The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-20
the dim light Of dawn the body Of the
policeman was gently carried from the

the dim light of dawn the body Of the
policeman was gen tly@ ca rried from the
ca Into the station-house.aa A
The minds OF Detectives Gibson, Wren
and Wiltshire were made up. They felt
satisfied that 5Maxfield needed watching.
In few months he was arrested IS for
theft, and on several charges he was
given twelve years in the penitenttary.
Several times he has been given the
chance to tell what he knows, and as
often has he remained mute, Almost sin
years have elapsed, ii MaXffcld stolldly5
stands by his bench in the shoe shop at
the penitentiary and holds his secret.
THE time may como when he will open
up" said one OF the detectives last night.
AS for this story about Ferris, we are
satisfied it Is the same one we investf-
gated five years ago or course, we will
look into 1t, as we have done in every
thing that may lead to the capture Of
the murderer of Bob Austin"
Story Of the Murder.
Policeman Austin was shot early OH the
morning OF Easter Monday. 1885. He was
.patroling his beat on the north side Of
Broad Street from First to Ninth. and
had Just reached Fifth and Broad. Dawn
was slowly creeping up the eastern skies.
but 1t was still too dark to clearly dis
tlngulsh objects at any distance. Milk
men. bakers and market men were get
ting out to business, but there were few
persons on the street In the vicinity of
Fifth and Broad.
witnesses who testified in a. the case
said that two colored men had been no;
iticed watching Austin. I'll They walked
along the street. On the NORTH side Of
Broad, just behind the officer Once or
twice he stopped and looked back at
49, J. !,
came up Something was said and Aus
tin made: a grab at one of the men
The other man shot four times, each one
taking effect. Then they ran away out
Fifth Street. after Il short, desperate
scuff1e. One OF the men lost his hat and
coat In the mlx-up, the pistol was drop
ped and cllisel was found near the
spot. sg5
Several persons In the vicinity ran to
tho scene. Policeman Foster was the
first to reach the dying policeman. Ee
asked him to tell who did tie shooting.
But Austin could not.
"Put me in the wagon" he said "sOut
.thac-way,' as he pointed out Fifth
Street. s.f .ei5y5 565
& Austin was taken to the station, whero8
he died In fcw moments, without being
able to tell who his assailants We're
The whole department aided by many
citizens and the newspapers. won't to
work at once in the endeovar to land
tho fugitiyes Dozens OF arrests were
made, but in no Instance was there
enough evidenced upon which to convict.
1t was months before public interest died
out, and now the police are working
quietly and with determination J,
The story about Ferris Is an old one
Report From Suffolk.
a special from Tho Times-Dispntch ren-S
-resentative at SuffO.n last night gives
the following account OF tho alleged cons
fession:
Having been arrested here for burg
larry, "Dr" William Ferris ali educated
negro criminal, with several aliases, Is
alleged to have confessed to the murder
of Police Officer Austin III Richmond
during April. 1898, Tho confession was
made to three fellow prisoners i'll Nam
semond county jail, so Police Chief
Brlnkley said tonight Ferris and hrs
pal, Will Maxfield. were burglars. who
had the direction of n gang. Policeman
Austin sought to arrest them on suspi-
cion on Easter morning, and Ferris shot
him down. Both Ferris and MaSfield
ecoapet, but the latter has since been
given "a twelve-year term for burglary,
The Suffolk police say Ferris Is wanted
In Henderson. n. c.. for robbng rail-
road station. And also has been convicted
In the United States Court for passing
counterfeit money IA. that he escaped
from the officers.
Ferris was arrested In Suffolk for rol'-
bing the seaboard Air Line freight sta
ton in this town. In case States Attor-
ney Holland decides that the murder
charge can be made out against Ferris
he may order his delivery TO the Rich
mond authorities without being tried here
for burglary,
~DTTSIThpV