Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-03-15
UNLOOKED-FOR KILLING.
Thomas Brooks, COIOred. Killed by
Deputy-Sh John Powell,
While Attempting His
Escape.

A mulatto negro, known by the name
Of Thomas Brooks, was killed yesterday
afternoon, about four O'Clock, by Dep
uty-Sheriff John Powell, from whose
custody Brooks was attempting to es-
cape while being transferred from the
cage in the criminal courtroom to the
county Jail. Brooks was a notorious
character, whose name has figured on
the police docket here for number OF
years. he was convicted in the Bart
lett court, year or two ago, on charges
OF COW stealing, for which he was sen
fenced to the penitentiaTy for term OF
years. He has been hiding about the
city for the past three or four months,
and on frequent occasions admitted that
he had escaped from the penitentiaIy.
He made this confession q day or two
ago in the presence of Steve Perkins, a
cOlored roustabout on the steamer Belle
of Texas, when Perkins, on Monday
night, meeting Deputy Constable Jour-
dan, also colored, and who is one OF the
officers of Esquire Miller's court, Per-
kins told Jourdan that he would show
him where he could arrest an escaped
convict, and directed him (JOuTdsn) TO
the place frequented by Brooks. jour
dan told Perkins he would not attempt
to arrest him Monday night, because he
believed Brooks's pals would try to pre-
vent the arrest, and agreed to make the
attempt at q more seAsOnable time.
Yesterday about three O'Clock Jourdsn
discovered Brooks in Cages saloon, on
Main street, at or near the corner OF
Main and Commerce sire cts, and by
little deception got Brooks out OF the
saloon, laid the hands CT the law upon
him, and conveyed him to the criminal
courtroom, where he turned the pris-
over over to Deputy-SherifP Powell. On
the way TO the courtroom Books &C.
knowledged that he was an escaped
convict, having broke out from the pen
itentiary some time during last August.
Court being in session, Deputy. Sheriff
Powell locked Brooks up in the cage,
but soon after took him out for the pur-
pose of conveying him to the county
Jail. Emerging from the courtroom into
the alley north OF the court building,
some one engaged the officer attention,
when the prisoner started to walk Gil,
Seeing his movements, Deputy SheriH
Powell called to him to come back,
which he did at the time, but again
started off toward the street west of the
building, this time Fastening his foot
steps until he had got beyond the alley
and turned southwardly toward Poplar
street. Powell started in pursuit, call
ing to the prisoner to halt, but BROOKS
paid no attention, when Powell drew
his pistol aud fred over the Gull
prit's head in order to bripg
hina to stand: Brooks ran the
faster, and Powell again fired with like
results, until Brooks had reached Poplar
street, when the deputy-sheriff fired
with accurate aim, the ball penetrating
tie body of the escaping prisoner, enter
ing the back to the left OF the spinal
column, and evidently perforating the
| heart, which caused death almost in
stantly. A number of persons were at
tracted to the spot by the shooting, and
many saw the final shot, which was the
only one that struck the man. The body
| of the dead man was carried to the
stationh0use, where Esquire Spellman
held an inquest, the jury returning 3
verdict in accordance with the above
facts, and generating Deputy-Sheritt
| Powell from all blame, in that he did
his duty as an officer of the law. jour
| dan states that the colOred people were
generally cognizant of the fact
| that Brooks was an escaped convict
and frequently complained to him that
a convict should be allowed to run at
large without any one making the at.
tempt to arrest him, but also stated that
he was never able to come up with him
until informed of his whereabouts by
Steve Perkins. The action OF Perkins,
the informant, and Of JOurdan, who
adroitly captured the convict, is no less
commendable than the act Of the officer
in preventing his escape after capture.
Deputy-Sheriff Powell, it is accorded by
all hands, did his duty, and under the
circumstances acted with remarkable
GOODNESS in trying to bring his prisoner
to stand without employing the last
resort ONLY when duty required it.