The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-03
NEGRO AND HIS PISTOL
Isaac Jones Shot Another Negro and
was Chased and Shot at a Dozen
Times by Negroes and Whites Not
Bullet Hit Him..

'0SN A&Shh G. W.
big crowd of negroes were at the
steamer Wilmington's wharf ar the
foot Of Market street. a negro by, the
name of Isaac Jones created immense
excitement by shooting at another ne
gro in the crowd. He missed the man
he shot at but the bullet made a flesh
wound in the leg Of Lewis Howard,
colored. The bullet cut through his
pants near the knee and lodged in the
window facing at Mr.. Penny's store.
Howard did not know the man who
III him but went to the city hall and
informed h police that ne would
know the man if he saw HIM again.
After giving a description Of him he
went to > Ecctor and a his wound
dressed.
About II o'clock a telephone message
was sent to police headquarters that
the man who did the shooting was al
the steamer Wilmington's wharf. Cap
tain Williams started down to the
wharf n when he got to Market
street, he heard a police whistle blow.
He hurried up in time to see Policeman
L.. N. Smith giving chase to Isaac Jones
who had been pointed out to him as
the man who nae done the shooting.
When he went to arrest the negro he
ran up Market street and quite a party
Joined in pursuit, including Policemen
E. L. Chadwick and j. j.. Moore. The
negro turned up Front street and ran
as hard as he could go with people
yelling catch him. He darted down
the custom house alley. ran to Water
street, then UP Water str-eJ to the
Masonic Temple alley to Front street.
People turned out of stores TO head
the fugitive off, but the negro ran with
a pistol in his hand and threatened
everybody who ran after him. He ran
from Front street into the Purcell
House alley and flew through to Sec
ond street. AS he went into the alley.
Mr.. c. P. Bosch tried to lead him off
but the negro drew a pistol that caused
him to halt. AS he was running
through the Purcell house alley a negro
Joined in the chase and began shoot
ing at the fugitive. He fired several
shots and people ran towards the scene
to see what was the matter. Excite
ment Ivas intense as it was believed
that there was a shooting ARRAY.
When the negro came out of the Pur-
cell House alley, Mr.. Paul Young tried
t head him off but the negro drew a
pistol and kept him back. AS he ran
; he shoved his pistol into several white
mems faces, and continued to run.
They were shouting "catch that man"
and as the negro ran UP the east pave
ment of Second street to Princess, a
big crowd was after him. At the south
east corner of Second and Princess
= streets several men ran out of the sa-
loon and the negro like to have run
into them. A couple of men grabbed
at him but he kept them off with his
pistol. A man standing on the corn T
drew a pistol and as the negro crossed
Princess street, began shooting at him.
He fired four or five shots and bow
he missed the negro was a miracle A
Messenger representative had Ia al
most in the firing line to catch the
fellow but when the bullets began to fly
he a to get out of the way. AS the
negro passed the Cowan Company's
livery stable. the crowd still running
after him shouting stop him." Mr.. j.
w. Brown, who has charge of the stable
at night, jumped up with a chair 10
stop him, but the darkey's pistol made
him stand back.
The fugitive's wind had about given
out and he was slowing down with the
[ crowd pressing on him. Sergeant {.
7 s.. Burnett, who had heard the shoot
ing and had entered the chase up Sec
ond street from Market, ran within ten
feet of the negro and called on him TO
halt. Jones whirled, pointed his pistol
at Sergeant Burnett and applying a
vile epithet said don't you run on me
I'll kill you" Sergeant Burnett was up
to the negro in an instant, and knock
ed him senseless with his club. Some
body started to shoot the PROSTATE fell
low but was prevented from doing so,
as it was believed he was already shot
and dying. He was out of breath and
~groaning and his head was bleeding
After Jones got his breath a little he
said he wasn't shot but was My hit
in the head
Sergeant Burnett found his pistol un.
49, As-o T. hnl M hrr1Inrn IN tr onG
the negro had been playing a big blum
with it. 1t was turned down at the
breech, however, and no doubt Jone
was trying to load it as he ran. The
patrol wagon was called and Jones was
y taken to the city hall, begging not &c
be killed. He was stripped and exam
ined but no sign of a bullet could be
found on his person. His wound on tine
head was examined by DR.. Mcmillan
and it was a~scertained that he was not
badly hurt.
Jones is nineteen years Of age and
works at the Navass factory
His pistol was a six shooter OF IS cali
bre.
Lewis Howard, the negro who was
shot in the knee, works at the Palace
Bakery, h rear of which is on the
Purcell alley. 1t is believed that he
was the negro who was shooting al
Jones when he ran through that alley
When Sergeant Burnett first heard
the police whistle he was al
Front and Dock streets and he
ran UP Front street to Market and
out Market to Second as Jones raj
out of the Purcell House alley. His
Aadvancing on the with a pisto
in his face was a plucky piece of bus.
mess and he was highly complimentet
by the crowd. He is, however, noted
for the fearless discharge of his duty
on more than n occasion.