The Washington times., 1901-09-01
A BAD NEGRO MAKES TROUBLE.
Attempts Murder and Is Captured
After u Long Chase.

Edward Pierce, negro tough whom the
police have been vainly endeavcring to
capture for several months past terror
lied the entire neighborhood in the vic
unity of Blagden Alley northwest short
ly after / o'clock yesterday afternoon.
He tried to shoot Jane Newton, colored.
and afterward endeavored to kill her
brother. Dan Newton. who came to the
assistance of his sister.
Pierce is now locked up at the Eighth
precinct police station charged with as
sault with intent to kill and with carry
ing concealed weapons. He was appre-
hended by Policeman Wright, of that
precinct. after a long chase and stub
born fight.
Pierce, who IS a negro of powerful
physique, went into Blagden Alley,
where he is well known, yesterday after
noon, and became involved in a quarrel
with Jane Newton. Her remarks enraged
him and he struck her terrible blow in
the mouth with the butt end of a revolver
which felled her to the floor. The woman,
however, despite her painful injuries,
grappled with her assailant. at the same
time crying Murder Her screams
reached her brother Dan in a nearby
house, who Immediately ran to the assis-
tance of his sister. whom he saw strug-
CLING in the door with the negro.
Before he arrived. however, Pierce man
aged to free himself from the woma n S
grasp and stepping back a few PAGES
pulled the trigger of the revolver which
he had pointed directly at the woman s
head. but the frearm failed to explode
Seeing her brother approach. Pierce ran
down the alley some distance and again
pulled the trigger. This time the weapon
responded to his finger and a bullet
whiZZed past Newton's head. The en-
ragged negro then fired at the bleeding
woman lying in the doorway. Then. with
a mob of citizens in chase. he fed through
the alley out into NJ Street.
In the meantime the woman had revived
somewhat and managed to get to the cor
ner of Seventh and NJ Streets northwest
where she met Policemen Evans and
Forteney, OF the Second precinct, who
We're just coming off duty. Bleeding pro-
fusely from her mouth, she managed be-
tween gaSps to tell them of the affair.
Evans at once ran over TO the alley, while
Forteney took another course, hoping to
head the desperate off.
Policeman Wright, of the Eighth pre-
cinct, who lives in that neighborhood
heard the cries of the pursuers and ran
hastily out into the street just in time TO
espy Pierce. with the revolver still in
hand, dashing into house on Eleventh
Street northwest, near the corner of n
Street.
Pushing through the crowd, the blue
coat ran up the steps of the house within
which the fugitive had disappeared, but
had scarcely mounted the last step when
Pierce himself appeared at the front door.
He attempted TO run down the steps when
Policeman Wright. covering him with his
weapon, knocked him TO the ground with
his baton. Assisted by Policeman Evans,
the bluecoat then took charge of Pierce
and A call was sent in for the Eighth
precinct wagon. which responded and the
negro was taken to that station and con-
fined in cell.
The Newton woman went to the hosni-
tai where her injuries of painful rather
than serious nature, We're dressed She
then went TO her home.
Owing to the fact that the capture of
the man was effected by policeman al
tached to the Eighth precinct, the credit
of arrest WAS given to that station al
though Policeman Evans, of the Second
precinct. impeded by being in uniform and
the number of blocks he ran. arrived when
Wright made the capture. In order to
give both precincts the credit of the ar
rest. Pierce was charged at the Second
precinct with carrying concealed weap-
ons, while the Eighth precinct authorities
charged him with assault and battery
with intent TO kill
Edward Pierce. the prisoner, is said to
be one of the hardest criminals in the
city and innumerable warrants are said
to be awaiting him at the various police
stations. He will be given a preliminary
hearing in Police Court Monday morning.