Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-18
THE CASE G0ES0vER
HEARING OF CHARGES AGAINST
THOMAS DEFERRED TEN DAYS.
HE AND POWELL BEFORE THE JUSTICE
An Immense Crowd I'm the Chamber
Hut No DiSordcr--Thc Prisoners
su,rr,ca Rack 10 Jaii-Omccr Minor
Getting Along Well.


William Thomas, the negro youth "no
early Saturday morning shot pohco-o"'
Ger Percy G. Minor down with p's'o'
that he had Just procured by roho'ns a
store IN Manchester, and was arrested
IN the Chickahominy Swamps' OF Nc"
Kent. that afternoon after an ah-day
soarch during which he fred at two oil
his supposed pursuers. was prisoner IN
the Police Court yesterday morning.
rbcre was. however, no examination
as Mr.. Minor was. of course. IN 100 pre-
carlous a condition to DO present anu
the witnesses had not been summoned
The two charges against Ihomas-oi
shooting the officer with intent to Kill
and breaking into the store OF Nadeh
Co in Manchester. and stealing guam
tity Of weapons. ammunition. and o'her
articies--were continued until the zo'h'
"a were also those against Na'han
Powell. who was with Thomas when the
policeman was fired upon.
The largo court chamber was packea
20 the doors. and there was a crowd
about the City Hail. but there was no
disorder. The police and court ofhcers
managed the case. as they had done
from the start, with the best possible
Judgment and tact. The prisoners were
taken from and back to the jail IN
manner 10 prevent bringing them In con-
tact with any crowd. and they were
kept in the courtroom but Few mo-
ments. And through this brief pe'iou
the negroes were surrounded by officers
10 protect them against any attack thal
might be made by some hot-headed per-
son.
THOMAS TAKEN TO COURT.
The police displayed a good deal OF
tact in getting Thomas to the Police
Court without the crowd there assembled
knowing anything about il. He was
not taken I'D with the other prisoners
TO appear before his Honor. so that when
all of those in the van had alighted anu
THE Kid" was not among them there
was great disappointment among the
SPECTATORS. The BLACK Nara went
no Broad street as If TO go back TO the
stable, but Driver Henry Vance turned
into Marshall street and back TO the
jail. Powell was brought out of his
cell and handcuffed and then the boy
who shot Policeman Minor was called
out and handcuffed to his pal Inc
iasl-door opened and the crowd started
TO the door. but the police checked thehl
with words Of caution The Vah-uoor
was swung on its hinges. and the extra
police who were inside the jail formed
line on either side and the prisoners
were hurried in. Then the fifteen or
twenty policemen who had been on duty
around the building closed up around
the van and the procession started,
large crowd following. The crowd at
the City Hall had grown to a great
gathering of whites and blacks.
When the procession arrived at the
City Hall with the prisoner the ponce
guard got the crowd back from the size
stairway on the Eleventh-street side of
the City Hall, and then stood ready Tor
business. The van-door was opened. and
the police. who had ridden up from the
jail, got out with Deputy-Sergeant Dan
Wejsiger. and tho prisoners were hurried
into the courtroom
GREAT CROWD IN COURT.
Justice Crutchheld went upon the
bcnch as soon as the prisoners were an
nounced. But the crowd had anticipated
hin. and IL was with difficulty that the
officers made the eager throng stand
aside for their charges to pass through
10 the bar. 1t was an imposing spectacle
Thomas and Powell were in a hollow
square of officers of the First Distrlct.
headed by Captain wv l.. Thomas, ana
under the immediate command OF ser
eeant Jones A. Otey. There was cram
inc of many necks, and every eye was
ievelIed ON the two men, who kept STEP
side by side. as they and the officers
tramned I'D to the stand before the
Police Justice. Here the formalities in
cident upon continuing the case were
gone through with, and the witnesses
were recognized for their appearance
Amonp the witnesses who Will appear
are the three men from New Kent coun-
tv-Nessrs. j. w. Woodward. G. II.
Rlankenship. and Daniel Martin-who
were the prisoners immediate captors.
They were not present yesterday. bui
will answer to their names With 'He
case Is again called.
Tha most natural thing in the world
would have been for the curious people
IN make n rush for the door and line
themselves along the corridors and await
the return of Thomas, the star OF the
occasion. But Captain Thomas had an
ticipated this, and before he moved q
neo he had an officer stationcd at every
door leading from its courtroom, Win
instructions not TO allow a person 10
mass until the van was being driven
back 90 Jail with the prisoners safe OF
the inside. At the jail they were taken
out uncuned, ana cohuuV'9u " "iON
spective cells.
WE'RE INTERESTED SPECTATORS
In the courtroom both men seemed
keenly alive to what was gong Oh
around them but seemed neither 10 sus'
s,,ft
rassed at being the targets of hundreds
~ curious. aud even wrathful eyes. They
were themselves calm and interested
snec,ators among a great many others
more interested than calm.
Justice Crutchfcld purposely called
this case first, because he knew that
whether called second or last the GROVE
would finger until 1t was over. And az
soon as the officers gave way, ana they
knew there was nothing peyohu TN
rsual Monday routine, the great mass
80 neonle sought the streets. and {
sreater abundance OF fresh air. TheI
The sunday sinners and the Monday hear
snr of their tales of woe" was taken up
as If nothing had happ9ned and cour
had lust convened.
BEHIND THE JAIL BARS.
Tbomas's demeanor in jail has led hi
kaeners 10 conclude that he hardl
annreciates the gravity of the tcrribl
DECD the blood of which has criinsone
his hands. He seems wholly uncon
sc.ous of the unspeakable sorrow HI
hands have wrought. But beyond thu
he does not realize what in the naturs
course of things must be his fate-tha
Nesssssse~es~S~sess~~0