice. As the investigation into Smalls and his gang continues, residents of Savannah are left to wonder what other secrets this notorious burglar may hold.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk in the shadows of our city, and the bravery of those who put their lives on the line to protect us.