The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-05-18

The Murderer Took Refuge in the Loft
of House, and Surrendered only
when Proparntions We're Making to
set Fire to the Building.
Washington. May 1S.-Humphrey
Taylor, a negro suspected of the Rosen-
stein murder at Slidell. Md, yesterday
shot and killed Police Sergeant Fritz
Passau, wounded Policeman Cow and
kept a posse of over a dozen officers at
bay from the loft of house for nearly
two hours. Dozens of shots were ex-
changed between the officers and the
fugitive, who only surrendered when
preparations were made to burn the
premises.
Last Saturday morning Louis Ro-
senstein and his wife, who kept a
small store at Slidell, were found in
sensible and horribly wounded in their
storeroom. Rosenstein soon died from
his injuries and the woman is believed
to be near death. Suspicion fell upon
n negro named Humphrey Taylor, alias
Brown, who disappeared. The police
Of this city we're notified and a strict
watch was kept for the man. A negro
| answering the description of Taylor
formation received by the police led
them to believe their man was living
in a small house on Fowler's Hill, a
settlement about a quarter Of milo
west of Georgetown.
Yesterday Taylor was seen to enter
the place, and word was Immediately
sent to the nearest precinct station
and a posse of officers hurried to the
place The men were posted about
the house, while Passau, Cow and an
other officer attempted to gain en-
trance through the front door. Re-
peated knockings and calls failed to
elicit a response and finally the door
was forced. The two small rooms on
the first floor were empty, and the
officers ascended to the second story.
The front room was also untenanted,
and as the men passed into the rear
apartment Taylor opened fire from the
| trap door of a cock loft, in which he
| had taken refuge. Sergeant Passau
sank to the floor dead with two bullets
| through his chest. His companions
rushed forward, and Policeman Gov
/ opened fire through the trap door, but
/ failed to hit the fugitive. Taylor
! however, retreated to a corner of the
| loft, and realizing his advantage the
officers picked up the body of the Ser
geant and retreated. Cow received
a bullet in his right hand, badly shat.
tering it, and another struck his meta,
| badge and glanced downward the en-.
tire length of his coat.
The reserve of two precincts were
called out and the house surrounded
Meantime word of the affair and th'
shooting had attracted several thou
sand persons. Occasionally the negro
would fire a shot at the officers and
Immediately a volley would answer It,
but no one was hurt. With revolvers
in hand they watched every window
and tried several ruses to draw Tay-
lor's fire. None of these were successful
for he seemed to have an unlimited
supply of ammunition. Finally, con-
cluding that he would not surrender
Chief of Police Sylvester and District
Commissioner Wright were communi-
Gated with, and the latter, after con-
sulting legal advice, directeu the po-
lice to fire the premises. At mattress
was secured, saturated with oil, ant
the officers began to remove the fur
niture Seeing his game was hopeles:
Taylor surrendered.
Surrounded by officers with drawn
revolvers he was hustled out of thu
house to the patrol wagon, when the
crowd surged forward, with shouts
of lynch him." "burn him." and made
a rush for the prisoner. A rope was
! secured and the mob made a desperate
| effort TO place it around the neck O
! the wretch. The GOODNESS of the Of
! ficers, however, saved Taylor, thougl
he was rather badly disfigured b.
blows from the nearest of the crowd
All the way to the station house tn
mob followed the wagon, shouting 70
vengeance, and fingered about tn
building when he was safely in a cell
When questioned by the police II
regard to the Rosenstein murder tn
prisoner became much confused in hi
replies and told half dozen dlfferen
stories. He said that a man name
Brown had committed the murder an
that he waited on the outside and kep
watch, receiving from Brown S6C
Upon searching the premises the po
lice found 1892 and a gold watch an
chain where he had secreted them. Fl
had a diamond ring and small sur
of money on his person. His conflict
ing stories as to his movements an
where he obtained the money led tn
police to believe he is the man tn
Maryland authorities are looking fol
It is probable, however, that he will
be detained by the district authoritie
and tried for the murder of Sergean
Passau.