Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-18
Pompey Watson Fired Five Shots
at Policeman Before ReesIV.
Ing Mortal Wound.
SAID 70 HAVE BEEH MURDERER
Report Says That Dead Man Was
Wanted by Cape Charles Authorit-
lcs-TroubIe Started at Dance,
Where Watson Threatened Another
Negro with Revolver.

Pompey Watson. n negro about 30
years old. was shot and killed by
Police Officer Edward l., Parrish in
inc back yard OF negro dwelling
house on Madison avenue near Hamp-
ton avenue, about midnight last night.
Few minutes prior TO the killing, the
negro fired five times at the officer
and the latter fired twice at the negro,
hut none OF .hc shots took effect.
When the fatal shot was fired, Wat
son. who still had his revolver In his
hanu, was again turning upon the
policeman.
DR. II. Roscoe Gary the coroner
was with II patient last night whom
he could not leave, and the body of
tho dead man was moved to the stat
ion house. where an inquest will be
held this morning. officer Parrish
continued to work his beat In Rock
ctts the remainder of the night. There
were no cye- witnesses of the killing.
but Lewis Morton and Phillip Brown.
negroes. saw Watson fire at the OIL
Ger five times.
officer Tells Story.
After the shooting, Omcer Parrish
said that he was at Jefferson avenue
and Twenty second street when Lewis
Morton approached him and told MIN
that Pompey Watson had drawn n
gun on him" in the Union nall. on
Madison avenue near Twenty second
street. While Morton was making
his complaint. Watson, who had fol-
lowed Morton from the hall. passed
by and Officer Parrish hailed him.
When the patrolman started toward
Watson the negro drew revolver and
began firing at the officer, The men
were then only about is feet apart.
Tho patrolman hastily drew his
weapon and fired ut the negro twice.
After firing the fifth shot, Watson
ran up Twenty street toward
Madison avenue. and. after instruct
ing Morton TO hasten up Hampton
avenue to try and head the fugitive
on, the policeman started in pursuit.
Flourished Weapon TO Last.
On reaching Madison avenue. Wat
son turned down that avenue toward
Hampton avenue and. when he saw
inc officer was gaining on him. he
lodged down an alley. The officer
Followed and told the fugitive that he
would shoot unlesS he stopped. The
negro then turned around, leveling
his weapon again. and the officer shot
him.
Although the bullet. which was of
3S-caibre, must have hit the negro
III vital spot inc ran out OF the yard
into an adjacent yard and, leaping
over low railing around that yard,
ran into vacant lot facing on FIamp-
ton avenue and ran half the length
of the yard before falling, lie was
dead when the officer reached him.
Crowd Very Orderly.
Attracted by the shooting, n crowd
of negroes quickly gathered on the
scene. but they were very orderly.
Officer Parrish instructed Jim Stew
art negro. to report the shooting to
the police station aud the patrol wa
gon was hurried to the scene.
Very little could lie learned last
night OF the history of the dead man
but Lewis Morton and several other
negroes. said that he recently killed n
negro at Cape Charles ana that he
came here after the shooting. The
trouble between Morton ana the dead
man had its origin over woman and
they have had several rows on pro
vious occasions.