The age-herald., 1898-12-13
PROMPT WORK OF OFFICER REECE Landed Two Negro Hl8hWaymen in
 Jail IN SHORT SPACE OF TIME C. H. KilCreaSo, an L. & N. WatChman,
 Victim Of the Thugs. HIS CRIES ATTRACTED THE OFFICER Who Went to His Rescue-Met One of the Highwaymen on the Way-The
 Second One Arrested an
 Hour Later-Confessed. 
HIS CRIES ATTRACTED THE OFFICER

On Saturday evening about 6:30 o'clock, c. H. Kicrease, watehman for the Louis- vile and Nashville Railroad Company at the Fourthteenth street crossing, was held up near his home in Smithfeld by three ne- gro highwaymen and through the prompt action of Officer Reece of the police depart ment, two of the negroes have been landed behind the bars of the county jail
 MT. Kilcrease had just gotten off duty and was on his way home when he was at tackled by the negroes near Cutclin's store, only short distance from his residence The streets in that vicinity are not well lighted and as MT. Kilcrease was walking along he noticed the three men coming towards him, and promptly put his hand on his pistol. As he neared them two of the men went to one side and the third one to the other in order to let him pass be- tween them. As he did so the negroes fell upon him and despite his resistance was overpowered, after having fired two shots at his assailants. When he saw that 1t was useless to further resist he called loudly for help. One of the negroes secured MT. Kil- creases pistol and fearing that some one would come to his assistance, the highway men took to their heels.
 Officers Reece, Armstrong and Jack Me Donald all live in the vicinity of where the hold up was committed and were at home at supper at the time. They were attracted by the shooting and the cries for help and started to investigate. Officer Reece was the first to start and on his way met a ne- gro with a pistol in his left hand running towards him.
 ,p1tf, tlaf fla had done the shooting he had just heard, leveled his pistol at him and ordered him to stop The negro pointed his pistol at the officer and attempted to fire, but before he could do so the officer was upon him and suc- ceeded in handcuffing him. He marched his prisoner on in the direction he had started and at Cutcliff's store came upon MT. Kill crease, who told the story of the attack and identified the pistol which the negro car ried as the one which had been taken from him.
 The negro gave his name as John Tyson and was taken to police headquarters. Chief Mcdonald ordered the prisoner taken into his private office, where he was subjected to rigid examination At first he declined to talk but finally admitted that he was implicated in the hold up and stated that his cousin, Richard Morris, and another ne- gro named Henry were the other parties. He said that all three lived at Hillman sta tiOn, on the BeSSemer dummy llIle, anu Hdu been "hoboing'' around the country for some time that they met in Birmingham Saturday evening and were going to Pratt City.
 Chief McDonald at once communicated with Chief Barnard of Pratt City and sent word to all officers on duty to be on the lookout for the two negroes whose descrip- tions were given by Tyson Officer Reece was ordered to put on citizens clothes and to go to the ticket office of the Birmins- ham railway and electric company In Sec ond avenue to look out for the men. when he arrived at the station Bessemer dunn my was standing on the track and the of- ficer noticed a negro who answered the de- scription given by Tyson, in the act or boarding the dummy. Going up to him he inouired his name and was surprised when the negro answered "Richard Norris He was immediately placed under arrest ana taken to police headquarters, where he was confronted by Tyson. He denied that ne had been with his cousin and the negro Henry since 5:SO o'clock. but admitted hav- ing heard the cries of "help murder, etc. The negroes were locked up and yesterday morning was taken before Judge Feasin m the inferior criminal court and bound over to await the action of the grand jury With out bail.