Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-27
A DESPERATE NEGRO KILLED.
He Assaults the officcrs, Escapes, and Il
Fired Upon and Killed.

Fired Upon and Killed.
LAWRENCEVILLE. VA. January 25.-
| (Special.)-On the evening OF the 2ll In
slant Charles Trombul. Deputy Sheriff
OF this county, was sent 10 its northeast
corner. near the North Carolina border,
with caplas from the court TO arrest
a negro. who has been known in the
neighborhool as Henry Sills. lie had
come into the county about three years
since with a woman in the character or
wife. For the past six months he had
been charged with crime, but had eluded
the officers OF the law. In fact. he has
lived since here with an outlook. and
never allowed any white man 10 get with
in speaking distance until he was certain
of his identity. Every act indicated an
escaped criminal He had also become
the terror Of mis- own Color being a
giant in strength and Of a most terrible
temper. That he lived BY theft was gen
orally conceded, but other negroes were
afraid TO inform upon him.
Mr.. Turnbull. taking Mr. W. T. Sledge
with him, reached the locality where he
lived about twilight. Mr.. Pearson ad-
vlsed him not 10 undertake the arrest
without L strong posse. Mr. Pearson 5
advice AMI opinion were sustained by all
whom Mr.. 1urnbull met. He therefore
summoned eight OF the best men In the
nelghborhood. All OF these were armed
with a gun or pistol, except two. About
3 o'clock they reached the old stone
house IN which the man and his people
lived. Having approached noiselessly at
first. they heard enough 10 satisfy them
selves that he was within. The Sheriff
then surrounded the house with his men,
made himself known, and entered with
Mr.. Sledge. Mr. Sledge gave his pistol
10 one of the guard. as he entered, TO Sc
cure the front door in case the man
should break past Mr.. Turnbuu and him
self
They saw no one but the woman when
they first entered.
DISCOVERED.
Mr.. Turnbull asked for the man. The
woman denied that he was in the house.
Mr. Turnbull then said IN a voice loud
enough to be heard through the house
that ne came with no intention 10 DO the
man harm. that tho charge was not Sc
rious. and so far az ne knew he was IN
no great danger. They then commenced
4 search, and quickly found him concealed
in a box or cupboard. in 4 space OF about
three cubic feet
The Sheriff, holding his pistol upon him.
ordered him - come out; this he did IN
apparent surrender. In one hand Mr.
Turnbull carried his pistol, IN the other
a lantern. He placed his pistol IN ms
pocket AMI then tried 10 take from MS
pocket a pair OF handouts. In an instant
the man seized a drawer or box. such as
are used In the country. which was rest
ing upon his place Of concealment, AMI,
with the words. Il will XIII YOU struck
Mr. Turnbull down. He caught the blow
with his lantern and arm. The first was
shiverel and twisted out OF all shape anl
his arm and head bruised. While stih
down Mr. Turnbul fred HIS pistol twice
In the direction OF the noise the man
made az he ran down the long shed-room,
and then - the outer door. THIS door
10 ran against with such force "a 70 iiit
fl entirely from lis hinges He then found
himself In the presence OF the 8uaris.
They COMMANDED him 70 stop. lie PAID
n, attention. but shying 70 the right CON
tinnel his flight, All fred upon him bnt
without much apparent effect He cleared
,yro fences and continued TO run He was
now on the public road, and also In fuh
view OF the officer and his whole posse.
KILLED.
A fusllade was the consequence Tor a
few moments. He fell and was capturel'
some three hundred ydIhs rum ''N ''
lie. however. continued to resist uh.h
h. was carried back - the house, IN
truth. until he was dead.
The Sheriff at once sent for pAyslclah
n see the wounded man, as no one
Thought him fatally hurt un,h ne o.ed'
within half an hour, and before the pny
stefan. Or. X. II. S.mms, reached the
place. ,,,,,,..,
post-mortem examination indicated
that he had very many mortal wouniS,
TIE man knew the house was shrrouhied
with armed men, but had pno!cy sworn
4rat ). would never be arrested. 1here
were some fifteen Or twenty OF his own
color present at the inc ies,. They ex-
b,bit4d unuualihed appreciation instead oI
sympathy. The papers found IN the house
Gov, hat he has been known as Dan!el
CIonton in North Carolina, and IL most
nrobablv an escaped convict
His house was full OF various weapons
Ling near the box from which ne was
t,ken was a loaded pistol ana a oro'l-dNe.
1,1ere we're also three loaded guns IN tAe
house a sung-shot, ami scattered arou"u
nrobably a dozen bulies and Dungeons.