The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-08-02
MURDERER USES HIS WINCHESTER
With Deadly Effect, and Several Are
Killed and Wounded-He Is Finally
Shot to Pieces.

New Orleans, Special.-After des-
perate battle, lasting for several hours,
in which he succeeded in killing Ser
geant Gabriel Porteous, Andy Van
Kurem, keeper Of the police Jail, and
Alfred ]. Bloomfield, a young boy; ia
tally wounding Corporal John F. Lally,
John Banville, ex-Policeman Frank
H. Evans, A. S. Leclere, leading con-
fectioner of the city, and more or less
seriously shooting several citizens, 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 residence section Of
the city and literally shot to pieces.
The tragedy was one of the most re-
markable in the history Of the city
and 10000 people, soldiers, policemen
and citizens, were gathered around the
square in which Charles was finally
put to death. Tremendous excitement
reigned in New Orleans, as the battle
went on between the police and citi-
zens and the negro with his Winches-
ter. After the tragedy was over and
Charles was dragged from the mud
and slush in which he had fallen, with
the mob bowling for the burning Of
his body, statements were made that
the man killed was not really the des-
perado who had killed Day and Lamb,
but papers found on his person and
the fact that he fought SO desperately
for his life and shot so accurately seem
to leave little doubt that the right
man was put to death.
Sergeant Gabe Porteous, one of the
best known officers on the force. and
Sergeant John F. Lally, who has fine
record for bravery, were Informed dur
ing the day by negro that Charles
was in hiding in house on -lio, near
Saratoga street. Determining to take
him alive if possible, the officers sum-
moned q number Of patrolmen to their
assistance and went to the house
where Charles was supposed to be in
concealment. The negro informant
of the policemen accompanied the Of
fcers. They entered the alley side OF
the house and were surprised in prac-
tically the same way as were Day and
Lamb. Before the officers were aware
Of their danger, Charles, who was hid
den behind a screen on the second
floor Of the building, raised his Win
chester and began furious but ac-
curate fire. Lally fell with bullet in
the right side Of the abdomen. Por-
teous 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 OF
Charles Winchester and the fact that
two officers lay bleeding in the yard,
raised tremendous excitement.
Hurry calls were sent to the mayor
the cheif of police and Col Wood, in
command Of the special police, and as
fast as possible armed help was rush
ed to the scene. In little while there
was an immense crowd around the
square IL which Charles was located.
In the meantime Father Fitzgerald. Of
ST. Johns church, was summoned to
administer extreme JUNCTION to the po-
lice officers who were lying in the alley
The priest responded promptly and ne
was amounting the body of Porteous
with Alfred ]. Bloomfield, young boy,
standing by his side, when Charles
again fired from the window. The lad
saw him at once and begged the des-
perado not to shoot him. Charles i'm
mediately fired his Winchester again
and Bloomfield fell dead. The priest,
unhurt, left the scene after pluckily