Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-15
VIRGINIA NEGROES
Give Washington City Detectives
a Close Call.
Snapped Pistol Twice In Face of Om-
cer-Thcy Arc wanted in BinE-
hampton, New York, For Murders
ing Robbie Ginsbury.
tBy Telegraph to virginian-Pllo,.>

perate fight, in which Peter Mickens.
mulatto. snapped his pistol in the de-
tectives faces, and Abraham Lee.
negro broke away from Detective
Lacy the two, who are suspected of be-
Ing the murderers of Rabbi Louis Gins
burg, at Binghamton, n. Y, on July
4th. were arrested and locked up about
II o'clock last night. Detective Hern-
don, who, with Lacy. went to make the
arrest, was famed in his struggles with
the two suspects. The men answer the
descriptions of the Binghamton muir
derers. and will be held until officers
from that city can reach Washington.
They are confined at the Sixth Precinct
Station.
ON THE SCENT.
Early last evening Inspector Board
man received a card from Sheriff ~. q.
Wales. of Blnghamton, Offering n re-
ward of $500 for the arrest of Robert
Russell. mulatto. half Indian. who
on July 4th fatally stabbed Rabbi Gins
burg, and 800 for the arrest of Robert
Wade, Il negro. who was an accessory
10 the crime. Complete descriptions Of
the men were given, and Inspector
Boardman turned the case over TO
Lacy and IIerndOn.
In the Investigation, which was begun
at once, the detectives learned that two
strange negroes had recently arrived at
the Clinton lodging house In Marble al
ley, which is at the rear of the st.
James Hotel. The officers made in
Quiries and discovered that the
strangers had gone out after stating
they were going to meet an excursion
train from Pittsburg. Learning from
the railroad people that there was no
excursion from the West at all ycster-
day. additional suspicious were aroused
and the Clinton was kept under sur
veillance.
ON THE TRAIL.
About IL o'clock the detectives. who.
were concealed in n place of obscrva-
ton at the Pennsylvania Railroad sta
ton, saw two men answering the sus-
poets description enter the Clinton.
They We're followed and given time to
so to their room and undress. The de-
tectives. accompanied by William Cook.
citizen. assembled to the garnet of the
Clinton, In which the men had their
room. and knocked on the door. The
Inmates were told that officers desired
admittance. and were informed that it
was their duty to open their door. and
when they finally did so both were up
and dressed. They kept their bed be-
tween themselves and the officers. and
Lacy began to question them. AS he
did so he moved toward the larger man,
telling him not to be afraid of any
thing, and to come over to the door.
IN CLOSE QUARTERS
Come over to -" suddenly an
whipping out revolver and aiming il
point blank Mt Lacy and his compan-
ions. There was no opportunity to es-
cape had the detectives attempted to
do so. for the room was not more than
six by eight feet, and the door was
crowded by the three men AS the big
negro pointed his pistol, Lacy drew his:
revolver. but his opponent had the drop
and pulled the trigger first. The ham
mer fell with snap, but no explosion
followed. Before Lacy could fire. Mick
ems had pulled again. and again the
cartridge did not explode.
CAPTURED.
Lacy's revolver was lcvelcd by this
time, and rs he touched the trigger. his
big opponent delibera tcly threw him
self from the window of the room. Lacy
fired. but his pistol snapped too, and
there was no discharge. The smaller ne
gro, Lee. had stood To one side while
this was going on, but when he heard
the harmless snap OF the detectives
pistol he made IL rush and grappled
with the detective. Herndon had mean
while rushed down stairs 10 intercept
Nlickens. Lee was heavier and stronger
than Lacy, and after a short struggle
ne broke from him and fled madly
down the stairs. lie was met ut tn,
loot by Detective IIerndon, who saw
That Mickens had been caught. and
turned to Lacys assistance at the
sounds of the struggle in the garget.
y TOUGH FIGHTER.
Such a fight as his prisoner put up
Iierndon has not experienced in his 20
lice service. The negro bucked and
Kicked, fought with hands, feet and
teeth and was easily n match for the
detective alone. 4 citizen had blown a
police whistle while the fight was in
progress. and Policemen Plimmons.
Cox and Newkirk rushed to the assist
ance of the officers.
A BRAVE; BARBER.
NTickens. when he rolled out of the
garnet window. dropped about thirty
feet to the roof of "A shed and rolled
from that to the ground. Joseph Ander-
son, negro barber. who had been ac-
puainted by the detectives with their
errand in the Clinton. and who was
waiting outside, saw Mickens drop from
the window, and. running up to Mick
ems as he crossed the street. pretended
TO be friendly.
Just walk slow and don't saw anv-
thing, he said to the fugitive in Il low
tone. This disarmcd suspicion and as
he said 1t Anderson Grasrod Mickens
with one arm and With his frec han6
pulled the others pistol from his pocl5-
ct He soon had assistance in the s,rug-
gle which Mickens made for his lthcr-
tv, and Plimmons and Cox. with IIcrn-
don and Lacy. took both prisoners In
charre and escorted them to police
headquarters.
CANE FROM VIRGINIA.
When an examination was made OF