New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-04
HUNTED By THREE POSSES
DelarcQre TOscn InfHriated by Negro
Desperate.
LET TELEGRAPH TO THE TKIaUxE.l

Smyrna. Del. Aug 3-This State IS or the
eve Of another lynchlng Three hundred men
armed with shotguns and revolve-s. In three
posses are pursuing Fletcher Hollis twenty
three years Old e desperate negro OF this place.
who tonight shot and fatally wounded Con
stable James D. Wright. at Clayton. one mile
from here while resisting arrest. Clayton was
so excited over the shooting that the negro
managed to get away, after holding several
pursuers a: 5ay with his pistol As the negro
IS well known his capture either tonight or to-
morrow is confidently looked for.
The posses. which are led by BENJAMIN Tur-
ner. Chief OF Police; Policeman Joseph Cum
minis and Constable Charles H Jones. all of
Smyrna. and W. D. venn and William King
OF Clayton. are guarding every avenue OF escape
for radius of a half dozen miles and they will
spend the night on guard. If they catch the
negro it is conceded that he will be shot
Constable Jones. OF Smyrna. and Constable
Wright of Clayton. were cooperating in an
effort to arrest Hollis on the double charge Of
shooting at a man in Dover last Saturday night
and of creating a disturbance at the Friend
ship (colored) camp meeting. four miles from
here, last evening. Unfortunately. neither con-
stable was armed. When they saw the negro
IN front of the Hotel stockle, in Clayton. this
evening. Wright approached and said to the
negro:
L want you"
No you don't want me-" was the reply
on yes, I do. and I Will take you" Wright
said.
At this juncture the negro drew a revolver
and aimed it at v-right's head shouting: You
won't take net
Wright. VINO. I'D to this time. had not been
assisted by Constable Jones. because of the lat
ter's failure TO have a pistol. seized the negro
and wheeled him around. Wright hoped by
doing this he would have the revolver pointed
away from him. Before he could accomplish
this however, Hollis pulled the trigger and
the bullet entered his victims abdomen. Wright
who is fifty years OLD. walked 10 the hotel steps.
where he collapsed and was carried inside and
physicians summoned.
Constable Jones secured a revolver from a
bystander and started after the fleeing negro.
AS soon he fired Hollis ran toward Smyrna,
pointing his weapon over his shoulder and
warning his pursuers TO keep back He soon
entered a cornfeld and started across country.
Word was sent by telephone in all directions
to catch the slayer. and the organiza tion OF the
posses followed.
Hollis went in the direction Of Smyrna River.
which runs into Delaware Bay near Woodland
Beach. and the posses followed him closely. At
9 O'Clock tonight il was believed that he was
surrounded il a cornfeld near the head of the
river. but If such was the case the negro eluded
his pursuers. He owns small boat. which is
rnoored in the neighborhood
1t was reported late 10 might that he had sue
ceeded in reaching the boat and was rowing
for the bay. The river is very cirCuitous. and
members of the posses are on the banks watch
ing with guns They all know the negro, and
they declare that IL they see him they Will
shoot TO kill without asking questions.
1t Is possible that the desperado. who is ia
riliar with the country. is hiding in the swamp
in which case he will probably not be seen
until daylight.
1t was reported here shortly before midight
that Hollis was in the negro quarter Of the
town and that two Of his friends had team
ready to take him away. but armed crowd
failed to verify the ruTnOr.
Hollis is a desperate character OF Smyrna and
has given the authorities much trouble
Constable Wright is q Democratic leader Of
Kent County. and was recently reelected to his
Office by the Kent County levy court, which is
Republican. He will be taken 10 the Delaware
Hospital in Wilmington early tomorrow morn
ing The people are enraged because the
tragedy Of tonight occurred on the same spot
where three years ago Herbert Haynes, night
watchman, Of Clayton. was killed by negro
tramp who was never captured.