The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-04-14
HENDERSON ACCOUNTS.


A correspondent writing from Hender-
son OF the shooting gives the following
particulars:
Sparks, the circus man. had reserved
seats for the white people who paid an
extra dime, and as the seats began to be
filled VI jim Bruce, a muIatto, about
twcnty-Onc years of age, took a reserved
seat with the white people, but the cir
Gus man found it out and asked him to
go on the other side. Jim refused. so
Policemen r. A. Crockett and j. w. Rob
ertson insisted on his changing which
Jim promised TO do if they would give his
extra money back. They gave him his
money, and Jim left the circus. came
down town. went in a hardware store,
whore he is employed and went back to
the circus grounds. AS Policeman
Crockett come out Jim met him: a few
words were exchanged and Jim began
cursing Crockett. Crockett stating that
he did not want to fuss asked Policeman
Robertson to take the negro away. Just
then Jim drew a 32-calibre revolver and
commenced firing on the policemen. who
script to make some corrections and wit
ness did not see it again. He said j.
quickly %eturn the fire. In an instant
all three had cmpticd their pistols, and
as a result Crockett was shot three times
in mis- clothing, only one ball touching
the skin. Robertson was shot twice in
the bowels and Jim five times in head and
body. SO serious were the wound of the
latter two that DR.. j. H. Tucker carried
them to Raleigh to the hospital. Later
news states hat Robertson may rccovcr
1t was thought at one time that Jim had
hackers and that there would be more
trouble so Chief of Police Malone kept
on his full force all night and today
though the town is much stirred up over
the shooting there is no indication OF
trouble.
Robertson has a family and our sym
pathics are with them, as we hope be may
soon recover.
Another letter from Henderson gives
the following account:
"A terrible shooting affray took place
at the Sparks circus here last night.
James Bruce, a very bright mulatto young
negro man, took Il seat i'll the white peo-
rle's department or row of first class
seats. The show girl selling tickets was
Informed that he was not a white man,
and the town police requested to ask
him to give UP the scat, rcfunding his
money at the time.
'DrQcG le1J the seat quickly, L under
stand, went down town, got his pistol
and returned to square matters off de
string revenge. He called or sent for
policemen J. w. Robertson and Crockett,
and a horrible shooting ARRAY took place
just outside of the show tent. J. w. Rob
crtson and his assailant, James Bruce,
were seriously, if not fatally wounded.
Mr.. Crockett received three wounds one
in the breast which truck a rib and
glanced, but he is doing very we'll and
is here. Robertson received one wound
III right breast; Bruce three, one in head
anG ether two in abdomen.
DIR. IIartwcll Bass, DIR. John Hill
Tucker, DR.. Harris, DR.. Coggshall. DR..
Gill and DR.. Judo rendered services. Drs.
Bass and Tucker accompanied the wound
ed mon by a special train to the hos
pital at Raleigh.
have heard this morning that the
~ncero's wound is fatal, but that j. w.
Robertson, policeman, is better.