A Colored Man Shot for Nothing

A white man shoots a black man in the street on seemingly false allegations and he walks free.

At Montevallo, Ala., on the 22nd inst., at 5 p.m., Mr. Dave Cunningham was sitting on the street in front of Mr. George Kroell’s store. West (white) left his little old store, got a double barrel shotgun and went in search of said Dave Cunningham. Passed goodly number of people down the street: went to Dave’s house and found him not. Going back, he (white) found him and called as if he wanted to see him.
Dave went to the steps to see what he wanted. West ask him what he had been talking about him for. The Negro told him he had not done any such thing. No sooner said, West shot him in the breast. Dave Cunningham lived a few minutes only. West who shot him goes free, no trial, no arrest, no nothing. In order to dodge justice, they say he was insane, not bright, lunatic and to make that shine brighter he, West, was carried to the asylum last Saturday.
What shall we do to be saved? Believe only. –Aldrich, Ala., Timepiece.

“A Colored Man Shot for Nothing,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed December 7, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1180.