Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-08
LYNCH HIM." CRIED IN BROADWAY
Narrow Escape of n Negro from
Violence.
New York Herald. 7th.l

negro jumped on Broadway cable
car near Fifty-second street last night.
Another negro bleeding from two knife
wounds in the shoulder followed and
seized him by the throat Women passen-
gers shreked. Two of them tainted. A
crowd gathered around the car. Blood
spattered on the gowns of the women as
they hastily fed from the car led to the
rumor that one of the negroes had run
amuck and stabbed them. The cry OF
Lynch him. was heard on all sides,
but the prompt action Of the police pre-
vented any injury being done.
James Rees, % years old, of No. ass
Seventh avenue. had been playing pool
in the Adeiphi billiard-rooms at No. S2
Seventh avenue. In the billiard-rooms at
the time was Daniel II. Roche. "a years
old. Of No. 2O5 west Sixty-seventh street.
Roche and Rees both of whom are un-
employed at present. have known eacn
other for some time, and there has been
bad blood between them.
While Rees was playing Roche began
making remarks about him. For an hour
this was kept up, but Rees kept playing
and said nothing. Rees at last put up his
cue and walked up the stairway to the
sidewalk.
At the top of the stairway Rees held a
short conversation with James Dobson,
with whom he had been playing. Suddenly
Rees called TO Roche TO come up and APP
piled vile epithet to him. Roche went up
the stairs two steps at time, and when
he reached the place where Rees ana
Dobson were standing Rees made
lunge at Roche with knife. Roche
lodged to avoid the blow aimed at his
breast and the knife cut a cash inches
long and about inches deep in his left
shoulder. Rees made another lunge at
Roche cutting him nearly in the same
place.
Rees then rushed away up the street
Roche was at first bewildered by the
blow he had received. and wavered z
moment, and then started in pursuit.
When Rees reached Fifty-second street
and Broadway Roche was close on has
heels
Rees made dash for a south-bound
Broadway cable-car which was filled
with passengers. most of whom were
women. Roche also got on the car. He
was at this time covered with blood and
presented frightful appearance.
He followed Rees as he crowded into
the seat and grasped him by the throat
The women on the car screamed, and two
tainted outright. just az Roche had got
ten Rees by the throat, and was holding
him down in woman's lap the gripman
brought the car to standstill. The men
assisted the women who were becoming
nySttfiCdf, from the car.
The screams of the affrighted women
soon brought tremendous crowd who
gathered about the car. At first the
crowd did nothing but look on, but some
one cried, Lynch him. and the cry was
taken up. and several men sprang into
the car to get hold Of Rers Just as the
foremost man had grabbed him Policeman
Kerr jumped on the car and shouted
let that man alone; he is my prisoner"
Policeman Lieber crawled into the car
under the railing from the opposite side.
At this moment cries of Lynch him.
were heard on all sides. The crowd now
blocked the street Some thought that
Rees had attempted TO murder Roche on
the car. Others thought Rees had run
amuck and stabbed one or two OF the
woman, as they had bioodstains on their
clothing from the wounds In R0che's
Had the colored man been hauled from
the car into the bowling mob he would
nave certainly been roughly handled.
Even after Policeman Kerr had got Rees
down on the pavement the crowd yelled.
Lynch hm" Some one-started the re-
port that Rees had attempted 10 assault
woman. and that Roche was stabbed in
trying TO defend her. This made the
crowd howl worse than ever.
But as kerr's tall form and waving
club appeared with the other policeman In
front Of them the crowd Dade way. and
both men were taken TO the west Forty
seventh-Street Station. An ambulance
was summoned from Roosevelt Hospital.
and Roches wounds were dressed there,
after which, and despite the protests OF
the physicians. he vent home
Rees denies that he called Roche TO the
top of the steps. He said Roche kept In
sulting him, and when he started TO leave
the place followed him TO the top Of the
steps. and threatened to kill him. Rees
said he pulled out his knife and warned
Roche TO keep away from him. He said
that Roche, in trying to strike him ran
onto the knife. and cut himself The
police discredit Rees's story. though Dob
son corroborates Rees.