The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-08-29
JOHN STREET CAUGHT.
He Is Captured at Bristol by Il. III. Jones
who Is Directed by the Authorities
to Bring Him Here.
PARTICULARS OF THE CRIME.

two pistol shots, and the dashing of ne
gro through the town, and over the
bridge. The negro was John Street; and
ms ne ran, he aourished his pistol and
warned the crowd to give him the road.
He passed very near ore or two of the
police force, but singularly enough, they
happened to be unarmed; and, supposing
the negro had merely fired off his pistol in
the air and was running to avoid paying
the fine, they took no desperate chances
TO stop him. Mr.. Tate Irwin was within
few feet of the parties when the shots
were fired, but he had his back to them,
talking to some one OH business, and
when he wheeled to ascertain what had
happened, no one could, or would tell
him who fired the shots. One or two
white men said it was IL negro, and one or
two negroes said it was white man. Mr..
Irvine arrested several persons, suppos-
ing each to be the guilty party, but in
moment more, the negro, Street, broke
from the crowd and ran for the river. He
was soon followed by u half-dozen police,
but he crossed the bridge, slipped in the
bushes, and escaped.
That night at least twenty persons
secured the neighborhood, searching and
guarding the passes until day. Some
went distance of twelve miles on the
road, and others hunted through the
mountain paths.
About = o'clock, n. m, while Messrs.
Brown, Rush, and Baker, were standing
on the railroad grade up the Gap, negro
sprans from the bushes not far from
them. They cornered him with their guns,
and took him prisoner. They released
him thinking he was not the man they
were after, though he had pistol and a
bunch of clothes. The former they took
from him. When released, however, he
started to run, and they again halted him,
took him prisoner, and carried him to the
depot where the party concluded to re-
main until day. They occupied one of the
cars, and it was arranged that two of
them could go to sleep, while the third
guarded the prisoner. just before dawn
the negro went to get a drink, and while
there, looked out at the window, remark
ing he believed day was breaking, sud-
denly seized the door knob and leaped out
in the darkness.
Up to this time the parties were uncer-
tain rs to his identity, but they were now
satisfied he was John Street. In the
darkness it was impossible to find him
again.
1t was sometime after the shooting, be-
fore it became generally known that the
shots we're fired at John Fulton, and that
he was badly wounded, both balls taking
effect in the side.
The following statement made by Full
ton when he believed he was dying, is
his account of the affair:
/, John Fulton, being In my right mind, ard fully
conscious that cannot recover from my wounds,
make this us my dying declaration:
In company with James Kelly, late in the after
noon Of Saturday, August 23d, 1880, wax drinking;
was toIerably drunk, but remember everything that
occurred. About o'clock p. m Kelly and were Oh
the sidewalk East Fifth street, near the corner OF
Wyandote avenue, at the side door OF l. HID store
room. There considerable crowd OF people
present, and Kelly had some words with colored
woman. said nothing to her. Just then negro
men whom did not know, aud don't think ever
before, came up aud resented the talk between |
Kelly and the woman. He and Kelly seemed to be
having words, and came in between them, with the
Intention Of preventing difficulty. said nothing to
the negro aud took no part In the quarrel between
him and Kelly,
had pocketknlfe open in my hand. A negro
don't think he was the same man who shot me-
replied WASN'T after any difficulty. The other man
then quickly drew q pistol aud shot me twice.
made no effort TO resist him. II was done very |
quickly He was standing very near me. did not |
make any threat, or any motion to do tho man any
violence, end did not attempt to harm him In any
way. After was shot walked into the store Of !.
Hiib i never saw the man again who shot
This August 18th. 1890 his
w VIII ssss'' ,s'' JOHN \ FULTON.
r. T. lrvIxr, mark
w. X. KiLDoCRs,
FRANCIS SrURGILL.
All day Sunday the police were out
huAting the offender, but he was not
found. Yesterday morning, however, the
following dispatch was received:
BalsyoL, Aug. ISL. F. Bailitt-Ilaye caught the
niger Street, Caught him here In Bristol. What
shAli dog Il. JONES
Jones was tclegraphed by the author
tiles, to bring Street here, and that the
sergeant would meet him ut Flat Lick.
Many reports of the bad character of
Street have been circulated, many of
them apparently we'll authenticated, but,
40 the matter is to be judiciously in
yestigated, it would not be proper for
the PosF to prejudice the case by pub
1ishing them. The facts will likely be
developed fully ut the trial.
:. There has been GONE talk of lynching
Street, but it is not believed anything so
smprndent aud Iawless, will be tolerated
BY the community. Lynch law might I
mite out just punishment in one case,
hut the precedent would be bad, tending
TO encourage it in some other case IN
which the innocent might suffer. Be-
sides Big Stone Gap has the deserved rep |
tation Of being the most law-abiding
town in tile state, and any such act OF
violence would rob it Of its deserved
h0nors, and greatly iniitirc Its prosperity
Fulton Is now impro ring, and will ike |
iygreeoyer. s
INTERVIEW WITH TUE NEGRO.
On the arrival of the train, a crowd of /
several hundred people we're at the depot,
hut mo attempt ives made 10 interfere
with the due course Of the Ian. Street,
was very much alarmed, perspirsstion was
on his ftce in large drops.
In aH Interview with Il sentative Of |
the PosT, h0 said that when he escaped I
sffe IA lila capt1Fs Saturday night, ne went
down the rasis0aa and waiked all the way
Id Bristol He dersaFes he did; not go /
through the Gap III a
III Ella coHye rsati on Wit ~ jones who /
ssepgkt he sa5d hat he and hisi
uonea were togo. her, when Fulton end I
lin II md caslie md ask "a the o.ssAItii
III sko 81 ND ron, rated Eitt /
Isl. u ia llaf friends ted
M N III IS fdA IA Ill K4f.5