The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-18
BAD NEGRO CAPTURED.
But Not Before He Had Shot
Two Men.
Wanted I'm Maryland for Numbering
Man and Wife.

Washington, May 17.-Humphrey Tay
lor, a negro, suspected of the Rosenstefn
murder at Slidell, Nd, today shot and
killed Police Sergeant Fritz Passau,
wounded Policeman Cow and kept
posse of half dozen officers at bay from
the loft of house for nearly two hours.
Dozens of shots were exchanged between
the officers and fugitive, who only sur
rendered when preparations were made
to burn the premises,
Last Saturday morning Louis Rossn-
stein and his wife, who kept a small store
at Slidell, were found insensible and hor-
ribly wounded in their store room. Ros-
enstein soon died and the woman is be-
iieved to be near death. Suspicion fell
upon Humphrey Taylor, alias Brown,
who had disappeared. The police here
were notified. This morning Taylor was
seen entering a. small house on Fowler's
hill, quarter of a mile west of George
town. A posse of officers hurried to the
place. The men We're posted about the
house while Passau and Cow and another
officer attempted to gain entrance
through the front door. Repeated knock
ings and calls failed to elicit respon,
and finally the door was forced. The two
small rooms on the first floor were empty
and the officers assembled to the second
story. The front room was also un-
tenantsd. AS the men passed into tie
rear apartment Taylor opened fire from
the trap door of the loft in which he had
taken refuge. Sergeant Passau sank to
the floor dead with two bullets through
his chest. His companions rushed for
ward and Policeman Cow opened fire
through the trap but failed to hit the
fugitive. Taylor. however, retreated to
corner of the loft and realizing his ad-
vantage the officers picked UP the body of
the sergeant and retreatei. Cow received
bullet in his right hand, badly shatter-
ing 1t.
The reserves of two precincts We're
called out and the house surrounded. The
shooting had attracted several thousand
persons. Occasionally the negro would
ire shot at the officers and then vol
ley would answer 1t but no one was hit.
With revolyers in hand, the officers
watched every window and tried several
ruses to draw Taylor's fire. Most Of
these were successful for he seemed to
have an unlimited supply of ammunt-
tion. While he realized escape was hope
less he was evidently determined to hold
out as long rs possible. Finally, con-
cludtnR that he WOulQ not surrender bne
police prepared to fire the premises. A
mattress was saturated with oil and the
officers pegan to remove the furniture.
Seeing his game was hopeless, Taylor sur
rendered. Surrounded by officers with
revolvers he was hustled out of the house
to the patrol wagon. The crowd surged
forward with shouts of 'lynoh him." A
rope was secured and the mob made q
desperate effort to place it around the
wretch's neck. The GOODNESS of the OFF,
GERS, however, saved Taylor, though he
was badly disfigured 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 Taylor
was safely in cell.
When questioned by the police In re-
gard to the Rosenstein murder the pris-
ouer 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
sixty dollars. Upon searching the prem
ises the police found Sl92, gold watch
and chain and diamond ring. His con-
| flicting stories as to his movements and
where he obtained the money led the
police to believe he is the man the Mary
| land authorities are looking for. 1t is
probable, however, that he will be de-
tained by the district authorities and
tried for the murder of.Sergeant Passau.