Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-16

police headquarters here,' and 1t was kept
very close in order to prevent any dis
turbance or large crowd at the depot
when the officers arrived with the
prisoner. Captain Thomas, however,
deemed ii wise not TO bring his man as
far as the Broad-Street Station upon the
train, but took him off at Orleans street
Sergeant Jones a. Otey and Policemen
Kearse, Hulcher, Robertson, Johnson.
and Russell went down to Providence
Forge I'm the afternoon to assist in pro-
tecting the prisoner upon his return trip
to Richmond.
When the police officers and the hand
cuffed negro stepped off the Chesapeake
and Ohio train at Orleans street there
were only few by-standers around, but
by the time Thomas was landed at the
First Station fully 5000 persons had as
sembled within the vicinity of the sta
tion-house, which is just above the First
Market. 1t was about 1880 o'clock in the
evening, and there would naturally have
been a large crowd about the market, 1t
being Saturday, but the news of the ar
rival of, the would-be assassin attracted
hundreds. and It was a variegated throng
that filled the streets in that vicinity. As
soon as Thomas was taken into the sta
tion-house two officers were placed on
duty at the foot of the stairs leading
thereto in order to keep back the crowd.
Thomas was hurried into a CELL He
had already confessed that he did the
shooting to Captain Thomas, but he told
many inconsistent stories as TO his past
history.
THE OFFICERS FATHER CALLS.
Just after being lodged in his cell q
Dispatch reporter called on Thomas. and
during the progress OF the interview
which followed, Officer Minors father, a
vigorous old gentlemen Of 70-odd, came
into the station-house, called for Cap
tain Thomas, and asked for permission
to see tho prisoner. Several times yes
terday, Mr.. Minor, with tears trlckling
down his cheeks, had been heard TO say:
"All that / ask of any Of them Is that
they will allow me to see the negro who
shot my son just for one second; he would
then never have a chance to shoot an
other boys eyes out" Captain Thomas
had his wits about him, however. and
sent Mr.. Minor word that he would have
TO decline his request. Two policemen
were then stationed at the door of the
hallway leading to the cells and Mr..
Minor was not permitted 70 enter that
apartment. The affectionate father de-
parted, very much Disconnected. 1t was
believed that he had gone to the station
house with a distinct purpose to have
revenge IL he could have gotten q glance
at Thomas.
ADMITTED HIS GUILT.
After this incident the Dispatch man
resumed his interview. Thomas told all
sorts of stories He admitted that he
shot officer Minor but declared that he
did so because the policeman threw his
hand behind him, as If he was going to
draw his own revolver.
"Why did you tell the officer TO throw
up his hands?' asked the news-gatherer.
II did not do that. He told me to
halt and did halt, and he seemed to be
about to draw his pistol. 1 had mine in
my shrt-bosom, with my hand very near
IL, and drew II and fired first" replied
the prisoner
Thomas was told that Nathan Powell,
the negro who was arrested early yes
terday morning as an aocompliee Of his,
had said that he told Mr.. Minor 10 throw
up his hands, and fired almost at the
same instant. This Thomas emphatically
denied He declared that he was stand
ing directly in front OF the policeman
when he fired the shot.
"Why did you and Powell break into
the hardware-store OF Walden & Co.,
in Manchester, on Friday night?' fur
ther inquired the scribe.
II didn't break into 1t. I wasn't in 1t
at all. / met the other fellow just be-
yond the Free bridge on the Manchester
side"
Had you ever seen him before?"
mo; that was the first time 1 ever
saw him in my life"
How did he know you then?'
II don't know. unless another fellow
who ruined with him told him about
me-"
How did you get all those pistols,
knives, etc.?"
That other boy gave them to me to
help him to pawn them"
Thomas being pressed further. said
that he supposed his chum from Peters,
burg, named "Buddio' something, had
told Powell what sort OF man he was
and that Powell knew him by this de-
scription. When told that Powell said