Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-08
AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE.
A Desperate Fight between an OIL
Ger and "a Prisoner.

EAST RADFORD, VA, October T.
Special -City-Serg Charles f..
Thomas had an exciting experience last
night, while taking a prisoner TO Chris
tiansburg for safe keeping. As l reported
a few days ago, Deputy-Marshal Wilson
had arrested Rufus De Hart a desperate
man, accused of killing, stealing, robbery,
Illicit dstilling, &c. De Hart was brought
here with the intention of sending him
TO Abingdon, but the officer failing 10
come, and the Jail here being insecure,
Sergeant Thomas handcuffed De Hart
and went down town to get a rope to tie
him. so he would be secure on the trip.
Although the Sergeant was absent but
short time, he found when he returned
that De Hart had, with his handcuned
arms, priced off the hinges of the door
and was nearly free. The Sergeant then
placed De Hart in his buggy, and taking
the hitching strap, with heavy IRON
weight attached, he ran the line through
the handouts and tied the end 10 the
weight. The Sergeant had gone about
three miles on his way when hye men
stepped out, stopped the horse, and seized
the officer. They said they did not intend
to hurt the officer, but were gong 10
take the prisoner and hang him II he ala
not tell who had been his confederates IN
his many acts of lawlessness. The offcer
told the men they had the power to XIII
the prisoner, but they could not take MN
away and hang him De Hart told who
had assisted him, and the oiiicer was per-
mitted to go on with his prisoner Just
before reaching ChristansDurg DE hart
rose suddenly with the iron weight whlch
he had managed to get into his hands,
and struck the Sergeant full in the face,
cutting a cash over the eye and another
on the cheek. The force Of the blow ana
the weight Of the man threw the ser
geant out of the buggy. but In the ran
he held on to the prisoner, and pulled
him out with him. The horse never stop
ped but kept on. Here on the 1oauslue Il
fight was going on between the ollcer /,
who was daZed by the ticks ana ran, anu
the prisoner. The Sergeant soon had ms
man on the ground, and with his hand
in his throat drew his pistol and struck
De Hart a heavy lick in the race. lie
Hart piteously begged not TO be killed
and Sergeant Thomas made him get up.
and they started on foot. About halt
mile down the road the buggy was found,
and in a short time the officer landed ms
man safely in jail Both were covered
with blood and dust but DE Hart had
met his match. This morning the SER
geant has a badly sprained wrist ana
several gashes on his head, race, ana
hands to show for the desperate nght. ne
Hart is a desperate. and there would
have been no regrets had the oficer killed
him. as il was evidently De Harris lhteh-
ton to kill the officer. De Hart Is known
to have killed two men ana coihilil1eu
numerous acts of outlawry
Thomas Farmer, member OF inc
bridge force of the Norfolk ana western,
was struck by an engine in the yard mere
Yesterday and narrowly escaped Delng
killed. AS IT was, he was hurt ABOUT 'he
head and shoulders. He stepped rom one
track to another TO get out OF the way
of an engine. and stepped In front OF one
coming in an opposite direction.
Major j. Hoge Tyler spent yesterday az
his home here. He seems in me pest OF
health, and says the ticket VIII sweep
the State. ,., -. .
A large number of our citizens are at
tending HostOn Conference, whicn Ii IN
session at Bristol. Bishop Key Is pre-
siding.