The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-19
HE WAS NO COWARD
Fourteen Year Old Boy Com
peIs Robba to Drop Booty


AT the Point of a Pistol the Boy Clerk
Makes Would-be Robber Surrender
Box of Rings-He Shot One of Men
Twice as They Were Leaving the
Store-One Bullet Hit Negroes Left
Shoulder and the Other His Left
Wrist-One Robber Was Arrested.
Harry Williams. a IA year old boy
who is employed in the capacity Of a
clerk at the jeWelry store of Mr.. T. D.
Mccullough, No. % South Front street,
proved himself to De far from a COW ara
last night about 7 o'clock when he
caused two w%ould-be robbers to drop
wounded in W places by bullets from
a pistol held by the boy. The wound
ed negro, who proved to be Ed. Will
liams, was arrested in less than one
hour after the attempted robbery. His
wounds were not serious and after
they were dressed he was carried to
the city hall, where he was locked up.
He was wounded in the left shoulder
and wrist.
1t was about 7 o'clock when two
negroes entered Mr.. McCullogh's
store. They had evidently been watch
ing the store for some time for as
soon as the proprietor had gone TO
supper and left the boy in charge,
the negroes vent in the store and ask
ed to be shown some rings. The I'M
suspecting clerk took out a box with
something like a dozen rings in it for
the negroes to inspect. They pretend
ed to be examining the rings, but sud-
denly Ed. Williams hit the boy on the
head with his fist, knocking him to
the floor. The negro then graspe1 the
box of rings and started to leave the
store, but a door that was difficult to
open frustrated his plans and gave
the boy al opportunity to recOver the
rings and he came very near ending
the career Of one of the negroes. A
pistol was lying back of the ounrer
and as soon as the boy regained his feet
after being knocked down he grasped
the pistol and ordered the negroes to
halt but this they had 10 intention of
doing and probably had no idea that
the boy would shoot, but in this they
were far from right. In the meantime
the negroes were ~endeavOring to open
the door and before they could do SO
Harry Williams, with pistol in hand,
walked up to them and commanded the
robber to drop the rings. He at first
hesitated and then dropped them, at
the same time Jerking the door open.
Two shots rang out and the young fell
low felt almost certain he had struck
one of the men, but he was not posi-
tive as they left at a rapid pace. he
rushed from the store as the men were
running up Front street. He fired a
| third .shOt at them is one of the mel
turned in to Burr and Bailey's alley.
The boy promptly reported the mat
ter at police headquarters and Chief
of Police Williams at once put several
| officers to work on the case. Several
physicians we're called up and asked
to notify police headquarters if a negro
appeared to have a wound dressed.
| Policemen M. C. Gray and W. F. Craig
were sent t o the homes of the colored
physicians to see if they had seen any
thing of a wounded man. DR.. Tom
Mast's was one Of the first places visit
ed and they learned that DR.. Mast at
that time had been called to Sasser S
alley. zeal Seventh and Church streets,
to dress the wounds Of a man who
had been shot. The police proceeded
to the place named and there found
one of the negroes who had attempted
| the robbery. He was put under arrest
and first carried to the James Walker
Memorial Hospital, but after his
wounds were dressed he was taken
back to the city hall.
No trace of Williams accomplice
has been found, but the police are on
the lookout for him.
Ed. Williams claimed that he was
not the one who endeavored to steal
the rings; that it was the negro with
him. According to his story he did
nothing.
The police say the physicians would
be of great benefit to them If they
would notify them when negroes ap-
pear under peculiar circumstances 1o
have wounds dressed.
Last night was not the first tiiite
that the clerk had proven himself equal
to cope with any one who endeayoreC
to take advantage of him Only a few
weeks ago a man entered the store
when the proprietor was out and ask
ed to be shown a watch. When Il
was placed upon the ounter he pick.
ed il up and started tt leave the Sore
evidently thinking that as he had only
a boy TO contend with and that III
would nave no trouble. He.as the negro
was not capable of sizing up the boy
The young fellow did not have a pis
toll On this occasion, but he picked III
a dirk and demanded Of the man tina
he hand over the watch. The a To-
a second gazed at the boy in astonish
ment, and seeing that determination
was written on his face and fea
of the long, keen blade of the dagger