The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-17
POLICEMAN VICIOUSLY ASSAULTED
Ed. Smith, n Desperate Negro Crim1-
nal, Knocked officer Frank George
Down With Metal knux-BIg crowd
of White and Negroes Allowed Him
to Escape.

Considerable exitement vas created
throughout the city yesterday evening
and last night by d vicious assault with
metal knux made upon Policeman
Frank George by a Ed. Smith, a negro
of VIGOROUSLY bad character and crimi-
mad record.
Ed. Smith was drinking yesterday al
ernoon and was acting in a disorder!y
conduct as he went down Front street.
About S o'clock he went to the restaU-
rant of a. Batson, cOlored. on Dock
street. between Front and Water, ard
got supper When he finished he re-
fused to pay for the meal and
struck Batson. BatsOn sent for Z
policeman and officer Frank George
went to the restaurant and found Smith
there cursing and acting in a ~disorderly
manner He deputized Andrew J.
Walker, cOlOred, to assist him in ar
resting Smith. When he started to put
the nippers on the negro, he suddenly
jerked back and assaulted officer
George with a pair of metal knux- The
officer was struck a severe blow in the
stomach and was knocked fiat by a
blow in the right side or the hea above
the right ear. He fell heavily to the
pavement and struck his shoulder
against the curbstOne, badly bruising
il in addition to the injuries inflicted
by the metal knuX.
A big crowd of whites and negroes
we're attracted by the difficulty ard
they allowed the negro to cap with
out attempting to stop him. AS soon
rs Smith struck the blows he ran down
Dock street to Water street and dis
appeared.
Policeman George was left on the
pavement in an unconscious condition.
and was not able to get up until he re-
ceived attention and assistance. DR..
Chas. T. Harper, city superintendent
of health, was called to him and he had
the officer sent to the city hall in the
patrol wagon. At the hall he dressed
Officer Georges wound and sent him
to the James Walker Memorial Hos
pital. Over the right ear towards the
back of the head was an ugly scalp
wound nearly three inches long and
nearly to the bone. 1t was necessary
to taken several stitches in this wound.
There was a confused wound on the
stomach and it was very painful. and
the right shoulder was bruised and
very sore. At telephone message from
the hospital at 1 o'clock this morning
states that Officer George was resting
easily and was doing we'll.
After the assault on the policeman
Chief of Police J. J. Furlong and every
man on the force set about to capture
the negro. Last night Sergeant c.. S
Burnett and Policeman Marcus c.
Gray got a buggy and went into East
Wilmington to look for Smith. They
suspected that he would be at a GER,
tain house. but did not find him there
Sergeant Burnett went to another house
occupied bv some negroes. on Mr.. D. F
Klein'S place about two and a hall
miles from the. city on the Wilmington
& New Bern Railroad. He ascertaineG
that Smith was there and going quiet
1y to a telephone in the neighborhood
he telephoned to Chief Furlong abou
II p. m. that he had Smith spotted and
asked for assistance, as he wanted tc
still keep a watch on the first house.
Chief FurlOng took the patrol wagon
and went out, accompanied by Captain
N. j. Williams, hall officer D. S
ReVelle. and Constable w. B. Savage
Constable Savage and Mr.. Edens, {
resident of East Wilmington, were LEFT
to watch the first house, and CHIEF
FurlOng and the others went to the
house where it vas reported that Smith
was. They surrounded the house and
when the door was opened, the officers
went III with drawn pistols. Smith
was sitting in a chair pretending to be
asleep. 1t was 11:s0 o.. m. when he was
arrested.
He surrendered without resistance
and was landed in the city prison al
half past u o'clock this morning. Wher
searched at the city hall he had ar
open knife in his pocket. but no meta
knuX or other ear were found. A
bottle of whiskev was taken from his
pocket. After being arrested he did not
say anything. but acted rather inso-
lently CnCe when the officers were
about to start with him from East
Wilmington.
Smith is a black negro about 50 years
of age n is a desperate criminal
having been n frequent offender before
the police court. He has been a con,
Wet several times.