Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-02-06
DEMANDED THE NEGRO'S LIFE
Citizens of Chester Frenzied
Over the Murder of Police-
man Mark w. Allen, Jr.
ONE THOUSAND NEAR THE JAIL
Frightened Prisoner Spirited
Away to Media.
Mayor Jeferis and Senator Sproul Were
Unable to Pacify the Mob-Albert West,
Formerly of Chestertown, Nd, is the
Murderer-He Shot the Policeman After
Having FeIled Him.

Chester Pa, Feb. IA howling
mob, clamoring for the head of Albert
West, negro, who shct down in cold
blood Officer Mark w. Allen, Jr.,
Saturday night surrounded the City
Hall yesterday afternoon and were kept
at bay only by drawn revolvers. Never
in the history of Chester have the
citizens been so aroused to deed Of
vengeance, and to prevent a lynching
Mayor Jefferis swore in % men to guard
the City Hall, with the aid of the day
and night police forces.
Allen was a young and popular mem
ber of the Chester police force. Shortly
after II O'Clock Saturday night he was
notified that colored man was quarrel
ing with coiored woman, and followed
the couple down Third street. At Third
and kerlin streets West pulled q re-
volver and threatened to kill the
woman, who gave her name as Ballard.
Alien caught uo with them, and ad-
visad him 10 go home, when, without
warning, West aimed at Allen and
pulled the trigger. The officer fell,
with his left leg shattered, and as he
lay on thu pavement West shot again,
the BULLET taking effect in his head,
two inches from the ear. West fred
q third tins, but misseG. He then
advanced, fourishing the revolver at
George Teckenroth, and the latter
beat q hssty retreat.
West ran to his clearinghouse, passed
out the back way to Roach's shipyard,
and gained the Reading railway tracks.
In the meantime, Officer Robinson
arrived on the scene and arrested the
Ballard woman. Chief Leary issued
orders for strict patrol Of the city.
Officers and citizens hunted for The
murderer all night and until o'clock
yesterday morning, and then started
men out into the surrounding country
and as far as Gray's Ferry. West was
finally seen in the neighborhood of
Darby, and Officers Cain and Taylor Of
Chester and Tyler and Mccormick Of
Darby, followed by several hundred
citizens, searched through Gottshallis
lumber yard at Darby, and then went
to Thomas Tarbottom's place, near
Darby Creek, where West was located
in COW barn. He was taken out and
the men made desperate attempt to
lynch him. Cries of "kill him -
"hang him'' were shouted, but the
officers, with drawn revolvers. kept the
mob back. The negro was kicked and
struck by the mob, and one man grabbed
y
to point it at West.
West was gotten into Darby car by
the officers, who had him securely
handcuffed, and the mob followed,
clamoring for vengeance. The car,
when it reached Chester, was switched
down to the City Hall, where thousands
of excited men were gathered. Coroner
Fry joined the officers, now reinforced.
and the crowd crushed in, kicking and
striking at the prisoner, amidst yells
of Lynch him - The officers formed
compact guard around West, ans'
! landed him in the entryway after
terrific struggle, tine crowd following,
Hundreds Of men rushed around to the
rear and broke down the stout wooden.
| gate and hurled stones at the Jail
windows, shattering all Of the glass.
! The officers forced the mob back into
| the straaT.
Mayor Jefferis and Senator Sproul
attempted to pacify the mob, but were
net with cries for vengeance. The
| street was mass of shouting, struggling
/, meT, armed with clubs and revolvers.
[! Posses were hurriealy sworn in and
| placed on guard at the Jail and the
City Hall An attempt was made to
| get the prisoner out of the Jail and
Place him on Media trolley car. The
| fire alarm bell was rung, with the hope
| that the mob would run to the scene
Of the supposed Ere. but the thousand
men held their ground, resolved that
| if West were brought out they would
lynch him. When the police saw this,
| they worked another trick on the mob.
| A special trolley car was drawn up
near the City Hall, and the fire alarm
hell was again rung During the
momentary excitement, two seated
! wagon drew up in the rear of the Jail
yard, and the officers hustled West out
the back way, put him into the cab,
and drove to Media, accompanied by
Sergeant Mullin and Deputy Sheriff
Wolfe. The mob did not learn Of the
trick for some time, but when Chief
Leary told them to disperse, that the
prisoner was on his way to Media, they
sent in two delegations to search the
Jail in order to satisfy themselves the
murderer was gone
West came from Chestertown, and
has been working at the Chester iron
and steel plant. He has been boarding
with Mrs. William Hutchinson, and
was jealous of the Ballard woman.