The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-08
A PATROLMAN'S PERIL.
OFFICER RICHARDSON'S ENCOUNTER
WITH A DESPERATE NEGRO.
A Life and Death Struggle in the Par
lor of a Fashionable Residence on
Linden Street-Heroism of Plucky
Memphis Gill.

street, near Lauderdale, about lU30 o clock
yesterday morning, and an intensely
thrilling scene occurred at the residence
of Mr.. f. NJ. Nelson, No. SAC Linden.
The dramotis persona were scared ne
gro, still more scared policeman, an he
roic girl, two neighbors and passer-by.
The drama was intensely thrilling while it
lasted, and may yet prove To be tragedy.
1t all happened in this way; 1t appears
that Officer Richardson has been keeping
sharp look out for the pocket-book snatch
ers, whose depredations within the last ten
days have increased in daring and audac.
ity. Yesterday morning, about the time
named above, he saw what he conceived
TO be suspicious.looking negro, corner
Laudcrdale and Linden. In order
10 settle all doubts he approached
him and asked him his name.
The negro made no reply, but started
on dead run in the direction OF yelling,
ton street, with Officer Richardson in hot
pursuit. The negro gained on his pursuer
and the officer fred four shots at him,
two or three in the air and one straight at
the fugitive, one OF the balls piercing his
hat At No. $40 stood Mr.. Nelson's
carriage, which had Just come out OF the
court which surrounds the building, lcav-
ing the gates that gave access TO the gray
eled carriage drive wide open. In the
carriage were Mrs i. M. Nelson and
Misses Miriam and Mary Lou Nelson.
Hearing the shots aud tearing the horses
might take fright they alightod They
had hur.llxs Hon. fks, tl,..
dashing along with the policeman after
him. The ladies fearing stray shot
might hit them took refuge inside the
gate. When the fugitive got opposite to
where they stood he dashed through the
open gateway. ran back To the rear end of
the house and flew through side
door and up flight of stairs
leading from the ell into the
main building. The officer ran in after
him and then stopped to hold n council Of
war, while he reloaded his pistol. The
officer then ran 10 the front gate fired
another shot In the air aud blew his whis-
lie in order To summon roinfopcements,
and wildly shouted 20 the crowd which
had assembled % surround the house, as
the negro was inside.
MISS MIRIAM nelson's HERoIsN.
In the meantime Mrs. Nelson aud her
daughters had hurried bacl, to the house
90 await developments. They had seen the
negro rush up stairs and the policeman
awaiting on the outside Tor reiniOrcemenls.
Suddenly II flashed across the mind OF
Miss Miriam Nelson that the baby was
alone up stains, alone with n desperate me-
gro, who, in the frenzy OF his despair
might do any fearful decd TO insure his
own protection. The young lady's |
heart almost stopped beating as She |
thought OF Il. but only for "a mo- !
ment, and then, without a thought Of |
personal danger, she flew up the back |
stairs, over which the negro had just gone,
aud rushed into the house through the
same door. The negro saw her coming
and dared down the front stairs into the
parlor Miss Nelson, breathing easier.
got the precious baby and hurried back
with IL 10 the floor below, where her
mother and sister were breathlcssly await
ing her return. llurrah for Miss Miriam
Nelson! Tn ArrEAL tips is hat 10 her.
OFFICER mCnARDsoN's PERIL.
Mr. John T. Watkins, collector Of the
Rhodes Furniture Company, was walking
along Linden street when he heard shots
and lolice whistle. Thinking he might |
Dc OF service, hc hurried 20 the SPOT and |
ANNhN ~ hAWNA hNANAA AAlN AINllN kilAf anu ]
the officer waiting ior rciniurccmcnts in |
the rear of the house. Though unarmed. !
he volunteered his assistance aud entered
the house through the up-stnirs rear door,
while the policeman went through q door
on the parlor tiDor. Mt. Watkins made "A
mpid search ol the premises up siairs, and
bad Just completed the same when lac
heard sounds OF scuiilng below him, aud
the voice OF the policeman shouting In
tones OF frantic distress "llclp. Murder
oh, Lodyl Help Murdcrl" Mr.. Wat.
kins buried down stairs Ia the back par.
lor, whence the noise proceeded, aud
found Officer Richardson lying on his
back on tie floor, with the negro on tor
ol him, trying 10 get hold Of the smoking
pistol which the officer had In his hand.
MI Watkins seized the negro and tried 10
pull him off, but only succeeded with the
assistance OF Mr.. W. II. Moore. Jr, aud W.
H. johnson, two lads just ycrring into man.
hood, who, attracted 10y the officers cries
Tor help bad hastcncd 10 the rescue. Tho
negro, though badly wounded, made a
desperate resistance, aud was only over
powered after q severe struggle, during
which the rich lace curtains that divide
The front and back pnrlu-s were torn To
thrcds lie was finally subdued, how
ahNif ~ AhNAl hNiAiu ilANfG anu AhNn
ceased to resist. On examination u was
discovered that the negro had received
two pistol wounds One entered the left
arm aud lodged In the flesh OF the left
side the Other entered the neck and.
ranging downward, lodrud Ia the right
thouldcr-bladc
ofrtCEn mCuAEnsoN's STORY.
There WIS no eyewitness 10 what oc.
Cured between Richardson and the ncgro
IN the paror before Watkins came to the
rtcur, but Ia order Ia understand what
must have occurred " h we'll To know that
the rear door Of the back paflor Is con
ccalcd from view hy a heavy curtain
The hunted negro al q Joe, ior q hidin,
place got behind The curtain. hut the oi
hccr alter hasiy search, saw the unilinr
OF his inrn prUifudiug aud made Tor him
As soon a. hc touched the curtain IA,
ncgo made a wild spring upon the office
and together they irll upon the yrlyc
carpet. Then fearful struggle cnsurd
the negro making determined efforts 4
get The pistol aud the officer holding /
moit out Of his reach and raising thl
nughhorhood With his cii,s oi "murdor.
help Finally when be felt his strrnril
giving out the officer managed, by a su
pn'iee effort, ~ get his pistol ON lac nn.
fired three shots. two Of which enter.
the ncgro's body aud one the rear Nall
nncrr II tore away thep paper and sca,tcrc
The plasloting. Even this did not iazc M
Negro, and hui for the timely intcrycnto
Of Mcssm Watkins. Moore aud johnson
Richardson might have been slain wit