Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-16
BORSE-THIEF KILLED.
x,cuoLAs JONES SHOT ny MR.. VA
sHox. Nv nENRICO.
ORDERED DEPUTY TO SHOOT.
The Fugitive Was Passing the Posse
Riding The stolen Horse When
Brought Down by the Cun-Exon-
Grated by Coroner's jury.

shot and fatally wounded by Mr.. Bruce
vashon, in Henrlco county, about O'Clock
yesterday morning while he was attempt
ing to escape from justice ON stolen
horse.
The negro was trying to reach Charles
City county when shot, and rode at a
rapid gait down the Charles City road,
until when about eleven miles from this
city he was overtaken by Mr. Vashon
who accompanied Constable T. II. Samuel
In chase for him. and refusing to HIATT
when ordered to do so, he was literally
filed with heavy shot, which tore his
intestines in fearful manner.
James had been living in Fulton with
his mother and an uncle, who Is employ
cd as a cook on board the steamer Poca-
hontas. He was a rather nice-looking
negro Of gingerbread color, and up to
short time ago bore a good reputation.
He wandered from the straight and mar
row path, though, and for some time had
been suspected OF dishonesty. Recently
he had been depredating about the
| premises of the Chemical Works, ana
several nights since stole a lot of lead
| piDp from the WOIhS. ne was seen ~
| Waterman Crouch while escaping with
his plumber and ordered to halt. His re-
Spouse was given by three shots from
his revolver, fred in rapid succession at
the Waterman, and before Mr.. Crouch
| could return the fire James sprang in
| boat and made his escape in the darkness.
CYCLONE STARTED AFTER HIM.
On Tuesday Mr.. Crouch reported the
| ~ NJ a
warrants, one for felony and the other
| for msdemeanor were sworn out before
Magistrate Larus and placed in the hands
| of Constable Samuel for service. Mr.
| Samuel went after James, but he was In
| some manner made aware of his coming
and fed.
The negro went down the New Market
road and stopped about IL o'clock at the
farm Of Mr.. u. Wittkamp. about four
miles below Richmond. Entering this
| genteman's stable-yard, James hallooed
and attracted the attention of Mrs. Witt
| kamp OF whom he inquired the way to
| Charles City. When she left her window
the negro went into the barn, and, taking
a bride, went out into the field and cap
| tured one of Mr.. Wittkamp's finest
horses, which he mounted and rode off.
| In going down the road he met Liston
| Clayton and Morris Miller, two Of Mr..
| Wittkamp's negro employees, who, in the
| bright moonlight. recognized their en-
ployer's horse. One of the darkies at
| once went to Mr.. Wittkamp's to notify
him and the other went for Constable
Samuel. Mr.. Vashon was visiting at Mr..
Samuels house when the messenger ar
rived. and Mr.. Samuel deputized his guest
as his assistant. The two. with two ne
sroes entered a Dayton wagon and
81 ri N nIfrc1it of the fucitiVp
TOOK THE WRONG ROAD.
They caught sight of him near Boyer's
store and FASTENED after him. He put
spurs to his horse and passed out of
sight. but not being familiar with the
road, went towards Curtis Neck. while
the Constable and his party went straight
ahead Finding out HIS error after having
traversed the Curtis Neck road some dis
lance, the fugitive doubled back on his
track and emerged once more into the
Charles City road, but this time in rear
of the posse. He ran his horse on this
road and increased his speed. When he
passed Mr.. Samuels vehicle he was going
at break-neck gait. The Constable, see
ing him coming. ordered him to halt, but
he paid no heed TO the command, and
finally, as he passed abreast of the We
hicle, Mr. Samuel ordered Mr.. Vashon,
who held a double-barreled shotgun TO
ire. The order was quickly executed,
and the entire load of double r shot took
effect in James's left side Just above the
hip. The shot all entered in one rpot,
and tore a hole in the mans side about
as large as the palm Of ones hand. The
intestines were literally riddled and the
lower lobe of the left lung was blown off.
FELL FROM HIS HORSE.
The man, as soon as shot. fell from the
horse, and the docile animal immediate
ly stopped. Messrs. Vashon and Samuel
went at once to the assistance of the
wounded man. and lifted him into their
wagon, where they kept him until DR..
Archer, who was quickly summoned. ar
rived The man was perfectly conscious.
but declined to talk until informed by
DR.. Archer that he must DIE He then
admitted having shot at Mr.. Crouch
but said he had no idea that he was
running from officers when he passed
Mr.. Samueps Dayton.
AS soon as possible after DIR. 1,rcher's
arrival the wounded man was started for
the city and about 8 o'clock in the morn
ing was landed in the county Jail. where
DR.. Croxton. the County Coroner. sewed
up his wound. The darky did not com
plain, though he must have been suffer
Ing great pain, but only asked that some
thing be given him TO hasten Ills death
This was refused him, but he fingered
only short while, breathing his last
just At II o'clock.
CORONER'S JURY EXONERATES
THEM.
Messrs. Samuel and Vashon. who had |
accompanied the negro to the jail. as |
soon as they were advised of his death |
surrendered themselves. and Mr.. Lewis |
issued warrants against them. charging |
them with murder. They were at once |
admitted 10 bail. though in the sum OF |
500. with County-Treasurer Brauer as |
their bondsman.
Dr. CroXton. who was present at the |
jan when the negro died, ordered that |
jury be summoned. and at o'clock he |
held an inquest. Both Messrs Samuel |
and Vashon. together with Mr. Witt
kamp, and the negroes Clayton and Mil /
Ter. testified. in substance as tolc above. /
and the jury rendered the following h, er-
dict:
1--WE, the jury, being sworn to INQUIRE
when and where and by what means
said Nicholas James came to his death
do say upon our OATH that the said
Nicholas James came to his death from
gunshot wound at the hands of one
Bruce Vashon, at the command of II. II.
Samuel. Constable of Henrico county