The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-13
AN ACCURATE
DESCRIPTION.
Incidents Bearing Upon Search for
Austin's Murderers.
MAJOR OERBYSHIRE HELD UP.
Accosted Last Thursday Night by a
Black and Gingerbread Negro,
Both Answering the Descrip-
ton of the Murdercrs.

| Information came TO the police yester-
day Of an incident bearing directly upon
the search for the two dastardly assas-
sins who on Monday morning last shot
brave Officer Austin to death on Broad
street.
The incident in question was nothing
less than an attempted hold-up that took
place on the evening Of Thursday last I'm
lonely and secluded part Of Fifth street
in which Maj. James II. Derbyshire was
the intended victim.
It was between and 10 o'clock on the
evening I'm question that Mai Dcrbyshlre
was returning from The suburbs, and had
proceeded down Filth street past the He
brew cemetery.
As Le approached the first corner from
the burying ground he saw In the dim
lamp lisht two men walking on the op-
Dosite and eastern .sdc OF The street.
When about fifty feet away thc two
men whom the Majors second glance
proved to- be negroes. started TO cross the
street
They had approached within dozen
feet before Major Derbyshiro With com
mendltle instinct laid h.a hand oa bis
revolver. which had hitherto rcDoscl ccm-
f1rta5iy in his oyerCoIt pocket
HELD AT BAY.
Something in the bcariu- of the men
taught the Major that thcii action was
significant of no good intent toward him
and ere one OF them could accOs, him Che
cold. convincing CLEAN OF the Majors re-
volver wa in line Of action with the bru.
tai head that tried % bar the way. Will.
the Major backed mp the argument with
a determined Halt
The men stopped. and one OF them. on
seeing the gun, made move % get
away
Come back" was the calm. but Pc
emDtory demand that stopped him.
Major Derbyshirc then made the men
take their hands out OF their pockets. lie
told them to turn about and walk in
front of him. and insisted that any false
motion either TO resist or escape would
meet with q rem0nstrance from the re-
volyer. The men walked.
Mljor Dcrbyshire with his revolver IN
intentionally close range with his pris-
oners marched them brishy down Fifth
street.
After about three blocks had been ira
vcrscd and the Major had escorted his
men into the light of an electric lamp.
he stopped them and asked what they
wanted.
One Of them answered that they were
looking for Baker street
what number on Baker street?' asked
the Major
mo. 6l2." was the reply
Major Derbyshire expressed his disbe-
lief I'm their story, and told them to go,
that II they were slow in doiug so no
would shoot them.
The negroes apparently needed nothing
more. for they made good use Of their
walking abilities.
MIR. AUSTIN'S MURDERERS?
The Majors powers as Il close observer
stood him in good stead. and hc took note
Of every point IN the mems descriptions.
Beyond "a doubt, iu The minds of Major
Derbyshire these negroes are Che muir
dcrers of officer Austin, so idenuc1hy
does the description OF them tally iu the
important details with that given hy W.T.
nesses of the tragedy OF Monday morn
ing.
THIS DESCRIPTION
lie states that one was a back negro
and one was a light giueerbread in color.
The black man was slghtor I'm build
and shorter II anything than his compan-
ion. lie weighed probably 80 pounds and
wore dark. but not black clothing and
soft hat. one peculiarly I'm his face was
noticeable in that bis nose was nearly
Roman I'm shape and was abnormally
large.
The gingerbread negro was about five
feet. six or seven inches tail, and was
stout but well proportional. weighing
possibly II 70 and lJ pounds. lie wore light
clothes and a soft hat whose color is un-
certain.
Major Derbyshire states his belief that
the officers are wrong IN looking for
youths as the mu.dcres Of officer Aus
tn. The men he saw were neither OF
them under twenty-five years old.
Major Derhyshire says that he could
positively identity his men.
Major Derbvehiro says he would have
marched the negroes TO the station-house
end had them locked mp. but Tor the f1ct
that he had no information which would
have Justified the officers in holding ihom.
and besides ne dreaded the notoriety
which such action would have brought
him