The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-04
KILLED WHILE RESISTING AR
REST.
William Johnson, a Negro Thief, fleets
Desth at the Hands of Police Off

William Johnson, a negro agains
whom a warrant had been issued TO
larceny, was shot and killed while re
sisting arrest Saturday night. Abou
ten days previous hog was stoiel
from Mr. n III. Chavasse. One of tn.
| blood hounds was put on the trai
next morning and ran it to Johnson.
| house. He refused to allow the houst
to be searched without a warrant
| While this was being procured John
son went away. A search was made
and hogs head was found in the
pot cooking. Parts of the meat of q
freshly killed hog were found as was
bag in which it had been carried. The
coat which johnson had worn the
night before was found with blood on
it and a clear case seemed to be made
out against him.
1t was learned afterward that
Johnson had made enquiry OF
another negro as to whether his wife
had removed the hogs head from the
the officers returned to search the
house. (She was not there at the
time he left and did not return before
the officers went to search the house,
AlOOkOut was kept for the negro but
he was not apprehended until Satur-
day night. A short while before s
O'Clock Saturday night a negro man
approached Policeman Crockett as he
was standing on the street talking
with Mr.. Alex Cooper and another
person and told him William OhnsOn
was at his home and that if he
(Crockett) would go after him he
could get him.
Officer Crockett communicated this
fact to Chief of Police Malone and
finding Officers Falkner and Robinson
the three were dispatched at once to
Johnson's house, Chief Malone fol
following. Arriving there admittance
was demanded but refused. The
door being unfastened Officer Falkner
pushed it slightly back and stood in
the doorway. He was met by John
son with pistol drawn. Hardly had
the door been pushed open when the
negro thrust his pistol in Mr.. Falk-
ner's face and pulled down on the
trigger AS he did so the officer
ducked his head and lodged behind
the door facing. The pistol fired but
the bullet found another mark than
that for which it was intended. In
quick succession the negro fired into
the officers until his pistol ceased to
work. Officer Robinson received two
bullet holes through his hat, barely
missing his head, and a button on
Officer CrOckett's vest was shot Off.
In the mean time the three officers
opened fire on the negro and rained
shower of bullets through the door
in the direction from which his shots
came. Only one took effect, however
Johnson was hit in the breast near
the collar bone receiving a wound
from which he died soon afterward
With the evident purpose of es-
Gaping, doubtless not knowing that
there was but one or two policemen
present and possibly thinking he had
killed one of them johnson ran out
of the house and fell in the yard.
Officer Crockett approached him
when the negro partially raised him.
self and snapped his pistol full in the
officers face. This failure of the cart
ridge to explode is all that saved his
life. By this time Chief Malone had
reached the scene and he and Officer
Crockett took the pistol from John
sons hands. Within a few minutes
after the officers had gathered around
the negro he was dead.
1t was an unfortunate occurrence,
and needless to say thrilling expe-
rience the officers had, but it was one
of those kind of things liable to
happen at any time in all commune
ties.
Justifable homicide was the YER
dict of the coroner's jury, the facts
being found in accordance with the
above.