New-York tribune., 1899-05-18
NEGRO MURDERER AT BAY.
HE KILLS ONE POLICEMAN AND
WOUNDS ANOTHER.
ONLY SURRENDERED WHEN PREPARA-
TIONs FOR BURNING THE HOUSE
WE'RE MADE-THE MOB TRIED
TO LYNCH HIM.

Washington. May 17.-Humphrey Taylor, a
negro suspected of the Rosenstein murder at
Sldell. Md. to-day shot and killed Police Ser
geant Fritz Passau. wounded Policeman Cow,
and kept posse of half dozen officers at bay
from the loft of house nearly two hours
Dozens Of shots were exchanged between the
officers and the fugitive. who only SURRENDERED
when preparations were made to burn the
house
Last Saturday morning Louis Rosenstein ana
his wife, who kept small store at Slidell were
found insensible and horribly wounded In their
storeroom. Rosenstein soon died from his IN
jures and the woman is believed to be near
death. Suspicion fell on negro named Hum
phrey Taylor alias Brown, who had disap-
peared. The police OF this city were INFORMED
and a strict watch has been kept for the man.
A negro answering the description OF Taylor
last Saturday evening. and informa-
tion received by the police led them to oeheVe
their man living in a small house on FOWL
er's H a settlement about a quarter OF mile
west Of Georgetown This morning Taylor was
seen to enter the place. Word was Immediately
sent to the nearest station. and posse or OH
hurried to the place. The men were posted
about the house while Passau. Cow and an
other officer attempted to gain an entrance
through the front door. Repeated knocklngs
and calls failed to elicit a response. and nnahy
the door forced. The two small rooms on
the first floor empty. and the of'cers
ascended to the second story. The front room
also untenanted. and as the men passed
into the rear apartment Taylor opened fire from
the trapdoor of loft in which he had taken
refuge.
POLICE SERGEANT SHOT DEAD.
Sergeant Passau had turned to look behind the
door just as the negro fired. and he sank TO the
floor dead with two bullets through his chest.
His companions rushed forward and Cow opened
fire through the trap. but failed to hit the fug-
tive. TAYLOR. however retreated to a corner OF
the loft and realizing his advantage the ofii-
GERS picked up the body of the sergeant ana
retreated. Cow received a bullet In the right
hand badly shattering II. and another struck MS
metal badge and glanced downward the entire
length Of his coat.
The reserves of two precincts were caeo out
and the house surrounded. In the mean
time the shooting had attracted several thousand
persons Occasionally the negro would fire a
shot at the officers, and Immediately vohey
would answer it, but no one was hurt win re-
yolvers in hand. they watched every wlnoo".
and tried several Tuses 20 draw Iaylors nre'
Most of these successful. for he seemed 10
have an unlimited supply of ammunition. While
ne saw that escape was hopeless. he was evil
IDENTIFY determined to hold out as long as pos
sible.
LYNCHING NARROWLY AVOIDED.
Finally. concluding that he would not surren-
der Chief Sylvester and Commissioner Wright
were communicated with, and the latter after
taking legal advice. directed the police to burn
the house. mattress was secured and satu-
rated with oil, and the officers began to remove
the furniture Seeing that his game was hope
less TAYLOR surrendered. Surrounded by officers
with drawn revovers. he was hustled out or the
house TO the patrol wagon, when the crowd
surged forward with shouts of Lynch him!
Burn him." and made rush for the prisoner
A rope was secured and the mob made a des-
perate effort to place II around the negros neck
The coolness of the officers. however. saved
Taylor though he rather badly disngured
by blows from the nearest of the crowd. All the
way to the station house the mob followed the
wagon shouting for vengeance, and fingered
about the building when he was safely In cell.
When questioned by the police in regard 10 the
Rosenstein murder the prisoner became much
confused in his replies and told half dozen dt-
ferent stories. He said that man named Brown
had committed the murder and that he waited
on the outside and kept watch receiving Soo
from Brown on searching the house the police
found S102 and gold watch and chain where
he had secreted them. He had a diamond ring
and small sum Of money on his person HlS
conflicting stories as to his movements and
where he obtained the money led the police TO
believe he is the man the Maryland authorities
are looking for 1t is probable, however, that he
will be detained by the District authorities and
tried for the murder of Sergeant Passau.