The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-18

Mayor Minis instructed Cnle1 Ball TO
issue the orders and enforce IL
DETAILS OF THE BATTLE.
Fierce Fight in Early Morning in Which
Four Officers and Three Negroes Killed
The fight occurred in Pittsburg. a sub
urb of this city, and was the outcome of
feud Of long existence between the ne
g1ces Of that section and the police, who
have had occasion to arrest a frequent
intervals denizens Of the dives located
there.
While returning TO his home on Nc
Pherson Road yesterday evening. for
n1er Policeman S. A. kerlin was way
laid by five negroes. with whom he had
had trouble while a member of the force.
But for the timely arrival of a. trolley
car. which Enlightened his assailants
away. Kerlin would have been killed.
a sergeant stationed at Fort McPher-
son. who heard his cries for help ran to
the place and found Kerlin unconscious.
At midnight County Policeman Golden
heard that Kerlin.s FIVE assailants were
located in a house on Mcdaniel Street.
and he fastened to the city and secured
a warrant for their arrest from Justice
Orr Policeman Golden was Joined by
Officers Ozburn and Cheshire. and &C
companied by number of kerlln's
neghbors, including Owen Heard. The
party started for the hiding-place of the
five negroes, arriving at 1870 O'Clock this
morning. The house was dark, but as
the officers approached the inmates open
ed fire and Owen Heard fell to the
ground The house was at once sur
rounded by the posse, and daylight was
awaited before making another advance
NEGROES WERE ARMED.
The house in which the negro Richard
son was located belonged to Annie MIL
burn. also colored. Richardson owned
the store adjoining the house. Here he
kept ammunition and guns and was
therefore well prepared for fight. AT b
O'Clock this morning the group of OF
fcers. who had been watching the house
all night, approached the place and
called upon those within to surrender.
The answer was voley OF shots and
County officer Battle dropped dead. The
attacking party retreated some distance,
and from behind trees and telegraph and
trolley poles, commenced firing into the
store.
In a few minutes the door of the house
was thrown open and Will King. ne
gro. ran out and gave himself UP to the
officers. Inside the house Richardson
had an unobstructed view in three d.
rections. One block away Policeman
Tom Grant stepped from his shelter to
fire into the house: a shot from the
besieged house killed him before he could
fire.
The attacking party sent word to police
Headquarters and Chief OF Police Ball
dispatched the reserves to the scene in
several patrol wagons. The officers to
whom King had given himself up deter
mined to make use of the negro, aasl At
the point Ct rifle they forced him to
walk up to the rear Of the house AID
fire it. AS soon as the flames stared
the officers, eager to get the inmates of
the house. stepped out of their shelter
in ever direction. Again there was Il shot
from the house. and this time Officer Ed
ward Crabtreet met death.
An instant later there was another shot
and County Policeman Robert Ozburn
fell dead.
The shooting had by this time attracted
hundreds OF people, and nearly every
man who came TO the scene carried
rifle. The shooting into the house be-
came general, citizens and officers firing
together.
Governor Gambler was advised by tslc-
phone and ordered out the militia Cap
tain w. W.~Barker, of the Fifth Regiment
was ordered to proceed with fifty men
and a platoon gun to the scene of the
shooting and cooperate with the city
authorities and the, sheriff of Fulton
county. Chief of Police Ball hurried to
the scene on horseback, and was Joined
a few minutes later by Sheriff ]. w.
helms.
INMATES FLEE.
3 The desperate Richardson had been
lost sight Of. The house burned rapidly
and a number of inmates were seen
to run to the store, to woodshed,
1,F rs 90 ia in 40 oy-t 1nt Hr1o
" ere quickly given to fire these buildings
and in a few. minutes they were burn
ing.
jackson. street car conductor, was
shot in the hip. A negro cabman. driv-
ing a spectator to the scene of the riot,
was struck in the hand by a bullet.
:Cail-OfTicer Spradlin, speeding to the
the arm
( A main sewer which runs through this
rart Of the city was utilized by two of
the negroes as a possible means OF es-
cape. butte no avail. The crowd had in
creased until at least three thousand peo-
pie two thousand Of whom were armed,
surrounded the burning area.
FIRST NEGROES SHOT.
Milton Rostby, a negro was seen to
emerge from the mouth of the sewer. y
shout went up and the fleeing negro was
snot dead. His body was surrounded
and was practically shot to pieces. The
crowd of enraged citizens had scarcely
finished this work when another negro
ives seen coming out of the sewer He,
too, made a run for life and managed
to set into the backyard Of one OF the
5neighboring houses, where he was shot
to death
The fire. which lad been started by the
attacking party. spread rapidly. and soon
the entire block Of buildings. almost
wholly composed of negro houses. was de
stroyed The police were busy arrest
ing the few negroes found in the vicinity
The police hads great difficulty in get
ting out of the crowd of enra ged people
wit the cdlored men. a mob Of TWO
thousand sllrged around the patrol va
5gon and clamored forth lives Of the