The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-23
Walter Cotton, Escaped Negro Muir.
der From Portsmouth
THOUGHT TO HAVE FIRED SHOTS
White Man in Jail aud Two Hundred
Citizens Hunting the Nesra-Cir-
cu1nstanccs Show That the Nc
gro Committed the Burslcry
on MIR. Jack Grizzard.
Bloodhounds in Pursuit

EAiPoR1A. VA. March 22.-special.-The
robbery Of Tuesday night at the residence
of Mrs. Z. A PEBBLES, in Emporia. re-
suited in an awful tragedy this morning.
Two men, one white, the other colorcd,
had for day or two taken shelter in a
deserted cabin near Skippert, station on
the Atlantic Coast-Line. As the wnoie
community was alive TO find, If possible,
the bold robbers who were committing he
outraseS Of the past month, Justice j.
w Saunders and Constable Joseph Wei
ton went to see who were the inmates OF
the cabin.
SHOT THEM DOWN
AS the gentlemen got to the door 1ie
men in the cabin at once fired on them,
and they returned the IRE. Messrs. saun-
ders and Wclton were killed instantly,
and the two men in the cabin We're both
wounded.
The white man was captured and has
been lodged in the jail here, but up 10
this writing an armed force are stil IN
pursuit of the negro, who IS thoushl 10 pe
the desperado, Cotton, who lately escaped
from the iail in Portsmouth under SEN
tence Of death The negro is said to be
an accurate SHOT
BLOODHOUND.
Constable John S. Branch, of Suffoik'
who brought up his bloodhound YESTERDAY,
captured Cne of the gang at -Afrihsoaii
and brought him to Jail this 1nornln. MI.
Branch has just left Enporia for Shippers
with the dog A hundred men, fully arm
cd have gone TO the scene Of the murder,
and an indignant community is iuits
aroused. Justice Saunders leaves a vie
and a large family Of children, ana WAS
useful citizen
4 man. named Jackson. living in Nortn
tod
picion and lodged in jail
t1,rsintSs is entirely suspended, ana 4
determined effort is being made TO arrest arrest
and bring to justice the numerous
thieves. ..,o,-r
aMpOR1A, VA, March 22-Special.-
Mr.. John W. Saunders and MI ). n.
1v..,ton who were killed this morning
ut s5kdprers, went to a log cabin on l lhe
si1o of the railroad for the purpose OF
arrestins a white man who was NeiS
suspic;ous looking character IL peiiis
1rrn1rn at Shippers that a burglary mad
been committed in Emporia nlght OF
SO ego they We're on the LOOKOUT loi 't'e
burglar. They did NOT hiio" l'ie 1sto
was IN the CABIN
When they entered the room MT. sauli-
ders asked them what they We're DOING
tbare. the negro made no reply, but az
oord,nr- to the statement Of MI. ). IL.
sNorr-is wlro accompanied the oiilceIs'
tn. negro began shooting at once. MI.
1vc1ton drew his pistol. but was killec!
hefore he could use 1t. MT saunders
fired three times. striking the negro on
the hand once, but the negro 1lrea IaPiu-
ly and with great erect slihihs ~,
Saunders and killing him almost &A-
stantly. n
BOTH TRANIPS FIRED.
+s;r ,hourht that both of the tramps
we've firing. but Mr.. Morris thinks that
the negro did the shooting. Al ieast
two hundred men are hunting ahe negro
with bloochounds, but so Tar he mas es-
capped arrest. ,.,,;,,+
The people are thoroughly indignant
this being ono Of the foulest crimes IN
the history of this county, and IL the
negro Gend is caught he Will prooapiS
not be given any time.
The officers took i coat from one Oh
+g,a hands at Vincent & Co.'S saw mil,
which proved TO be the properly OF Mi.
lack Grizzard whose room was eutereu
,,ipi1t before last, and which the mill
hand said was traded him by this negro
murderer.
This fact proves almost. conciusiHe.s
that he also committed Tue pui S4'A
ported on yesterday
Mr. Saunders and cdr. Melton are well
,,ron-,,l and respected citizens OF this
county, and both were Confederate Sol.
d,ers Mr. Saunders was 4 Justice OIL
the peace for long number OF years,
an5 3he criminals of his section stood
An great fear of him. The famliies OIL
,he murdered men have the sympathy
Of the entire community IN lhelr pe-
reavenent.
The white man has been ,cansht- Dut
the negro is still at large. The negro
4 .r sunnosed to be Cotton. the murderer
who escaped from Portsmouth Jail some
time since. II is said that man an
s s,yaring Cotton.s description was seen
on The road near here tonight
MI7RDERER SEEN AT J JAtR-AIlsS.s
IJMPoRIA, VA, March 2s.-apeciai..A
negro answering the Description Oh me
negro VINO killed Messis eaui.uets anu y,
Melton at Shippers to-day, was reported
40 have been seen at Jarratts, ten miles
,,or,7a of Enporia. The negro had his
: ,,ara tied up and there was blood on his
clothes.
Word was telegraphed 10 Eznporia. and
there being no train north bound 1or
some hours, a large party OF deterninea
citizens left E1npnria on horSepach III puf-
s,,it of the murderer.
The fac. that the negro who fired on
and killed Messrs Saunders and Welton,
r.as struck In tho hand by cne of the
,attcr.s shots before he fell. makes 1t
reasonably certain that they are one and
the same. and If caught the negro will be
lynched on the spot.
Dr. Nictiuire's Condition,
There was rso material change in the
condition of DR.. Hunter Mcclure sester-
day and last night.
lie was resting easily. but other than
this there was no change.
~ ~. ~, ysl,.t,xy g,>,,,,