The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-08
A HIGHWAY
ROBBER IS
SHOT DOWN
Negro Killed by a Man
chester Man.
ATTACK is MADE
| ON MAYO'S BRIDGE.
Three Negro Men In the Gang
Of Midnight Marauders.
ONE OF THEM SHOT:
ANOTHER CAPTURED
They Were Endeavoring to Rob William
Slate When W, 3, Wells Came to
His Assistance-The Negroes
Drew Knives and Mr..
Wells sho. EphraIm
Reid Dead.

w. B. Wells OF No. 1oe5 Hull Street,
Manchester. this morning at l O'Clock
shot and almost Instantly killed
Killed Ephraim Reed, negro,
highwayman, on Mayos Bride. within
less than five minutes after the negro.
together with Aurelius AIoseley. who
is now locked up at the First Station.
attempted to hold UP and rob William
Slate, also citizen OF Manchester. The
capture OF aIoseley was effected by Wells
with the assistance of Slate and Joseph
Nixon, Immediately after he had fired the
fatal shots3at Reed,
Ten minutes after the tragedy Wells
surrendered himself to Patrolmen Hac .att
and Kesgan. He was carried to the
First Police Station. where he spent the
night IN the office. pending the result OF
an inquest over the remains otlthe dead
highwaynan. which will be held this.
morning by Coroner Taylor in the Old
Market Hall.
FIRED JUST IN 4IalE.
From tNa statements OF Slate and
Nixon, both Of whom were eye-witr1essess
to the tragedy, Wells fred upon Reed
Just In the nick OF time otherwise hai
would have teen cut to p,eces with, a
knife in the hands Of the now dead man
He was advancing rapidly upon his
slayer with an. open knife raised III his
hams. ready to strike. when a bullet
from the little 32-calibre pistol laid him
low.
After being shot Reed Jumped about
two feet in the air. ran about one hun
idred yards. falling stone dead just be-
yond the canal. Here his body remained
until about o'clock this morning. when
it was transported to the Old Market
Hall by order Of Coroner Taylor VINO
shooting ..is No., & 'stsE5s t.ss - y.
TWO OF a GANG
There is little doubt but that Reed and
Mosely are two OF a gang ofahighwaynen
who have been committing depredations
in the vicinity OF Mayo's Bridge for sew
eral months. both Wells and Nixon
claiming positively that they are TWO
of bunch of seven who attempted to
hold them up no later that last Saturday
night as they were returning home from
Richmond. s
Shortly after midnight this morning
Wells and Nixon. both Of whom are
steeple painters and whose families oc-
,cupy the same house in Manchester
started from Richmond en- route to their
residence. They advanced as tar across
Mayos Bridge rs the dollhouse. where.
they stopped to. deposit their fee with
Keeper E, w, Scay.
The gentlemen had been In the place
scarcely two minutes. when William
Slate. out OF breath and trembling with
fear. dashed up. stating that he tr,7 Just
been held up by two negroes at the Rich
rnond end OF the bridge. He asked for
help to 20 back and investigate.
BORROWED A PISTOL.
Neither Wells nor Nixon had a pistol,
but the toll collector volunteered a small
32-rallbre gun. This he handed to Wells.
after which the three jo,irneyed back to-
wards Richmond. They had reached the
when the shadows OF two men could be
dimly observed through the Silly dark
ness.
The negroes were not aware OF sse a.
proach of the trio OF white men, and
were leaning contentedly upon the rail-
ing OF the bridge Under the cover OF the
Intense darkness. Wells slipped around
tile negroes. suddenly spring'ng In front
OF them with the pistol in his hand. FIe
T Commanded tham to surrender. but in
stead thev both took to their heels.
second command brought them to a
halt. however, and when the men APP
preached Nixon and Slate erappled with
Alosely. while Wells covered his man with
the pistol once more. Seeing. however,
that hard tussle was on between his
friends and Mosely. Wells lowered his
gun long enough to go to their assist
ance.
This was the opportunity sought for
by Reed and he raised his knife to strike
death-deallng blow upon the person.
of Wells, hut he was not fast enough,
and was shot before the blow landed
There Is thought to have heen a third
negro In the PARTY.