Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-04
BLOODY APFRAY.
Two Policemen shot Down
by Negro burglars.
One of Them not Expected
10 Live.
A Number OF the BurgIariOus
Party shof-Arrests.


As Capt Perry, commanding the police
of the Southern district, was passing up
Main street about one o'clock this morn
ing, he was stopped at the corner Of that
thoroughfare and Monroe by private
Waterman named Tilford, who intimated
to him that FIVE negroes had effected
an entrance 10 the store Of Price u
Yeatman, aud were in the establish
ment at the time engaged in robbery.
Upon this hint the Captain and Tilford
at onoe repaired together to the house
designated by the latter, with view, if
possible, Of entrapping the thieves. On
arriving at the door, the Captain
cautiously opened il; and finding all
dark and quiet. within, lit match, with
view to making further search. No
sooner, however, had he done this than
he was made cognizant Of the where
abouts Of the thieves in no very pleasant
manner. On seeing his form at the door
by the light of the match, one Of
the negroes inside levelled his pistol
at the Captain and fred, the whole party
at the same instant rushing toward the
door and succeeded in gaining the street.
The ball from the weapon struck the
Captain arm, aud penetrating it to the
bone, glanced of and lodged in his right
lung. He was, there fore, unable to pur'
sue the fleeing negroes, and the private
Waterman supposing. his companion TO
be mortally wounded, also desisted from
the chase with a view to attending
to him. The shot Of the pistol,
however, had been heard by PATROL
men Wright and Barbiere, in whose beat
the ARRAY had occurred and rushing in
the direction from which the report came,
they reached the store just az the negroes
were rushing out, and gave them chase.
The thieves took up the alley and the
officers after them. The fugitives, who
were armed to the teeth fred back re-
peatedly in their flight, and one Of their
balls took effect in Officer Wright leg, in
ficting slight wound, but disabling him
from further pursuing them. About the
same instant the officers opened fire on
the negroes, and succeeded in bringing
one of their number down by sending q
ball through his neck. The firing then
became general, and the frequent dis
charges from the pistols of the pursued
and pursuing parties brought reinforce
ment of policemen to the assistance OF
their comrades. The wounded negro, who,
it is thought, cannot possibly live, was
picked up, and on being removed to the
station, gave his name as X. G. Bedford.
The chase after the four others was kept
up for several hours, but, owing TO the
darkness of the night, was finally
abandoned. In the meantime, Bed
ford confessed to the. officers at the
station his own part in the affair, and
gave the names of his accomplices, which
are as follows: Sam Moody, Henderson
Ford, Henry Jones and Willis Mitchell.
These were all found in their beds
this morning, arrested and lodged
in the lower stationhouse to await
on examination. Capt. Perry is re-
garded as in very critical condition.
On his being removed to his residence,
on Aliens avenue, Drs. Kimbro and
Quinby were promptly called in, and
pronounced his wound as of most seri-
GUS character. His loss on the force
would be greatly felt, and his
death would be generally mourned.
We trust he may be spared to do as good
service in the future as he has done in
the past. This ARRAY swells the list OF
officers shot down by negroes, while dis
charging their duty, within the past six
months, to five. How long shall such
outrages be tolerated before some one of
the guilty is made an example of?