Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-16
BACK HERE IN SAFETY.
lie Admits Shooting the Omcer,
Who, He Says, He Thought Was
About to- FIre-The Policeman Do
ing WelI-Onc Eye May he Saved.


All day long officers and citizens at
all points that II was thought could be
reached by the fugitive, were on the
lookout for him. AS soon as 1t was as
certained that he had gone in the direc-
ton Of Newport News, Captain Thomas,
Of the First Police District. and two of
his best men started in pursuit OF him.
Everywhere they spread the news of the
crime which had been committed, and
this. with the information sent out from
the Office Of the Chief of Police, stirred
up the entire section Of the country.
Men and boys with pistols. rifles, and
double-barrelled shotguns quit work and
began n search for the would-be assassin
In Richmond, excitement and interest
in the case ran high all day. On all
sides expressions of the most profound
sympathy were expressed for the wound-
ed officer and his stricken family, and
everywhere. even among the colored peo-
pie. the most scourging condemnation
fell upon the head OF the desperate who
had fred the dastardly shot at Mr..
Minor. But excitement was hardly more
intense here than It was In New Kent
county. where II was known that the
man was during the morning hours.
Fears of lynching were not entertained
as there were Richmond officers on the
scene. but 1t was thought here by many
that il the boy should be seen by any
Of those looking for him he would either
run or show fight and be killed.
This was not the case, however.
BROUGHT HERE IN SAFETY.
The negro was captured and brought
TO Richmond I'm safety. In order TO pre-
vent a scene at the station, the prisoner
was taken off the train at orleans street
and driven hurriedly to the First Police
Station. Although the most absolute Sc
crecy was observed relative TO the ap-
prehension Of the boy. a great many
persons. by some means, learned of the
capture and when the negro was car
rled into the statlon-house fully 1900 peo-
ple-men. women, and children; white
and oolored-were packed around the sta
ton. endoavoriug 10 sec the culprit. tee
,.fr f-.r~ v.tr - f.t 81 (. ~. -
The statlon-house. and was accompanied
bv several police officers. There was no
demonstration. nor was there any EFFORT
IN take tho prisoner away, although the
crowd was highly incensed. In the sta
tion-house the man gave William Thomas
as his name, and said that he came from
Petersburgs He was locked up in a cell,
but later in the evening was removed 10
the jail.
OFFICERS on THE TRACK.
The circumstances under which Officer
Minor was shot were fully given in yes
terday's Dispatch, and the nature or the
wound was explained. The ball passed
through the left eye, shattering the ball,
and lodging just behind the lett orb, and
no attempt has yet been made to remove
II. Mr.. Minors condition is regarded as
hopeful.
Just as soon as possible after the shoot
ing Captain James b. Angle. acting Chief
OF Police. and his clerk, Sergeant Shin
berger. hurried TO the Chiefs Office and
began sending dispatches TO points along
the lines OF the railroads entering Rich
mond. with a view Of having the fugitive
apprehended. Sergeant Alex. Tomlihson
went at once to Petersburg. and failed
10 find any trace Of the man over there.
although he learned much Of the person
who was supposed to have done the shoot
ing. The Sergeant ascertained that the
negro went by the name OF John Tucker
in Petersburg. and that he had not long
been out of jail.
Pv 5 o'clock Captain w. L. Thomas and
Officers Fowlkes and Werner. OF the First
District were ready 10 start IN pursuit
OF the would-be murderer. Policemen
Werner and Fowlkes left on foot. taking
the Chesapeake and Ohio railway east
wardly They walked as far as Fort Lee,
and there took the SO east-bound train.
on which was Captain Thomas. The Of
ficers travelled 10 Providence Forge
where Mr. Fowlkes disembarked. Captain
Thomas and Policeman Werner going on
to walkers Siding. several nSes further
east. with view to heading or the fugi-
tive If possible. It had been learned
maj a youth answering the description Of
the noliceman's assailant had left the
citv early In the morning. going in that
direction.
CAUGHT NEAR WINDSOR SHADES.
As soon as Mr.. Folkes landed at
Providence Forge he made inquiry as TO
whether boy answering 10 the de-
scrlntlon OF the one who had shot Officer
Minor had been seen. and was advised
that such person had only a few
minutes before jumped from east-bound
Fre;pht Train No. 9S, and taken toward
tho swamps This information was
communicated to Richmond and also to
Cantain Thomas at Walkers Siding, and
the officers knew that ther game was
somewhere in the swamp between the
Forge and Walkers. News of the AFFAIR
spread like wildirs throughout that
entire section OF the country. Farmers
left their crops and with their guns on
their shoulders joined in the search.
Every store at Providence Forge, Wind
sor Shades. and Walkers Siding was
soon closed and their proprietors and
clerks. well-armed went forth TO par
ticlpate in the hunt. Old New Kent has
not been so thoroughly stirred up in a
long while.
Captain Thomas and Policeman Wer-
ner worked that portion OF the,territory
between Walkers and Windsor ShadA
n distance Of a mile and half and went
over the ground several times. One OF
the little parties to Join In the search
for the negro consisted OF Messrs. ]. W.
woodward a clerk In Barnes's store. at
Windsor Shades; G.. I. Blankenshir
sectionmaster at that place, and ID. T.
Martini one OF his employees. These
men. heavily armed with guns. secured
the country Immediately around Wind
sor Shades and found the fugitive IN the
swamp making for the river, about two
hundred or three hundred yards from
Windsor Shades. They levelled their
guns and told him to halt. The negro
did so and offered no resistance. lie
was taken to the station and Captain
Thomas and officer Werner soon arrived
and took charge of him.
Mayor Taylor, early In the morning.
offered reward OF 800 TO the person
or, persons capturing the fugitive. and
this sum will. In all probability be paid
TO Messrs. Woodward. Blankenship, and
Martini although their success was
largely due to the splendid work Of Cap
tatn Thomas and his men on tha vro,tvd