Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-10
STAB OVER HEART.
GARRETT MERCER PERHAPS FA-
TALLY STABBED BY A NEGRO.
STEPPED ON JOHN DREW'S TOES.
cOvcry.

GONerys
Garnett Mercer, the 1j-year-old son Of
DR.. C. A. Mercer, of No. S05 east Main
street, was attacked yesterday afternoon
by a negro. who gave his name az John
Wesley Drew, and seriously. If not IA
tally, stabbed. Drew was soon arrested,
and is now a prisoner at the Second
Police-Station.
The distressing affair occurred in front
of Chelfs drugstore. at the corner of
Third and Main streets, just half a
block from the residence of the unfor-
tunate boys parents, and young Mer-
Ger staggered to his home without as
slstance, though he fell on the way. He
fell again as soon as he got inside the
house, and was put to bed at once,
messengers being dispatched post haste
for physicians. Drs. H. a. Tabb, the
family physician. and c. w. Z. Brock,
Hugh Taylor. and Edward Mcclure re-
sponded promptly.
WAS IN A SERIOUS CONDITION.
When the physicians arrived the wound
ed lad was apparently sinking rapid
ly. He had a small wound in the left
breast, just below the nipple, and though
there was only a very slight flow of
blood therefrom, there was every indi-
cation Of an internal hemorrhage, as
no pulse was perceptible. The boy was
thoroughly conscious, notwithstanding
his weakened state and fully realized
his precariOus condition. The doctors
worked heroically on him, and being
almost confident that his weakness re-
suited from an excessive internal flow
Of blood had about determined to re-
sort TO TRANSMISSION of blood from the
veins Of another to his, when he rail-
lied slightly. and it was shown that he
was suffering from shock.
HAS 4 FIGHTING CHANCE.
His condition was such as to render
it impossible to probe the wound with
safety, and this was deferred. Dr. Tabb
remained with him. and when seen at
late hour last night said he could make
no definite statement as TO Garnetts
condition, except to say that it was ex-
Iremely precarious. If ] had been
asked a short time ago" he said, Il
should have replied that there were S99
chances out of u thousand against his
recovery, but he now appears 10 have
fighting chance. We can't say whether
the knife penetrated TO the cavity Of
the heart or not, but the chances are
that it did"
STEPPED on DREW'S FOOT.
The stabbing occurred about $50 o'clock
in the afternoon, at time when
the street was densely crowded.
circus parade being in the act of pass
ing. According 10 the statement made
by young Mercer and several eye-wit-
nesses. ne was standing at the corner
Of Third and Main streets looking at
the parade, when he accidentally step
ped back and troy upon the negros toes.
Get off my feet" the negro is quoted
by all as saying, and at the same time
he stabbed the boy who had injured his
pedal eXtremities. No one who saw the
act realized OF imagined that young
Mercer had been stabbed. They thought
the negro had only struck him with his
fist. the knife being kept out Of view.
As soon as he was struck, Mercer reeled
and staggered off across the street In
front OF the house at the southeast
corner Of Third and Main streets, he
fell 10 the sidewalk, but struggled TO his
feet and staggered TO his home.
NEGRO PURSUED AND CAUGHT.
The negro. mean time. had slipped off
I'm the crowd and followed The procession
on down Main street. Several Of Mer-
GERS companions. when they learned
that he had been stabbed, set up a cry,
and started in pursuit Of the negro,
Policeman PoitauX, who was near by,
joining in the chase. Mr.. Oscar Welsh
ger and another young man, overlook
the boy at the corner OF Ninth and Capt.
tol streets, and headed him off there,
but he still held the dangerous knife in
his hand, and they waited until Mr.
Potiaux arrived on the scene. The
policeman promptly arrested the darky
and carried him TO the Second Station
where he was locked up.
Some time thereafter q Dispatch man
called at the station and had long
talk with the negro, who is dimilutive
boy 16 years Of age, though he appears
only about H.
TELLS ANOTHER STORY.
Drew expressed great regret for the
deed, and said he only intended giving
the lad a scratch with his knife. His
story differs very materially from that
Of Garnett Mercer and his companions.
According to his statement, Mercer trod
yu HIS TOES dl LliSL anu aidlu 1lltfArf
and meeting him again at Third and Main
kicked him violently. This he claims as
his provocation for using the knife which
he says he had In his hand for the pur-
pose of whiting Il stick.
Drew, though young in years, is old In
crime, and is known TO the police under |
several aliases as vicious offender |
against the laws. He has repeatedly |
figured in court, and was released from |
Jail only last Friday. He has a most re-
)ulsiye countenance. and appears to be |
Of a stole in nature. The Dis |
patch man told him that his victim might |
lie, and suggested that If such unhappy |
.esult occurred Drew would in all proba-
)iity be hanged. He did not seem one |
whit disturbed by this gloomy prospect, |
asserting in a nonchalant manner that |
ne could only die if he was hanged.
The case will be called in the Police
court this morning, but will undoubtedly |
De continued until something definite can
Je determined concerning young Mercer's
condition.