The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-23
NEARLY A RIOT
IN NEWPORT NEWS
Rockets infested by a Gang of
Burglars.
SPECIAL OFFICERS SHOOT ONE
The Negroes Become Inccnsed and
Gather i'm Large Numbers Amid
Scene of Noise aud Disturb
ance 49, One Man Shot.

NEWPORT NEWS. VA, Dec. 22.-spe-
ciai-To-day furnished the inevitable cul-
mination Of a drama the first scenes Of
which have been shifting through the
passing Of recent weeks.
Since the first Of December there have
been an abnormal number OF robberes
and burelarios. the majority Of which
were porpetrated I'm that section Of the
city known as Rockets. inhabited chiefly
by negroes and the lower classes. \
number of the citizens owning business
houses found il necessary TO stand guard
an night al their pla0fs Recently the
Council put on ten special policemen most
Of whom were put over i'm this neighbor-
mood The lurglaries continued. and
number of the residents, upon their own
request, were sworn ia as specials so
iney could guard their own property with
some protection from the law
EXPECTATION REALIZED.
The public has been expecting to hear Of
burglar Being shot for weeks and this
morning the expectation was realized
ida Rome, widow woman, runs a lit
tie shop on Twenty-third street For sew
erai DAYS she had been missing money
from her cash drawer. and last night
she got three OF her neighbors, who had
been sworn in. to come around and see II
they could not catch the thief. These
neighbors were Sam White and Abe Lev
ins. grocers. and her brother, Sam ia
cobs.
LYING IN WAIT.
About I O'Clock this morning, as the
three. with loaded revolvers cooked. were
Whiting in the dark inside the store, a
man came i'm through the window and
started .or the TIL They hailed him. lie
turned ana they opened up on him. mr.
ing eleven shots at close range. But two
cook effect. one i'm the leg and the other
under the shoulder the latter causing
death I'm about ten minutes. The burglar
proved 10 be negro by the name o.
Phil. williams. known as me BACK
KID -" The three men were technically
pfaced under arrest and detained AT the
store until latcr IN the morning, when an
inouests was held. the verdict being That
the burglar came 10 his death through
unsuitable shooting Oh the part OF the
three men.
4 THOUSAND NEGROES.
shortly after the inquest John lIar-
,er "A negro. engaged m Il discussion OF
fhe cnfsode with a friend of the store
Eoeuors. whom ne presently knocked
down Ike Kahn a special, went up To
Haruer and attempted TO arrest him.
uarucr eluded arrest and fed. Sam
rursued him to Whites Row. several
blocks above. and shot him in the fleshy
rart of the leg The negro ran INTO
store. followed by Kahn. officer Crump
and f.. Holzweig. When the three came
out of the store they found 81 least
thousand negroes gathered there. no
than they were greeted with shower
of hiick-bats and other missiles
Then there was riot, m one senSN
though no one seems 10 know exactly
what actually happened Everybody
vino had gun began TO shoot. Holz-
weie saws be shot his way through the
crowd. but shot in the air. The regu-
lar officer used his club. Bullets, rocks.
bricks shells and other missiles rained
through the air accompanied by dls~
cordant wells oaths and the shrill notes
of police whistles summoning assistance
THE OLD GUARD COMES.
I'm "a few minutes eight or ten regular
officers were on the scene. and the in
cpiont riot was queled II was found
that another negro. Jim Cross. who bears
am menviable reputation, had been shoi
in tbe head. A number OF other people
mad been struck with other missiles. but
Cross is the only man who was seriously
injured He may die. he may get well.
Kahn and Holzwcig were formally
placed under arrest and brought over 10
ihc police station. where they were inn
mcdiatclv bailcd. the former I'M the sum
of $3.50. the latter in the sum of yloo.
William Lawson negro, was arrested
and Jailed for melting riot. a hundred
other similar arrests might have been
made. and others probably will follow.
ID Is believed 10y many that the bail
ing OF Kahn. Holzweig and the others
at This time was impohtc, for II has
only created deeper feeling against them
among the negroes OF Rockets. and
further trouble was predicted when the
men were released. They were advised
10 keep away from Rockets for awhile.