Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-08-02
IOTLEADER SLAIN
NEGRO MURDERER is SMOKED FROM
HIS HIDING PLACE.

Mob Makes Shat Work of the Desperate.
Body Is Riddled With Bullets-Twelve
Persons Killed and 30 Wour led Ii
Total Casualty List.
NEW ORLEANS, July 28.-After a
! desperate battle lasting for several
hours, in which he succeeded in killing
Sergeant Gabriel Porteus, Andy Van
Kurem, keeper of the police Jail, and
Alfred j. Bloomfield, young boy, and
fatally wounding Corporal John F.
Lally, John Banville, Frank H. Evans
and A. S. Leclerc, one of the leading
confectioners of the city, and more or
less seriously wounding several other
persons, the negro desperado, Robert
Charles, who killed Captain Day and
Patrolman Lamb and badly wounded
| Officer Mora, was smoked out of his
hiding place in the heart of the resi-
dence section of this city yesterday
afternoon and literally shot to pieces.
The greatest excitement reigned in
New Orleans as the battle went on be-
tween the police and citizens and the
negro with his Winchester.
Sergeant Gabe Porteus, one of the
best known officers on the force, and
Sergeant John Lally, who has record
for bravery, were informed during the
day by negro that Charles was in hid
ing III house on Clio, near Saratoga
street. Determining to take him alive
| ii possible. the officers summoned
number of patrolmen to the station and
went to the house. The negro inform
ant of the policemen accompanied the
officers. They entered the side alley
and were surprised in practically the
same way as We're Day and Lamb. Be-
fore the officers We're aware of their
danger, Charles, who was hidden be-
hind screen on the second floor of the
building, raised his Winchester and be-
gan furious but accurate fire. Lally
fell with bullet in the right side of
the abdomen Porteus was shot
through the head and dropped dead
across the BODY of Lally. The other
officers and the negro fed from the
scene. The reports from Charles Win
chester and the fact that two officers
lay bleeding in the yard raised ire
mendous excitement. In little while
there was an immense armed crowd
circling the square in which Charles
was located.
Boy Killed at Priests Side.
| In the meantime Father Fitzgerald
was summoned to administer extreme
JUNCTION to the police officers who were
dying in the alley. The priest re-
sponded promptly and hewas amounting
the body of Porteus with Alfred g.
Bloomfield, young boy, standing by
his side, when Charles again appeared
at the window. The lad saw him at
once and begged the negro not to shoot
him. The negro, however, fred his
Winchester and Bloomfield fell dead.
/ When the ambulance arrived, two
men volunteered to go into the alley
and bring out the body of Lally. They
entered and Charles fired again. The
men got Lally's body out and afterward
took Porteus' body out also. In the
meantime, an immense crowd had gath
cred i'll the vicinity and schemes were
set on foot to get Charles out of the
building. Charles, however, did not
propose to give up his life cheaply.
After a time he came to the window
and as five men, one by one, entered
the alley he blazed away at them. In
this manner Confectioner Leclerc, ex.
Policeman Evans, John Banville and
George Fl. Lyons were wounded.
At this time the extra police began tc
fire at the negro and he returned their
: fire. Andy Van Kurem, keeper of the
police Jail, got bullet in the body and
fell dead. Just afterwards H. H. Ball
was hit and mortally wounded. Abou,
, the same time Frank Bertucci received
a shot in the left shoulder, and j. w
Boil one in the right hand.
, Negro Smoked Out.
Ultimately it was decided that thu
only way to get Charles was to burn tn,
building in which he was intrenched
!. Some one went to neighboring gro
= Gerry, purchased can of oil, pouring i
over the rear steps of the building, ap
piled match and soon had the build
ing in flames. A Young man namet