The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-15
They Resemble in Everyday the Men
Who Killed Officer Austin.
OFFICERS SENT AFTER THEM,
McSsrs Gibson and Folkes Took the
Train Last Night for Orange and
VIII Return This Afternoon.
History of the Events OF
Yesterday in the
Caep

Up 10 last night all the clues received
by the Richmond police force which, It
seemed, would lead TO the capture Of
the murdcrers OF officer Robert D. Aus
tin. had been closely investigated and
proven worthless. The officers had all
most begun 90 despair when Chiet OF
Police Howard received a telegram which
revived their dropping hopes. and gave
them a strong assurance that the men
wanted are in custody.
Tnc message came from Orange
Courthouse. which place was first print
ed exclusively in The Times as that to-
ward the murderers of officer Austin had
fed. The two men, the telegram stated.
had been arrested by the local police OF
Orange one was a mulatto and the
other black man. both corresponding
to the description Ot the murdcrers al
ready given.
LYNCHBURG NEGROES
The pair the message stated. claimed
to be brothers and said their names were
Lee and Bn Early They claimed Lynch
burg as their home. and said they were
sons Of Branch Early who lives on Tay-
ior street.
Major Howard at once communicated
with Chief of Police Matt Irwin. Of
Lynchburg. and received a reply TO the
effect that there was such man as
Branch Early; thar ne lived on Taylor
street and that he mas two boys. who
have au unsavOry reputation. although
their father Is d highly respected cOi0red
citizen.
Immediately upon receipt OF this mes
sage Major Howard detailed officers Glib
SON and Folkes 90 look into the matter,
and they Left for Orange Courthouse by
the 1880 train last night over the Chosa-
pcalse and Ohio railroad. They are eX-
pected back this afternoon.
Never has n search for fugiuves from
Justice been prosecuted with more vigor
nor have the efforts of the officers OF
the law met with 40 many rebuffs and
disappolntments as has been the case
since Officer Robert d. Austin was shot
down I'm the grey light of the morning
and his murderers fed from the scene of
their hcinOus crime.
The entire country. far and near has
been literally secured officers have been
sent 90 investigate every rulnor and no
pains nave been spared 90 do whatever
might result in bringing the criminals 90
Justice.
MANY ARRESTS MADE.
Many arrests have been made in various
parts of the county. and several times
IL has seemed certain that the criminals
had been arrested, but on each occasion
the high hopes of the police were dashed
90 the ground and they now seem as far
as ever from accomplishing tho task %
which they are bending every energy.
Tho police force-chef. captains SER
goants and patrolmen-arc working in
close unison. which. IN the end. IS almost
sure 10 result In the capture OF the Grim
inals They are also warmly supported
by the Mayor of the city. who has in
creased the reward Of 500 az first offered
by him % 500. The officers care nothing
for the reward, however, they are work
ING % avenge their fallen comrade and
20 rid the country OF two dangerous Grim
inals
Yesterday was a day OF many develop
ments in the search for the murdercrs.
At $50 in the morning Sergeant Cosby
returned from Charlottesville bringing
with him James Lindsay, the negro who,
as told IA Yesterday Times was sup
posed 20 be almost surely the man wanted.
Ii needed but "a bricf examination. now
ever TO prove that he wIs the wrong
party The negro stated that his h0ne
was I'm ReIdsville. y. c., and that he had
never been in Richmond in his life. Tie
was subjected % close scrutiny by those
who had seen the murderer, and all de-
cllred tnat he was not the man. chief
OF Police Lipscomb OF Manchester. also
took a look at him and said he was not
the Lindsay who had been confined I'm the
Manchester Jail. The man will be held
for q few days, however, 10 await de-
yelopments.
TWO MORE PRISONERS.
At o'clock yesterday afternoon officer
Tlf1f -
ricksburg( arrived i'm the city, bringing
with them two negroes who gave their
names as Henry Minor and John Fields.
Minor is a comp1ctly built negro. weighs
about l60 pounds. about five feet six inches
in height and is black. lie said
that he came from Newport News last
Tuesday morning about o'clock and left
here Wednesday morning early on
freight train Tor Fredericksburg.
lie told the officers who arrested him
that he was from Penola, Caroline coun-
~. and was raised there. Hie had been
there all the time, and was on his
way to Baltimore. lie told the officers
further that he got 10 Richmond at one
minute to S o'clock on Sunday morning.
and some one told him a policeman had
been shot and he had better get out, so
he left.
At this time none OF the officers had
spoken 10 the prisoner at all about the
shooting and his allusion 10 IL was en-
tirey his own motion.
Fields IS about six feet I'm height, ana
weighs about $50 pounds. He Is
gingerbread negro. lie said he got 20
Richmond from Newport News on satur-
day. He had heard nothing Of the shoot
Ing.
Fields was arrested on Tuesday night
and Minor on Wednesday night.
The negroes were shabbily dressed,
wearing blue denim overalls and caps.
The officers after observing them close
ly were satisfied that the men kne"
nothing OF the murder. but will hold them
for few days as a matter OF precau-
tion.
\ PROMISING CLUE.
What seemed the most promising clue
since the commission OF the crime was
received yesterday morning locally re-
port came 10 the Second station that
man had been found concealed in house
on Hospital street, under suspicious CIR
cumstances. The man was IN bed ana
around the room were strewn number
of bloody garmets.