The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-10
.CHOKED LADY AND
TOOK HER PURSE
Notorious Negro Snatch Thief is
Nicely Trapped III His
Crime.
:WoMAN's CRIES BRING R HELP ?
Guards Posted at Alley Openings
and He Runs Into Arms OF
Police.
.WoMAN's CRIES BRING HELP.
=, - The ,1,,mes-Dispa tch.)

fsnoc,a, ia The Times Dispa tch.)
E!TT}ESR S:ssBE VA. April 9.-Miss
lillian Barnes was choked and ropoeu
OF her purse by John Walker a notorious
negro thief, about $50 o'clock last nlsnt'
near the corner of Sycamore ana " ASH.
jington Streets, one Of the most requelittfsiu
sections OF, the city. atG:ifEa
Miss Barnes was walking up Washine-
ton street with her aunt on her way
Rome from the Norfolk and Western
Railroad station. and had reached the
shed over an alley opening INTO me
street behind the skating rink, Wnen
the negro ran up behind the ladies, ana
attempted to snatch Miss Barnes purse,
hut when she resisted and her aunt
screamed, the man choked the Struggling
woman, seized the purse and disappeared
in the dark alley only to run into the
arms OF Policeman Maitland McGhee,
who with several young men. mad .ruil
to the assistance OF the women, ana llad
quickly posted sentries Mt the Washing
ton, Sycamore and Union Street entrances
to the intersecting alleys between those
streets.
The prisoner was positively identified
by the two ladies. and the stolen pock-
etbook was found In the alley where the
entrapped thief dropped 1t when he saw
his predcament. Walker was again 1den-
titled this morning and was sent on py
the Mayor to the grand jury.
II. Nelson Whitmore, young cltlzen
of Ettrick, was found dead yesterday in
an clubhouse behind Kcelingss drugstore,
on High Street, the body in such a
crnmped position, with the head forced
forward until the chin was pressing IN
the chest. that a physician expressed
tho opinion that death was caused by
choking. It is understood that WHIT
more had been drinking heavily, and
was seen to enter the clubhouse about
10 O'clock in the morning, where he is
supposed to have fallen into the fatal
position, while helpless to save him
sef.soNo inquest was held.
i The body Of Joe Williams colored
resident Of Chesterfield county. who has
been missing for about four weeks. was
found in the Appomattox River yester-
dav about six miles west of Fernda.e
Fark, and four miles this side of Exeter
Mills, where his vaise and coat were
found on the river bank at the time Of
his disappearance. 1t Is thought that
Williams attempted to cross from the Din
widdie to the Chesterfield side of the
river by swinging to the overhead wire
cable used by tho ferry-boat at Exeter
Mills, but becoming exhausted fell into
the, water. The body was lodged In a
bush on the Dinwlddie side.
James b. Taiafcrro. one of the new
fire commissioners, recently nominated
by the Joint caucus Of Counclmen and
Aldermen. has declined the position. and
has qualified as Justice of the peace for
Fourth Ward.
The public meeting. scheduled for TO-
night, to decide the much disputed ques-
ton Of selling the present home of the
Young Mems Christian Association, has,
been postponed until tomorrow night at
the request of the committee Of citizens
who have been working to raise Fifteen
thousand dollars to obvlate the neces-
sity of selling the big Sycamore Street
building and buying a less expensive
home. s{s
Mr. and Mrs. John I. A. Mctcalf, of
Palmyra. Mo-. have Issued invitations
to the marriage of thelrS daughter, Miss
Mary Elizabeth Metcalf, to Mr.. Patrick
Henry Drewry Of this city, at the Meth
odist Church In Palmyra, Wednesday
afternoon. April 1ah. Mr.. Drewry Is a
popular young lawyer.