Richmond planet., 1898-04-30
NOT THE MURDERERS
Were Walters in Florida.
MAKING THEIR WAY
NORTH.
OUT ON BAIL. WITH THREE OF
RIOHM0ND'S MOST PROMINENT
OOLORED CITIZENS AS
BONDSMEN.

Edward Bond and John Dumas, two
young cOlored men were arrested at
the True Reformers' Boarding House,
9Th and Baker streets, being suspected
of being implicated in the killing Of
Officer Robert J. Austin.
GOULD NOT GIVE TIE BOND.
Despite the fact that there was no
evidence against them, they were held
as suspicious characters in the sum of
($30O) three hundred dollars each and
lauguished in the city Jail.
Editor John Mitchell, Jr., consulted
with Mr.. Benjamin p. Vandervsll.
well-known young man OF this city.
pastor of the Fifth Street Baptist
Church, and it was decided that the
| three would go on the bond of the two
| unfortunate young men.
/ Arrangements were made to meet at
the PLANET Office on Saturday morn
ing at O'Clock and to proceed to the
City Jail where Mr.. Vanderval would
| meet them.
VISITING TEE orTY JAIL.
/ This plan was carried out. A pull at
| the bell was answered by the guard
l who ushered in the visitors. The po-
lite deputy City Sergeant had the
young men brought up in the Office
and they were questioned. They were
neat-looking young men, one being of
light complexion and the other brown
skin.
They had an expression OF surprise
on THEN counteDances, as though they
wondered what would be the next step
in their eventful experience. Editor
/ Mitchell introduced the visitors. Rev.
Graham enquired as to their sojouvn
here.
WERE WATERS IN FLORIDA.
"You see," said Bond, 1--WE have been
idown to Florida where we were wait
ers. We got broke and were making
cur way to Boston. We came to Nor
folk and from there here We came
here Wednesday night, 18th. We were
directed to that boarding house. live
at Macon, Ga. My mothers name is
Henrietta Bond. My father is dead. 1
am 20 years of age"
John Dumas said his mothers name
was Rachel Stanford, and that he was
Is years Of age.
WE'RE ASLEEP WHEN OFFICERS CAME,
Continuing, Bond said relative to his
arrest, 1--WE were asleep at the time.
lt was about half past nine o'clock.
The officers knocked at the door and
said that they wanted to see US. We
got up and dressed. They came in as
soon as they opened the door. They
said they wanted us to go to the Police
Station with them on little suspi-
cion."
Being questioned further he said,
) l"Yes, asked him did he want US about
: the killing of that policeman. They
asked us what did we know about it.
We told them that we had read it in
the papers.
? LOCKED THEM UP.
"They carried US to the station
house. Yes, we were scared. We
knew nothing about the killing"
+ Editor Mitchell explained that they
had decided to secure their release,
! and desired to know whether they de-
sired it done, and would they leave the
city.
4 Eyes sir |" was the quick response,
. I"why, we will walk out"
Bidding them adieus and assuring
o them that they would hear from them
again in a few hours, they left.
4 THE SCENE AT THE POLICE COURT.
Going to the Police Court, it was
n filed with a mass of humanity. white
: and colored. The popular Police JUS
tice John j. Crutchtield sat upon the
% throne.
= 1t was amusing to listen to his COM
= ments as he rendered his decisions.
The tales OF woe and expressions OF
misery would have filed book. Rev.
Graham was an interested spectator.
vi After the adjournment of this tribu-
Is nal, Editor Mitchell approached his
~ honor and made known his mission.
II Sergeant, instruct the Jail officials
j. to send up Bond and Dumas at once -
> A few moments later they came iu
Ia lhaHdcuffed to each other.
N They were taken into the Justices
J. private Office and Dailed, Rev W. Z
n Graham, b. P. VSndervall and John
X Mitchell, Jr., being sureties.
s-l They were happy. After visiting the
10 police-station to secure their effect.
,e tfe party went to the PLANET Office
"a where Mr.. Samuel Houston was soor
in evidence with basin, towel and wat
er.
>. collection was lifted for them. TIL.
r. Richmond Beneficial and Insurance
r. Company gave 81 About 1920 wa
ed raised. Mr.. Vandervall took them I,
sr Custalo's Restaurant, where the kind
OF hearted proprietor quartered them.
In At the First Baptist Church Sunda,
or morning, Deacon Benjamin Jackso
In asked for collection. In the mean
on time Bonds relatives sent him So
OF They left Monday afternoon for Bal,
OF more.