Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-18
POLICEMAN KILLED,
Sergeant Passau' Of Washington
City Force, the Victim
WORK OF NEGRO MURDERER
AsSaiIant Of the ReSent:inS, in Mary.
land, Caught.
ATTEMPTS TO LYNCH HIM.
Cries of .'Burn Him" Made by IN
s,rt.,cJ Crowd-second Police OIL
Ger wounded by the Negro before
the Latter Surrenders.
ATTEMPTS TO LYNCH HIM.

WASHINGTON, May 17.-Humphrey
Taylor, a negro suspected of the Rosen-
stein murder, at Slidell, Md, to-day shot
and killed Police-Sergeant Fritz Passau,
wounded Policeman Cow, and Kept a
posse of half dozen officers at bay from
the loft Of a 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 small store
at Slldell, were founded insensible ana
horribly wounded in their storeroom.
Rosenstein soon died from his injuries
and the woman is believed to be near
death. Suspicion fell upon negro named
Humphrey Taylor alias Brown. who had
disappeared. A negro answering to the
description of Taylor was seen last Satur-
day evening, and information re-
ceived by the police led them to believe
their man was living in small house
about a quarter Of a mile west OF George
town. Early this morning Taylor was
seen to enter the place, word was imme-
dlately sent to the nearest precinct sta
ton, and a posse Of officers hurried
to the place. Some OF the men were post
ed about the house, while Passau' cow
and another officer attempted to gain en-
trance through the front door. Finally
the door was forced. The two small rooms
on the first floor were empty, and
the officers assembled to the second story.
TAYLOR OPENS FIRE.
The front room there was also empty,
and as the men passed into the rear apart
ment. 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. Police
man Cow opened fire through the trap, but
failed to hit the fugitive. Cow re-
ceived a bullet in his right hand, badly
SCATTERING 1t, and another struck MS
metal badge and glanced downward the
entire length OF his coat. The reserves
of two precincts were called out, and the
house was surrounded. The shooting,
mean while. had attracted several thou
sand persons.
Occasionally the negro would fire shot
at the officers, and Immediately volley
would answer ii, but no one was hurt
With revolvers in hand the officers
watched every window, and tried several
ruses to draw TaylOr's fire. He seemed
TO have an unlimited supply of ammunl-
ton. Finally, concluding that he would
not surrender, Commissioner
Wight directed the police to fire the
house. A mattress was secured ana
saturated with oil, and the officers began
to remove the furniture. Seeing his game
was hopeless, Taylor then surrendered.
THREATS OF LYNCHING.
Surrounded by officers with drawn re-
yolyers. he was hustled out OF the house
TO a patrol wagon. when the crowd surged
forward with shouts Of Lynch him!
"Burn him. and made rush Tor the
prisoner. A rope was secured, ana the
mob made a desperate effort TO place II
around the wretchs neck. The GOODNESS
of the officers. however, saved Taylor
though he was rather badly disiigured by
blows from the nearest or the crowd
Upon searching the premises the police
found 1892 and gold watch and chain
where he had secreted them lie had
diamond ring and a small sum OF money
on his person.
1t is believed he is the man the Mary
land authorities are looking for. 1t is
nrobable. however, that he will be de-
tanned by the District authorities and
tried for the murder Of Sergeant Passau.