The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-11
He CHEATED
The GALL0WS.
Bullock Had Been Tried Three
Times for Murder.
FOURTH TRIAL NOW PENDING.
Dug Tunnel and ESCAPED From JalI-Ar-
rssIea and Wounded hs Tore on Band
ages ani DIsd 10 Dcaih.
FOURTH TRIAL NOW PENDING.

New York, Dec. 11.--With the suicide Of
William Bullock. negro, in the jail In
Portsmouth, Va, on Saturday, there end
ed A case almost without parallel in GRIM
inal annals.
Bullock. who murdered James Walsh.
former chief OF police, in Rcd Bank, ~.
j.. IN November. 1899, had the unique dis
tinction OF having his life placed in jeopar-
dy four times for the killing of another
man. and of finally thwarting justice by
killing himself 10 avoid being returned 10
the state from which he was fugitive.
Although less than thirteen months
have ella psed since Bullock, formerly an
inoffensiye vender OF garden truel at the
New Jersey coast resorts. shot Former
Chief Walsh. ne was tried for murder
three times. was convicted twice, once
obtained the benefit of a disagreement by
the jury and was ordered 10 a fourth
trial. He seriously injured one of the
prison TRUSTEES escaped from jail by
digging a tunnel. and remained at liberty
for several months afterward, working
as a farm hand in the south.
MYSTERY IN HIS ESCAPE.
No satisfactory explanation has ever
been given or Buiiock's escape from the
Monmouth county jail during the night
OF September 6, his fourth trial having
been set for the coming week.
IL was discovered Oh the morning of
September that Bullock had escaped.
and Sheriff Davis, after rigid investiga-
ton. learned that the negro had dug
tannel through which. with the probable
assistance OF some persons outside the
Jail, he had made his escape
Sheriff Davis offered reward OF $500,
and detectives learned that Bullock was
working on a farm In Virginia When
the fugitive realized that his identity was
known he attempted TO escape, but was
shot and arrested. Awaiting favorable
opportunity the desperate prisoner tore
the bandages from his wounds and bled
10 death
Bullocks experiences while within the
Jurisdiction of The New Jersey authnri--
ties convince many that there was meth
cd in his mad act in the Virginia jail.
The belief was prevalent at the time OF
his escape from the Monmouth county
jail that he had been assisted in obtain
ing his freedom by men who desired to
trap him through pretended friendship
and then lynch him.
The feeling against the negro was in
tense in Red Bank, and il was a matter
OF history that another negro accCsed OF
com uniting an assault upon a white wo-
man. had been lynched few years pre-
viously by residents OF Eatontown.
Knowledge of this feeling may have de-
cided Bullock to end his own life before
he could be returned TO New Jersey.
Much evidence was given at the various
trials to show that Bullock's shooting of
Walsh was a most unprovoked crime. The
negro owed an account OF s., and Former
Chief Walsh went TO his home serve
an execution on him. He found the negro
at home alone. Persons in the vicinity
soon afterward heard four shots, and the
former chief of police was found lying
in the woodshed fatally wounded. Bull
lock escaped. but was captured the next
day.
MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
He was convicted of murder in the first
degree, but a new trial was obtained.
This resulted in a disagreement. and the
third trial was begun on May rs. The
jury, after being out nearly forty-eight
hours, again found him guilty of muir
der in the first degree. Once moro the
accused mans attorneys succeeded in
having the verdict set aside and a fourth
trial was ordered.
Nearly a year has passed since Bullock
assaulted Harry Cottrell. a 'trusty," In
the Freehold jail Under pretence of
friends.-.p he induced Cottrell to accom-
pany him to his cell, where he bolted the
door and savagely assaulted the "trus-
~" with a heavy iron bar
Cottrells cries brought several attend
ants. but they were unable 10 subdue
Bullock, and IL was only after an officer
with 2 revolver had threatened To shoot
Bullock that he surrendered. Cottrell
was badly injured. but has sinca recover
ed, and is now suing the state of New
Jersey for $4,000 damages.