The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-28
TRACKED TO HIS LAIR
Robert Charles, the Murderer, Battles
With Tigerish Ferocity.
ANEGRo BETRAYED HIM TO THE POLICE
For Hours He D.fed With His Winchester the
Officers and Citizens, But Was Finally
Smoked Out and Literally
Shot TO Pieces.
(By the Associated Press.)

New Orleans, La, July 27.-After des-
perate battle lasting for several hours,
in which he succeeded in killing Sergeant
Gabriel Porteous, Andy Van Kurem. keep
er of the police JAIL and Alfred J. Bloom
field, a young boy, fatally wounding Cor
poral John F. Lally, John Banville, ex-
Policeman Frank II. Evans, A. S. Loclere,
one of the leading confectioners of the
city and more or less seriously shooting
several citizens, the negro desperate,
Robert Charles, who killed Captain Day
and Patrolman Lamb, and badly wounded
Officer Mora, was smoked out of his hid
ing 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
20, 000 people, soldiers, policemen and citi-
zens we're 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 citizens and the negro with
his Winchester. 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 desper-
ado 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.
THE BATTLE OPENED.
Sergeant Gabe Porteous, one of the best
known officers on the force, and Sergeant
John F. Lally, who has a fine record for
bravery, were informed during the day
by negro that Charles was in hiding in
house on Clio street, near Saratoga
street. Determining to take him alive If
possible, the officers summoned number
of patrolmen to their assistance and went
to the house where Charles was supposed
to be in concealment. The negro in
formant of the policemen, accompanied
the officers. They entered the side alley
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 hidden
behind screen on the second floor of the
building raised his Winchester and be-
gan a furious but accurate fire. Lally
fell with bullet in the right side of the
abdomen. Porteous was shot through the
head and dropped dead across the body of
LalIy. The officers and the negro fled
from the scene.
The report 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
chief of police and Colonel Wood, in COM
mand of the special police and as fast as
possible armed help was rushed to the
scene In a little while there was on
imense armed crowd encircling the square
in which Charles was located. In the
meantime Father Fitzgerald of st. John 8
Church was summoned to administer
extreme JUNCTION to the police officers
who were lying in the alley. The priest
responded promptly, and he was anoint-
ing the body of Porteous with Alfred j.
Bloodfield, y3ung boy standing by his
side, when Charles again appeared at
the window
SHOT THE BOY DOWN.
The lad saw him at once and begged the
Desperate not to shoot him. Charles i'm
mcdiately fired his Winchester again and
Bloomfield fell dead. The priest unhurt,
left the scene after pluckily performing
the last offices for the dead officer. At
this time the ambulance arrived and two
citizens volunteered to go into the alley
way and bring out the body of Lally They
entered, and while they were attempting
to take the body of the dead officer from
that of his colleague, Charles fired again.
The citizens nevertheless got Lally's body
out of the alley and afterward succeeded
in taking Porteous' body out also
In the meantime an immense throng
had gathered in the vicinity and schemes
were set on foot to get Charles out OF
the building. Charles, however, did not
propose to be captured without selling
his life dearly. Time after time he came
to the window and as citizens, one by
one, entered the alley he blazed away at
them. In this manner confectioner
Leclere, who was one of the special police
squad, ex-Policeman Evans, John Ban
vile, (not Banoille) and George H..
Lyons, son of the head of the biggest
drug establishments in the South were
wounded.
At this time the extra police began to
fire Unfortunately at the negro. Who
shot him will probably never be known.
VAN KUREM KILLED.
just at this time Andy Van Kurem,
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