The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-26
LONG CHASE FOR
CHICKEN Thief
Irving Taliaferro Gives Grove
Avenue Crowd Merry
Run.
!. HENS GIVE THE ALARM
Makes Second Dash for Liberty,
But is Caught
Again.

Irving Taliaferro. black as the pit
of Tartanus, skinny as parked sap
ling and as crooked as country
fence from all accounts. who doesn't
know his age, cares little about his
ancestry. and Possesses a devil-maS
care attitude toward the world has
the fatal frailty Of his race deeply
imbedded in his heart. In short, he
lis chicken-lover. and follows only
was the cause OF his downfall last
night, when he gave near hundred
people the merriest and the hardest
chase they had ever had
Irving. with the stealth of one of
Nick Carter's bold burglars, was in
the hen-h house OF Mr.. John Lindsey on
Grove Avenue, feeling round for
pair OF legs-chicken legs. The light
was dim, and the boy failed to see
an obstacle that lay in his path. Over
1t he fell headlong. waking up the
chickens, and the chickens walked. up
the neighborhood. Hens squawked
and cocks orew.
Every chicken took up the alarm
and rescue came forthwith. Mr. Lind
| sew and his boys heard the racket and
Mr.. Joseph Branch, living just above.
heard his neighbors. The boy took
to his feet. The others started IN
pursuit, and the crowd gathered with
| every square, as a SNOWFALL gathers
| more snow going down hill. Down
\ towards Cary Street the negro fed,
with the growing crowd close upon his
heels. Painting and almost GREATNESS,
he reached Cary Street. and then head
4 ed towards the Reservoir stop, thief!
4 stop. THEIR was dinned in his ears;
| but the tumult and the noice OF the
Jexcited throng only added terror 10
| the boys heart and fleetness to his
| feet.
| "A Red-Hot Chase.
Everybody turned out to join in the
| chase. and the rumor was spread about
that a riot was in progress on Meadow
Street, and that all tho police depart
! ment had been called out. 1t was
only chicken thief. but he was CIV
/ ing his pursuers all the fun they
wanted 1t was hundred to one. and
as fresh pursuers took up the cry the
little negro saw that the end was
i near. He made toward an open field
! and there they caught him, the breath
coming from his lungs in great. dry
sobs. and the sweat pouring from his
body In streams.
4 Out in the field an old negro woman.
{ Rachel Woodson. ran up to the crowd,
= thinking 1t was her boy that had been
ma p DeQ. SHe OSCdlIe lItes lui v
and though it was discovered
the negro was not her son
& she. too. was placed under ar
rest Mr.. Branch toog the woman In
charge, and turned the boy over tc
II his brother in-law. When the process
! sion reached Grove Avenue again. tn.
! boy made second bold dash for lib
: erty. Wrenching himself free from hi!
captor. he started down the street ir
! full flight. But he was already badly
a winded. and 1t was but tempting fate
!, He was caught again within a square
+ and a half, and then both he and the
woman We're turned over to Policeman
!, Pillow. The patrol wagon came fol
them, and the two were driven to The
! Second Police Station. There tn,
!, old woman, weeping. besought them t
! let her go. She stated that she wa.
i a cook for Mr.. Rosenegk. She had jus
! wanted to see If the boy was her son
= but she had to be locked up. FOL
, the police. though they might l1av,
! wished to- could not let her 90. Sob
: bling and in tears, she was led to thu
! cell.
AS is customary. the boy, before h.
:. was locked UP, was asked his age.
, Dunno. SIR was his calm response
:, Then he was led back to the cell, with
I. out feather for his pains.