New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-07
4 NEGRO NOBBED ~ BROADWAY.
THREATS OF LYNCHING RAISED BY
CROWD EXCITED BY WILD TALES

THREATS OF LYNCITING RAISED BY
CROWD EXCITED BY WILD TALES
The timely arrival Of two policemen prevented
a bowling throng Of people from doing violence
TO a colored youth In Broadway, near Fifty first
ST. a little after 8 o'clock last night. The youth
was James Rees twenty-three years old of No
1.6 Seventh-ave. He was held a prisoner by
Policeman Liebers. while Policeman Kerr, a
powerful fellow, shouted Make way there" and
forced a passage for Liebers and his prisoner.
Behind the policeman and his prisoner came
a man hatless and literally covered with blood,
presenting "a frightful appearance. and the
crowd seeing this man. yelled Lynch him. at
the prisoner until the arrival of more policemen
dispersed it, The policemen, with great diff
Guilty. finally got their prisoner to the West
Forty ty-seventh-st. station.
Rees and James Dobson Of No. lbs Third
ave. another coored man, while playing
cards in the Adelphi billiard-rooms. at No. SO2
Spventh-ave. began to quarrel with Daniel T.
Roche a waiter Of No. 2OJ West Sixty-sev-
enth-st.. until Roche went downstairs Rees
and Dobson followed him out Of the room, but
remained in the upper hallway and held con-
sultation.
Suddenly Rees called to Roche to come up. ap-
plying an epithet at the same time. Roche went
up the stairs two steps at a time. but when he
reached the place where Rees and DObson were
standing Rees made a lIInge at Roche with n
knife and Roche received the knife in his left
shoulder the blade cutting a cash four inches
long and two inches deep. Rees made another
lunge at Roche cutting him IN nearly the same
place. and then rushed away up the street.
Roche was at first bewlldered by the blow he
had received Then he started in pursuit.
When Rees reached the corner of Ffty-second-
ST and Broadway, Roche was close at his heels
Refs sprang upon a southbOund open cabe-car
which was filled with passengers. and Roche
Jumped one after him. He was covered with
blood and presented frightful appearance, and
as Rees took a seat. he grasped him By the
throat The women on the car screamed and
two tainted Roche finally got Rees by the
throat He was holding him down in a woman's
lap when the motorman brought the car TO a
standstlll The women ran screaming out, ana
soon big crowd gathered about the car, III
which the two men still struggled
At first the crowd did nothing but look on.
Then some one cried Lynch him" and the cry
was taken up. Several burly men sprang into
the car and got hold Of Rees. but just as the
foremost had grabbed the colored man by the
arm Policeman Kerr jumped aboard ana
shouted: Let that man alone: he is my pris-
oner."
Policeman Lebers at the same time craWied
into the car under the railing from the oppo-
site side. Cries Of Lynch him. were heard on
all sides and the crowd had become so great
that It made the street impossible. The I'M
preston prevailed that Rees had attempted to
murder Roche on the car II was also said that
Rees had run amuck and stabbed one or TWO OF
the women az several Of those who fled from the
car had bloodstains on their clothing from the
drpplngs Of the wounds in Roche's shoulder.
Later some one started the report that Rees
had attempted to assault woman. and that
Roche was stabbed in trying TO defend her ana
this made the crowd howl worse than ever When
the policemen appeared with the men heer
tail form and waving club. however. caused the
crowd tc make way. and when the other police
men rushed UP all were taken TO the west Forty
seventl-3t. station . r.,..,.
Roche's wounds were dressed at Roosevelt
HOSPITAL and despite the protests or the physi-
cians he went home Rees denies the stabping
hut all the witnesses contradicted MS story