Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-03-14
A COLORED rEAN'S DES-
lPERATION.
SHOTDOWN INSTALLER.
PREFERRED DEATH TO THE PINI-
TEETIARY.
Bis Victim Passed Away-Escaped Lynch
ing-Died Rather than be
Captured.

DANvILLE, Va, March, 7.-At nine
o'clock tonight an alarm was turned
in by ringing the fire alarm bell, but
as no particular box was struck the
people on the streets were non plussed
until the news got abroad that Depu-
ty-Sergeant w. A. Cook had been shot
by colored prisoner in the jai and
that the prisoner had made his escape
HIS DESPERATE EFFORT.
The prisoner is named George Evans
and was convicted at this term of the
court of stealing and house-breaking
and given five years in-the penitentia-
-ry. Deputy oek was having the cells
in the Jail locked, and was standing at
the ponderous. iron doors superintend-
inc the york with the. door aiar. when
without a moments warning. Evans
opened fire on the Deputy.
FIRED UPON HIN.
Three balls entered his body. One
lodged in the abdomen. another just be
low the first. and the third in the leg
DEPUTY Cook retreated when the firing
commenced, drawing his own pistol
and firing on the prisoner. He fel' in
the hallway, and Evans came out of
the fail and ran upstairs and jumped
out of the third story window, taking
the sash with him.
HELD THEM AT BAY.
The alarm-bell was rung, and the
8dremen rushed towards the jail, but
4Eere kept at bay by Evans with gun
in his hand One of the firemen ran &c
enrine-house, grabbed double-barrel
ed shot gun, ard pursued the escap ping
prisoner, firing on him twice, but
could not say whether he struck him
Deputy Cook was borne upstairs to his
room and medical aid summoned.
MUCH EXCITEMENT.
The wounds are dangerous and ma,
prove fatal Excitement is running
high, and many people are ON the
streets and in the vicinity of the jail
and should Evans be captured ther
will be no need of jury, for he viii
thick-set man, light colored. and de
perate criminal. Hounds have beel
sent for to put or his track.
DANvILLE, VA Mar i0-Special-Th
CITY was thrown into a state OF excite
ment at Z O'Clock this morning by tn
rumor, which travelled like wild fire
that George Evans, the coIored con
vict. who shot and killed Deputy Ser
;geant Cook, had been surrounded in
house Oh the outskirts of town by tn
officers, aud that he had shot and kill
ed himself rather than be taken.
RATHER THAN sTARvE.
The rumor proved true. The fac
are as follows: BetYeen daylight an
sunrise this morning Evans. wOunde'
half starved, and in generally dilap
dated condition, limped into Bruce
town." a colOred settlement on Il
q. edge of town, and begged of the colo
ed people to give him shelter and foo
He said he was ounded by bali fro
Cooks pistol Saturday night, his ank
was sprained by the jump from q
iail window, and in this condition
had been lying out in Walters woo
since Saturday night without food.
sHRI.rERED AND REPORTED.
Several colored people refused
have ANYTHING to do with him
lanes @ Bruce, the proprietor o.
colored dance hall, told him he cou
90 in the hall, and he did so. Bru
at once notified the Chief OF Poll
and soon the building was surround
Evans came to the window, saw Il
escape was impossible, and turned a
nut his pistol in his mouth and fiji
the only ball remaining in it. vi
the officers reached him he was de
HIS AocoMPLIoE.
Ida Skeen, the woman who got
pistol to Evans with which he assal
mated Deputy Sergeant Cook Stature
night, has been indicted for murder
accessory before the fact, and will 7
badly be tried in the Hastings Co
tomorrow.