Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-07-20

either side. wormed through the crowd
with him, and started down to the sta
tIonhouse. They reached Washington
avenue and turned down that rhor-
oughfare followed by no less than 4
thousand people. who were bowling in
discriminatory. Some were yellin. that
the negro had murdered two men.
Others cried that he had killed two men
and a woman. "A still more numerous
chorus demanded that the negro b.
iHnehed. The Immense throng behind
pressed upon the prisoner ana his
guards. struck. pulled, kicked ana
| clawed at the negro. ana tried to tax,
him from the men who were holding
him.
When the crowd reached Twenty-scy
enth street. Officer C.. Il. Craffou, who
was off duty at the time hearing the
racket. ran from 4 store in which he
was making some purchases and re-
llcved Mr. Smith ut the prisoners side.
AS the crowd passed Twcnty-siSth
street. Mr.. HarSravc. who WAS Thought
to have been murdered. was standing
in the door of the Warwick Pharmacy
watching the procession so by. Hu,
the tide Of excited humanity swept on
and did not see him. ,y this time the
avenue was blocked and black with
people. They poured like a turbulent
stream into TWcntS-iifth street ana
shouting for the negroes blood. filled
the courthouse yard. rushed into the
passa .c-way of the slatinnhouse. lamb
ed and packed the street in front.
AS the crowd increased. the negro
was hurried back into a cell. His name
was entered upon the record bonl, ma
opposite it was placed the charge, OF
murder. AZ that moment it WAS firmly
believed that Mr.. FIargravc had been
murdered. and the crowd was ,,r,v
There can be little doubt that if il had
been true. Charlie Williamson wculd
have been lynched but almost inme-
diately it became known that the sun
posed murdered man was absolutc;v
unhurt. lit was quickly learned too
hat no one else had been injured. ana
presently the crowd began to disperse
It was an hour or more though. before
the last man left ana that portion Of
the city assumed it's normal aspect
Then the negro was brought out and
Intercepted. He confessed to stealing
the money. saying he took S21.50. 1t
was learned that the amount missing
ana charged to the thief is about twice
this sum. He confessed also to the
no one. He was being hunted ana he
just shot at his pursuers in the excite
ment of the moment. he said
On his person was found $40 of the
money. The rest he said he had thrown
away. Handcuned. officer C'rafrorl
took took the prisoner back over the
route of the pursuit to look for the
money which he said he had thrown
away. but he could not find it. Coming
back the officer and his charge passed
three negroes serenading on the street.
Williamson was under the belief that
he was Il murderer
stop moment, Boss" he pleaded.
n let me hear that song. fer it is the
last one I'll ever hear"
The officer stopped. and without en-
tightening the prisoner waited until the
song was finished, then he brought the
man back to the station'house
Which shows that Charlie Williams ~
is also i poet.
And thus closed probably the most
exciting incident in the history OF the
city.
There was much comment upon the
fact that with the exception OF Officer
McCailum, there was no other member.
Of the police force on the scene from the
moment the chase began until the pris-
oner was brought to Twenty seventh
street where Officer Crafford put in an
appearance.
LAS matter of fact the officer on the
casino beat had been detailed to see
an excursion off at the Old Dominion
pier, and he could not have Joined the
chase in time. One other officer. whose
beat is on Washington avenue,
went around to the corner of Twenty
sixth street and West avenue to see
what the trouble was. He met a cou-
pie OF men coming back and they told
him That the crowd was chasing negro
who had robbed somebody AT this
time the fugitive had probably reach
ell Thlrty-second street
AS Il matter of fact, again this in
cident proves what has long been
maintained, namely. lfII Size foce is
LOO small TO cover the city as it should
DE covered. Seven or eight men are r,-
CURED to protect 4 region which a
score of men would have difficulty in
covering in time of danger Some of
me beats are about 4 mile long and it is
impossible for man at one end of TIN, m
to know What is going on at the other
END. The beats are stretched to the
breaking point and this is not the first
time mat one OF them has snapped
FAILED TO ARRIVE.
a Il