The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-05-25
Under Capitol'S Shadow
A NEGRO NARROWLY ESCAPES
LYNCHlNG.
An Infatuated Mob of 1000 People,
lien and Women, Clamor for Ven-
geance Against a Black nurderer-
And This in the District of Column
bia, too, and Not in Georgia or Other
"Barbarous States" of the South.
washington Pc t, May 18th. ,

fession a participant in the Siidell
murder. was captured, but not until
he had sold his liberty for the life OF
Sergt. Fritz Passau, brave officer OF
the Georgetown Precinct.
Intrenched in an attic, the only
access to which was a trapdoor, the
floors being impregnable to bullets,
the negro defied the increasing force
Of bluecoats and fred shot at the
sight Of every uniform. Besides
firing two shots through the Police
Sergeant, which caused instant death,
he wounded Policeman Cow in the
hand and hit him also on the body,
the bullet being turned from what
would have been fatal mission by
the officers metal badge.
The sequel to the surprising affair,
after TAYLOR had surrendered to
threats Of burning the house and his
fortress before the eyes Of the Gordon
Of officers and assembled throng, is
likewise remarkable. FrenZied men
and hystcrical women fought to gain
access to the murderer's presence.
Pistols were drawn, one citizen
llOurished piece of clothesline, and
| the police had in reality to fight their
way to the patrol wagon and to the
precinct station. The interchange Of
vollcys and the angry CALCULATIONS OF
the mob were incidents not witnessed
in the Capital City for many years.
Nearly the entire West End Of
Washington was aroused, and an
angry mob Of 1000 people gathered
about the frame shanty where the
negro was located and witnessed a
remarkable siege for nearly two
hours, during which fierce fusillade
| between the officers and the hunted
negro was maintained.
| Inspector Pearson, Lieut.. SWindells,
and several detectives from head
| quarters had reached the house short
| ly after noon, the shooting of Passau
| having occurred about 11:2O, and an
| organized effort to storm Taylor was
made, policemen and detectives en-
| tered the house and made their way
| to the second floor. Through the
door to the front room they perceived
that Taylor had let down the trap in
the opening to the attic, and it was
afterwards discovered that he was
| standing on it. 1t was seen that
many lives might be sacrificed if the
police attempted to ascend to the
attic one by one through the narrow
trap door, and it was decided to burn
out the murderer.
BY this time a maddened crowd OF
at least 1000 people covered the hill
sides about the house in which Taylor
stood at bay. They cried for his
blood, and some of them poured vol
lcys Of birdshOt, buck shot, and bull.
lets from pistols and rifles into the
upper framework of the house in
which the murderer lay. The news
that he was to be burned out spread
rapidly, and the authorization of the
District authorities for this measure
became known as soon as it reached
the police. This news was greeted
with a hoarse roar of fearful approval
and delight by the mob, hungering
for the life of the wretch whose dead
ly fire had killed a well-known anC
widely popular member of the police
force. Women Joined in the cry fol
IaylOr's blood, and as the work O
dislodging him progressed. this feel
ing grew almost to frenzy.
| In the room where Passau went t(
his death Inspector Pearson, Detec
tives Parham and Gallagher, Police
men Hewlett and Easley and ex
Policeman Harper were gathered
about l o'clock, Parham had gone tt
the lower floor and brought up mat
tress. This was spread beneath thu
trapdoor. A can of kerosene stoot
near by.
The ceiling just above the officers
heads was torn with bullets, which
had been fired against it in the hop,
that they would penetrate and reaci
the assassin above. The windows al
around bore evidence of the shot
fired inside and outside of the house
Demands were made on the muir
derer to surrender. and finally h'
was told that unless he gave himsel
up he would be burned out. At thi:
threat Taylor raised the trapdoor
tritle and began to parlev with his be
siegers.
You want to get me down ther,
and have me killed by that crowd,
he said
| The officers assured him that. if h,
gave himself up. he would be full,
protected against the mob. In spit,
of his evident weakening TAYLOR sud
denly dropped the trap and disap
pcared from view before shot coul,
be sent at him.
| Fire was then determined upon
and final arrangements were made tt
burn the house about the murderer
head An order was sent below t,
move everything out, and. seeing tn,
import of this, many willing hand
were soon at work. and cleared tn,
place of its contents.
Again the trapdoor rose. I'VE will
give You TWO minutes to surrende
and then we will set fire to the house.
SAID Lieut.. Pearson. when Taylor re
appeared in the opening.
You want to get me killed." tn
murderer pleaded.
| Throw down your pistol and com
down after it. or YOU burn" was tn
last order to Taylor. and. as it ha,
no apparent effect. though the tra|
still stood open. Parham tilted hi
oil can and another officer stood b,
to light the kerosene-Soaked mattress
There were two men. however
who had worked nearer and. neare
the window while the parlev will
Taylor was in progress. Policemen
EaSlev and Hewlett stood beneath
him when he began his last plea. and
with sudden movement. the
jumped on the window sill and threw
themselves upward. With eNtende,
hand. Ea>lev grasped the bottom O
one trouSer leg. jerked it toward him
and his fingers closed on the negro
ankle just As Hewlett clutched tn
other leg. In an instant the tw
Jerked Taylor through the trap-doo
and he was powerleSs in the grasp 0
many strong men.
With every soul of 1000 enrage,