Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-13
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Abbott Per-
forms Clever Detective Work.
HE SECURES THE MEM
Confess They Broko McBrIde's Skull,
but Say They woro Compelled TO
Do Whnt They Did TO Escape "a
Kniro-Bocn Mt Piuner's Point for
Three Weeks Crimo Committed
I'm North Carolina.

Deputy Sheriff Joseph w. Abbott, OF
this city. yesterday performed a clever
bit of detective work. and by reason OF
that fact two colored murderers, Henry
McLear and Louis Gillis, are now in the
hands of the law, to answer for the foul
deed committed by them.
That the readers of the Virginan-
Pilot may understand the matter fully
1t is necessary to state that on the Goth
OF last February an aged farmer named
Mcbride. who bore an excellent reputa-
ton, was struck on the head with a
piece of scantling by the men captured
yesterday and his skull crushed, he
dying a few hours after he received the
fatal blow.
The place was Bono, Robson county,
N. c., and as soon as the deed was
committed the men took to the woods
and all efforts to successfully locate
them proved futile until the arrival in
this city Tuesday night of Mr.. NJ D.
McKeever, Chief of Police Of Carthage,
Moore county. n. c.
LAID SUCCESSFUL PLANS.
This gentleman sought the aid and
advice of Deputy Sheriff Abbott, and
after describing the men for whom he
was hunting, they laid plans for the
capture of the fuGltives which sub
sequently proved successful. Yesterday
morning Mr.. Abbott. believing from the
signs of the times that the men sought
were at Primers Point, took Chief Nc
Keever there, and they both made dill
gent search in one particular locality,
but uD to II o'clock when Mr.. Abbott
came back to the city, nothing of any
value had been discovered. After Mr.
Abbott returned to Port Norfolk they
visited the office of the Belt Line rail-
road, where Chief McKcever stood
guard watching for the men while Mr.
Abbott went over to n row of building
known as "BuZZard's Row." where in
formation was cleaned that man
named j. w. T. McRoe answered the
description of one of the men,
THEY ARE APPREHENDED.
IL became necessary as the trail grew
warmer for Mr.. Abbott and Chief Nc
keever to return to the city, where they
worked quietly but effectively until 5:45
yesterday afternoon, when they return
cd TO Port Norfolk. They had Just got
ten there when they noticed Mr.. Mason,
the postmaster. and his clerk Reckoning
to them to come to them. They started
and Immediately saw the man who
went by the name there of j. w. r.
Mcfoe start off at n rapid gait in the
opposite direction, a crowd of men pur-
suing him, and he was soon captured,
Mr.. Abbott taking him into custody.
While standing there Henry McLear.
alias Henry McRoe (both taking the
name of N1cRoe) came up and asked
what caused the excitement. Mr.. Alb
bott recognized him by the description
he had received. and pressing his pris-
oner for an answer learned that Henry
| was the other man wanted
THEY BOTH CONFESS.
The men were brought to the city Jail
where the Virginan- Pilot men saw
them and heard from their own lips
the story of the crime as told above
They stated that Mr.. Mcbride was
drunk and ran at them with a knife
and then it was that they used the
| scantling on his head with fatal re-
suits.
The men belong In Fayetteville, N. c.,
and say they were never in trouble be-
fore. and asked that Mssrs. d. j. Lind
say and j. G.. Shaw, of Fayetteville
be tclegraphed to as to their good re-
cords at home. They are young men
and unmarried and said they had been
at Port Norfolk and Primers Point for
| three weeks. and were feeling COM
paratively safe there. a letter to Louis
ellis under the name of ]. W. T. Nc
Roe played an important part in their
discovery and capture. They are farm
hands and at the time of the murder
were employed by Mr.. George Graves,
horscman, in the capacity of hos tiers
y reward of $500 was offered for their
capture. in which Mr.. Abbott will, of
course, share.
The men agreed to go back to North
Carolina without waiting for requisition
papers. and Chief McKeever took them
with him on the S:45 train on the Sea-
board Air Line last night, bound for
Carthage.