Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-03
CHASE A NEGRO BOY.
Exciting Race After James Robertson
for Following School girls.
SHOT Ar AND CAPTURED AT LAST.
The Youth Brought Into the city
aud Lodged AT the First Police sta
tion-fic Is CHARGED with Being
Suspicious Character.
Suspicious Character.

The usually tranquil community sur
rounding beautiful lakewood Cemetery
was stirred TO its most profound de9thS
with excitement yesterday afternoon. Inc
lopulace do not remember TO nave VIII
messed such an evontful day IN many
years. The cause OF the CONSERVATION
was a chase after a colored youth. named
james Robertson. who had been caught
following a couple OF schoolgirls. pre-
sumabiy with view TO assauiting them
As n result OF the pursuit after the lad.
he now lies IN the First Police-Station,
where he IS charged with being sus-
plcious character.
About o'clock in the afternoon Mike
pierce. one Of the employees at lakewood
Cemetery, observed that two small girls,
one OF whom attends the High
School and the other a pupil OF
Springfield School, we're being fol-
lowed by a two-thirds-grown negro boy,
AID that his movements were alarming
them The little misses were on their way
70 the graves Of relatives in lakewood for
the purpose OF placing flowers upon the
graves Every now and then the lad
would call TO the girls or beckon TO them
10 come 10 him. one OF the girls finally
told Mr. Pierce that they were afraid OF
the negro, and Mir. Pierce told them to
resume their walk. and he would protect
them.
REPORTED TO THE sUPERINTEND-
ENT
Mr. Pierce at once reported the matter
10 Superintendent Dickinson, who told MN
60 bring the colored boy 10 HIM Inc
former gathered up a double-Darreheu
shotgun loaded with No. bird shot, anu
went out To capture the youth As lon
as James saw Mr. Pierce coming WIN
such formidable weapon ne 1dsheu
away. The long-legged cemetery man
cried out TO him to hold up awhiie' Du.
the youth was too smart TO heed TINS. anu
simplv increased his gait and skipped
more fieetly over the graves Oh
Dakwood. Seeing that the boy hau
no idea OF obeying his command MT
Pierce leveIed his gun and fired at the
legs OF the fleeing negro, hoping 10 STOP
him thereby. A few scattering shot
struck the fugitive just above his pecan
extremities. and he tumbled down, but
was 10 again and running the more
swiftly IN a moment. Mr.. Pierce ehot al
him again, but without the desired result
and By this time j. 5. and Barney Eliysoh
had Joined IN tne CndSt. JdiHto was SNoh
outside the cemetery-grounds, and was
travelling through fields and woods at
a lively clip. As he passed houses and
roads he was yelled at 10y persons. who
tried IN vain TO stop him. Excitement
was intense. and, as the negro passed the
place of Mr. Houston, who resides about
two miles rom the city, the latter gem
tleman was requested by Messrs. Pierce
and Ellyson 10 run after 1.-The thief" as
they characterized the fleeing boy
JUMPED ON HIS MULE.
Mr.. Houston very recently distinguished
himself as "a hero by single-handedly at
lacking Quartette Of county officers.
who, having selected him as a victim OF
"a practical joke, attempted 10 wayay
him on his way home. He appreciated
the situation as soon as he saw the negro
go coursing by, and, springing upon the
back OF an unsaddled mule and grabbing
O gun. he gallOped OFF, with view 10
beading the fugitive Of. The mule sped
along at n rapid gait through the pines,
and its rider had soon gotten beyond the
lad and caused him TO turn from his
course. The negro was soon caught by
Mcssls. ElysOn and Pierce who were
completely broken down, but not until
they had chased him three miles from the
starting point. Robertson was brought
20 the city, and lodged at the First
Police Station. The charge OF being a
suspicious character was the grayest &c
cusation that could be entered again~
him IN view OF the circumstances
The boy says he was not Intentionally
following the girls but was lettering about
the cemetery.