The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-16


old who fatally stabbd Policeman Roberi
J. Thorpe, in New York. early sunda!
morning, and who by the murder precipi-
tated the serious race riot in New YorE
city last night and this morning. was ar
rested at the home of his mother, Mrs
Emily Harris. 532 Street southeast. II
this city, about o'clock this morning
The arrest was effected by Sergeant Null
hall and Policemen McLucas, Owens
Brown, Dent. Foster, and Haycock. and
was brought about through the clever ef-
forts of Policeman McLucas, who located
the alleged murderer Harris now oc,u-
pies cell at No. 5 station. He has ad-
mitted stabbing Policeman Thorpe, and ex-
presses sorrow for IL He is also appre-
hensiEe for himself, now that he knows
Thorpe is dead He declares. however. that
ne is willing TO go back TO New York with
out requisition papers, and says he viii
cause no trouble.
The arrest of Harris was cleverly con-
summated. The local police were request
ed Yesterday by the New York authorities
10 LOCK cut for the man and last night
~hen the daily bulletins were issued to
the police of the various precincts. they
contained notice 10 look out for and de-
script.an Of the negro Harris was well
known In the Fifth precinct. where he
was born and raised, and it was known
that his mother was SIN living there IN
tact, only yesterday she made application
10 the police TO be allowed TO give a So
ctal, the proceeds Of which were to be de-
voted 10 bettering her INDECENT cireur1-
stances.
Accordingly the police of the Fifth pre-
cinct at once went 10 work 10 learn some
thing CT Harris. and * was not long before
Policeman McLucas had located the mother
Of the fugitive He learned later that a
man answering The description OF Harris
had been s:nquiring for Emily Harris at
the house 5ll E Street southeast, where
the woman formerly lived. Harris paid
her visit there in the winter OF 1898
Policeman McLucas communicated his
information to Lieutenant MEGA shran and
he instructed Sergeant MuIhau to organize
e squad and keep a sharp watch on the
Harris home.
Sergeant MuIhaH then selected his men
and had them surround the house. This
was shortly before o'clock, and, as the
police had reason to believe that Harris
was at home. little time was lost in es-
tablishing that fact. With every door and
window of the house closely guarded. Ser
geaht Aulhali and Policemen McLucas
and Owens entered the house and found
Harris asleep with his mother He was
aroused and became first surIy and then
dehant- He denied that he was the man
Wahted, and refused to accompany his
captors- Seeing that he had ne chance for
escape. however. he finally submitted TO
arrest and, later. while on the way 10 the
stationhouse. admitted to Sergeant Null
hall that he stabbed man in New York.
lie wanted 10 know the condition of the
man and when told il was serious remark
ed, Well this is no laughing matter. Do
you think it Will be case Of the chafr?''
The last remark referred, OF course. TO an
After being locked up Harris was close
y guarded By Policeman Clinton who was
stationed at the door of the prisoners cell.
To reporter for The Times. Harris
stated that he was born October. 19. 1879.
He said he attended the public schools
here and completed the first year Of a
course at the ColoTed High School. He then
secured position in New York and had
since lived there, except for the winter
he spent in Washington two years ago.
Harris is an intelligent negro and talks
well. There is nothing of the brute about
him and he showed keenly that he reaIiz-
ed the gravity of the situation which con-
fronted him. He was perfectly willing 10
talk and repeatedly asked to be told the
condition of Policeman Thorpe Finally,
when told that Thorpe was dead, Harris
said: That is too bad am sorry for IT
don't think 1t WIFI be d case CT the
chair, do you? It might be second degree
murder or manslaughter but | don't see
how it could be the chair If can get
the evidence I should have I can show
that was forced TO stab the man. They
are so peculiar in New York State though
that | guess wont have much show Yes
will have counsel. Ny uncle. Brooks
Burrell, has promised to supply LAWYER
Harris was asked why he stabbed
Thorpe, and readily answered that the DO
iiceman insulted his wife and then as
saulted MIN. Harris claims he did not
know Thorpe was policeman, as he was
In citizens clothes. When asked to make
z brief statement of the affair Harris did
so willingly. He claimed that on Sunday
morning he and his wife were returning
from market AZ Ninth Avenue and West
Fortfeth Street, TO their home at 24I West
Forty first Street. When they reached
Fortv-frst Street, near Eighth Avenue
Harris stopped to get some. cigars at
saloon His wife continued home with TIE
marketing In the saloon Harris met some
friends, and had several drinks He tar
ried so long that his wife came after him
Just as Harris left the saloon he saw q
man humping playfully against his wife
The man offered an insult Harris remon-
strated, saying the woman was his wife
The man. who was Thorpe but VINO was
aot known to Harris, told the co,ored man
TO attend TO his own business.
II replied that l would not" said Har-
ris. "and then he drew a short club and
beat me over the head and shoulders. He
held me while he struck me. else I would
have run away Finally after he had
knocked me down I thought Of my pan-
knife. and when he dragged me 70 nv
,eet and clinched ME, drew the knife.
In the excitement and under the Impulse
If the moment, believing was going to be
killed, stabbed him. l don 'tknow where
1ut l think in the side or back The knife
vas cheap 1G-cent affair with a Q 1-2-
nch blade After I stabbed him he let 90
lfs hold and l ran home. Someone called
20 me as I ran that the man | cut had
.allen. My face was covered with blood
rom the wounds in my head. You can see
he wounds now l washed off the blood,
1ut on q new hat and went at once 10
Jersey City. where / remained all day
Sunday. Monday 1 spent in Philadelphia.
md Tuesday l was in Baltimore. | came
g. & o. Weekend Seashore Excur-