Richmond planet., 1898-04-23
ALL LOOK ALIKE TO Them.
THE KILLING OF POLICE-OFFICER AUSTIN.
Many Arrests. Innocent Men Brought TO
Richmond
ARRESTS AT THE TRUE REFORMERS BOARDING
HOUSE.-THE SITUATION

The search for the murderers of Po-
licemsn Robert Austin has been one
OF the most remarkable performances
ever witnessed in this city. Had thi
have been a lawless community, no
less than six people would have been
lynched for a crime committed by on
ly two unknown individuals.
A peculiar feature of these arrests
was the fact that all of the men arrest
ed corresponded TO the descriptions
given and the officers were confident
that they had the right PARTIES"
FIRED UPON THEx.
Two colored men jumped from the
train at Orange, Va, on the 18th inst.
They were fired upon, but escaped.
Two officers were sent on this mission.
Officer Clarkson is said to have arrested
peg Leg Negro in the slashes on the
r. f. &. p K. X. He was put in the sta
tion-house in this city.
Two colored men were surrounded
in swamp near Ashland, Va. Two
more we're surrounded in the Chicka-
hominy swamp.
A black man was arrested st Ashland
and although tte Richmond officers
said he was not the man, he was held.
ANOTHER INEooEET.
Or the EorEInk of the 18th, James
Lindsey was arrested at Charlottesville
de was declared TO answer the descrip-
tion perfectly A further investiga-
tion showed that he was the wrong
man. and Mr. J. + Roger of Reidsville,
N. O., writes us that he left there Mon
day night. llth. while the officer was
killed Monday morning.
Two colored men were arrested at
South Boston. and the officers from
Richmond were sent there. These
proved to be the wroRg parties A cor
respondent writing for the Dispatch
said:
PKoULIAR CONDITION.
Locked in the various cells of the
Second Police Station are five Negroes
three yellow and two black ones.
who we're arrested in various cities
adjacent to Richmond, on suspicion,
that they were implicated in the MUIR
der OF Policeman Robert ID. Austin.
Not one of the five. however, appear to
have known aught OF the murder un-
til they were arrested"
On the 14th inst, the two colored
men at Orange. O H., were arrested
and brought to this city. They were
found to be the wrong parties.
Two colored men. Henry Minor and
John Fields were arrested at Freder-
icksburg, Va. They we're brought t.
this city, but were fourd to be the
wrong persons.
ATTEuPrED TO BETRAx THEN.
Some one, who requested the police
officers to withheld their names in
formed the authorities that two color
ed men answering the description were
at the True Reformers' Boarding
House on 9Th and Baker Sts.
They were said to have been acting
suspiciously. The officers went so TIT
house aud were conducted to thei
rooms where they were rudely awaken
ed and carried to the I'd Police Station
These were declared to be the person
wanted, and the dark spots on tn
pants of the lighter one were though
TO be blood. This was soon found no
to be the case.
sOENE AT THE PoLICE-coURT.
Going TO the Police Court on Satur
day morning last. large crowd haI
gathered, Police Justice Crutchfiel
looked q tri1s tired, bat discharged
his duties.
The two young men were in the de
partment in which prisoners are con
fined. The bright-skin une looked de
jected.
GOOD APPEARANCE.
They we're neatly dressed and thei
spotless white-shirt fronts were i
striking contrast to their surrounding
The evidence was not suficientl
strong to even send them on to jury
but they were held.
A colOred man was arrested j
Washington, and a colored "spotter
went up to identify him. 1t is sal
hat he declared him to be one of tn
men wanted, but it was soon show
that he was mistaken, and the officer
returned tn this eitV