The sun., 1900-08-07
.C0LORED DESPERATE
ADMITS THAT He
SHOT CONDUCTOR
Two of Three Tramps Who
Fired at Train Grew,
Under Arrest.
THE THIRD MAN ESCAPED
Tramps We're Put or Train in the
West Yard and Then Attacked
the Grew. Chased by Railroad
Men. Detectives and Police
Hurry to Scene on
Special Train.

Three c.lored tramps, because they
were put off p, w. q B. freight train
in the west yard shortly before / O'Clock
yesterday afternoon opened fire on the
crew with revolv1rs. Conductor Stephen
| S. Jackson was hit in the arm with bu :
| let.
The sound OF the firing attracted rail
| road employees and others to the scene
and the tramps turned and started to
make their escape. The crowd started
after them.
| jackson was hurriedly brought into
the French street station in the caboose
Of freight train and then sent to Dir.
James A. Drapers office.
Word of the affair had been quickly
sent to Detective William T. Jones'
Office and John HI. Springer, signalman
at the French street station, notified
Detective Witsil who was at the police
patrol station.
Detective Witsil in turn notified Chief
Massey, who at once directed that every
effort be made to capture the desper-
ADDE'S.
The railroad company had a shifting
engine aud car sent to the French
street station. This was placed at the
disposal of the detectives and police to
aid them in their work.
Detectives Jones and Dillon fully
armed and Detective Witsi and Sergeant
Lucas and squad of officers boarded the
car and were soon speeding to the West
Yard.
When they reached the scene of the
shooting one of the colored mon had
been caught and was turned over to De-
tective Witsil. Soon a shifting engine
come up with another colored man
aboard. He was also turned over to the
officers. Both were placed in the car and
strongly secured.
Detective McVey had in the meantime
driven in the direction of Newport in
order to intercept the fugitives in case
they went in that direction.
The third colored man managed to
make good his escape, although the Of
ficers secured large section of country
tor him. The crowd of railroad men
who were pursuing the man had grttt II
close to this particular one but he held
them up at the point Of his revolver
Then he turned and ran on and finally !
escaped. The .diters followed up lis
trail but lest it,
While the negroes were attempting tn
escape they encountered driver oil n /
peeih " the oESru " hhife IHlp w UTkB /
and as lie trit tu assist in tllt capture, d !
revolver was fired at him. Tie hall
struck him in the Lack causing slight \
iiesh would
Tie two men who hard been secured
by the crowd d had not gotten far, and had
been turned over TO the detectives and /
police and brought to the French street
station, and.then sent to the hall in the
tatrol wagon. They were handcuffed to
The officers.
They gave their names as being Henry
Johnson and Henry Leach. Johnson
threw away revolver before being cup
sured. The revolver was secured and
last night he admitted to Detective Wit
Ill that it was HE. He said he had fred
oHce and in answer to tie question as to
how often he had reloaded, said he re-
oaded once. This showed that as he
had a five chambered revolver and there
we're four full chambers that he had fred
vice. He is about 22 years of age and
light colored.
A note book in his possession shows
hat he has bsen in Newark, N. j., re-
,ently. His confession denies that he
lad anything to do with the shooting
.nd had just come up when it occurred.
de Is about 80 years OF age.
A charge of assault with intent to kill
vas placed against the men.
Jackson. who is an extra conductor had
brown up his right arm to ward off
bullet when he was shot near the elbow.
The bullet WIS >cut out by DIR. Draper.
Jackson sides at No. 844 Kiikwood
tteet.
There is strong case against Johnson.
lie admitted to Detective Witsil that he
hot Conductor jackson. The admission
Vas made in the prt sence of a number t.f
'fficers. Dett ctive Witsil, as the result
i bis investigation found Richard {
lurphy, was the driver OF Jessup 4
'lnore team, who attempted To catch,one ,
i the negroes and was shot at. The bull
It only grazed his neck.
This is not the first time that train
rews have been shet at III the west
ard, F., w. & B. Detective w. T.
ones is determined that the west yard
hall he cleared OF desperadoes.