Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-18

ROSe0Steln mufQef, at SllQeIi, Mo-, TO-
day shot and killed Police Sergeant
Fritz Passau, wounded Policeman Cow
GERS at bay from the loft ola house for
nearly two hours. Dozens of shots were
exchanged between the officers and the
fugitive, who only surrendered when
preparations were made to burn the
premises.
Last Saturday morning Louis Rosen-
stein and his wife, who kept a small
store at Slidell, were found insensible
and horribly wounded in their store
room Rosenstein soon died from his
injuries and the woman is believed to
be near death. Suspicion fell upon a
negro named Humphrey Taylor, alias
Brown, who had disappeared. The po-
lice of this city were notified and a
strict watch has been kept for the man.
A negro answering the description of
Taylor was seen last Saturday even
ing and information received by the
police led them to believe their man
was living in a small house on Fowler's
Hill, settlement about quarter of
mile west Of Georgetown. Early this
morning 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 another
officer attempted to gain entrance
through the front door. Repeated
knockings and calls failed to elicit re-
spouse and finally the door was forced.
were employ and the officers assembled
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
cockloft, in which he had taken refuge.
Sergeant Passau had turned to look be-
and wheeling he sank to the floor dead
with two bullets through his chest. His
companions rushed forward and Police
man Cow opened fire through the trap
but failed to hit the fugitive. Taylor,
however, retreated to a corner of the
loft and realizing his advantage, the
geant and retreated. Cow received a
bullet in his right hand badly shatter-
ing it. and another struck his metal
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 the
shooting had attracted several thous-
and persons. Occasionally the negro
would fire a shot at the officers and i'm
mediately 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. Most of these were success
full, for he seemed to have an unlimit-
ed supply of ammunition. While he
realized escape was hopeless, he was
evidently determined to hold out as
long as possible Finally, concluding
that he would not surrender, Chief Of
Police Sylvester and District Commits
sioner Wight were communicated with
Lot
advice, directed the police to fire the
premises. A mattress was secured,
saturated with oil, and the officers he
gan to remove the furniture. Seeing
his game was hopeless, Taylor sur
rendered Surrounded by officers with
drawn revolvers, he was hustled out of
the 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 des-
perate effort to place it around the
wretch's neck. The GOODNESS of the
officers, however, saved Taylor,
though he was rather badly disfgured
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 re-
gard to the Rosenstein murder, the
prisoner became much confused in his
replies, and told half dozen different
stories. He said that a man named
Brown had committed the murder and
that he waited ON the outside and kept
watch, receiving from Brown sixty dol
lars. Upon searching the premises the
police found 1892 and a gold watch and
chain, where he had secreted them.
He had a diamond ring and a small
sum of money ON his person. His con-
flicting stories as to his movements,
and where he obtained the money, led