Richmond planet., 1898-04-16

Another tragedy took place here on
last Monday morning between the
hours OF five and six o'clock on Broad
street, corner OF Fifth street
A police officer Robert ID. Austin, at
tired in citizens clothes walked in be-
tween tive colored men and attempted
to arrest the one Of light-complexion
They had committed no crime SO far
as the officer knew, but their actions
were suspicious, and he determined 20
place them behind the bars of the Sec
ond Police Station.
RESISTED THE OFFICER.
They went with him only a rew steps.
Resistance followed. Wholly unpre-
pared for such an attack, when the
man he had accosted empticd three
bullets into his body, one after the
other, he had no opportunity to draw
his own deadly weapon ard return tho
fre at once
He grappled with the man and in the
struggle fell on top OF him. Even then
he did not give up. but held to the
coat. cut of which the willy colored
youth slipped, leaving his hat and dis
appearing down 5 h street in a norther-
Iy direction closely followed by his
companion.
THE DYING EFFORT.
That he did not know that Mr.. Aus
tin was an officer OF the law goes TO
show that he was not q resident of this
city.
Steady ing himself. the dying police
officer drew his revolver and fired upon
the men who had so suddenly hastened
him to his death.
The cause of this unusual vigilance
on the part Of the Second District has
be en- due to the series of robbsries
which have been committed on Broad 81
recently. Searching parties have been
organized to hunt for the fleeing cul-
prits.
Lynching is not thought OF and il
caught. the law will take its course.
FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
The men are thought to be from
North Carolina The Coroners in
quest was held Monday afternoon four
O'Clock at the Second Police Station.
Gloom pervaded the sombre confines
of this building. On the railing OF
the enclosure surrounding Sergeant
C0sby's desk was q checked coas, COM
paratively new. Above il was q snuff
colored fedora hat, blood stained. II
was the mute witness of the tragedy.
The coroner's jury repsired TO the
inner room and the following testimo-
ny was submitted:
HATTIE JENKINS TESTIMONY.
Hattie jenkins. .colored was sworn and
depOsed l live at 3ll n. 9Th st. saw
Al - rNfNvr
when the trouble began early this
morning before o'clock. / saw a po
liceman with two colored men having
hold of one of them, one of them ligh
skin man by the arm.
Both wero on the same side OF him
The other man was walking along.
cannot recollect which side they were
ON.
ONE PULLED AWAY.
Just as they got to the corner, the!
stopped and one of the men pulled
away. The light-skin man took out {
five times. The light-skin man did no
have on any hat or any coat. He wa
a real light man. He was not ligh
enough to be a white man.
The dark-skin man who was will
them had on his coat. did not ncti y
how they dressed. At the corner tn
iight-skin man whom he had hold o
pulled away from the policeman. Thel
the light-skin man shot him did no
see him pull out his pistol. l just saw
him shoot three times
GOT AWAY FROM THE WINDOW.
Just as quick as the men shot, go
sway from the window, as 1 was un
dressed. The dark-skin man did no
do anything. He was along with him
They ran down 9th st. just as tn,
third shot was fred left the window
and saw no more. Iheard two shot
afterwards.
WAS UNDER FIRE.
Robert Winston, colored, said liV
at No. 8 West Leigh st. This mornin
between :35 and 40 O'Clock l was o
my way to Allen & Ginter Branch &c
ing along 9th Street, when got to 81
James Church 9th and Marshall Street
/ heard firing on 9Th and Broad SITS.
was going towards Broad st. 1 hear
pistol fire three times. Then l0oke
up and saw q scramble on theipave
ment. In this / saw q boy between
and 20 years brown-ekin so near abou
orange-colOr.
RAN ACROSS THE STREET.
He seemed to have m ade bis escap
and ran diagonnally towards enc dye
ing establishments. He was bare-head
ed and in his shirt sleeves. After h
struck the pavement, he ran up st
street to Clay and then lost sight Q
him. The other col0red boy brok
away from Mr.. Austin when the othe
boy reached the pavement. He cam
down 9th street towards me.
THE PoLIcKMAN's FIRE.
Mr.. Austin fired seven times. Tn
balls whistled by me. / had to run
the street This boy ran until he 60
30 Clay street but turned up Clay. Tn
other boy had run down Clay. Tn
dsrk-skin boy seemed to be betwee
10 and Is years Of age. He was littl
sfouter than the other boy.
Nr. Austin seemed TO be fring NOR