Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-18
NARROWLY ESCAPES LYNcHING.
Negro Suspected Of Rosenstein Murder Kills
Washington Police Sergeant.

Washington, May lI.-Humphrey Tay-
lor, negro, suspected of the Rosenstein
murder at Sliden, Md, today, shot ana
killed Police Sergeant Fritz Passau,
wounded Policeman Cow and kept posse
of half a dozen officers at bay from the
loft of a house for nearly TWO hours.
the officers and fugitive, who only sur
rendered when preparations were maze
to burn the premises.
Last Saturday morning, Louis Roseh-
stein and his wife. who kept small store
at Sliden were found insenSible ana nor
ribly wounded in their store room. Kos
enstein soon died and the woman is be-
leved to be near death. Suspicion Eel!
upon Humphrey Taylor. alias Brown, who
had disappeared. The police here were
notified. This morning, Taylor was seen
entering small house on Fow!erS Hill
a quarter of a mile west OF GeorSetown.
A posse of officers hurried 10 the place.
The men were posted about the house,
while Passau and Cow attempted 10 gam
entrance through the front door Re-
neated knOckngs and calls failed 10 elici,
i response ana finally the door was
forced. The TWO small rooms on the first
floor were empty and the officers ascend
was also untenanted. As the men passed
into the rear apartment, Taylor opened
fire from the trap door of Il loft in which
he had taken refuge. Sergeant Passau
sank to the floor dead with two bullets IN
his chest. His companions rushed for
ward and Policeman Cow opened fire
a corner of the loft. and, realizing his ad-
vantage, the officers picked uD the body
of the sergeant and retrea ted. Cow re-
celved bullet in his right hand, badly
SCATTERING it,
The reserves Of two precincts were
called out and the house was surrounded.
The shooting had attracted several thou
sand persons. Occa sionally the negro
would fire a shot at the officers and imme-
diately Volley would answer it, but no
one was hit. with revolvers in nand the
officers watched every window ana tried
several ways 10 draw Tayiors fire. Most
Of these were successful, Tor ne seemed
TO have an unlimited supply of ammunl-
ton. While he realized escape was nope
less, he was evidently determined to hold
out as long as possible. Finally, cdnclud-
ing that he would not surrender. the po-
lice prepared TO fire the premises. mat
treSs was 81 turated with oil and the offi-
GERS began to remove the furniture. See
Ing his game was hopeless. Taylor sur
rendered Surrounded by officers with re-
yulvers. he was hustled out OF the house
TO tile patrol wagon. the crowd surround
ing with shouts OF 'I-ynch MIN, burn
him
a rope was secured and the mob made
a desperate effort to place il around the
wretch's neck. The GOODNESS Of the Off
GERS. however. saved Taylor. though he
was badly disfgured by blows from the
nearest of the crowd. All the way to the
station the mob kept on shouting for
vengeance and fingered about the build
ing where Taylor was safely in cell
When questioned by the police in regard
to the Rosenstein murder. the prisoner
became much confused and told half
dozen different stories. He said that
man named Brown had committed the
murder and that he waited on the outside
and kept watch. receiving from Brown
SEQ Upon searching the premises the po-
lice found sl92, a gold watch and chain
and diamond ring. His conflicting sto-
ries as TO his movements and where he
obtained the money led the police to be-
lleve he is the man the Maryland author
tiles are looking for. It is PROBABLE, how
ever, that he will be detained by the dis
trict authorities and tried for the murder
OF Sergeant Passau.