The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-22
NEGRO SPOTTER
 DUNE ID DEATH Was Turning Up Craps Game
 for Deputies RUNNING BATTLE FOLLOWS Murderer Escapes, Although Sheriff Higdon's Bloodhounds Threatened To Break Tfeir Record-Jo-
 seph Stone the Victim.
RUNNING BATTLE FOLLOWS

Joseph Stone, a negro "spotter" for the sheriffs office, was killed early yes- terday afternoon while turning up d crowd of negro gamesters in the rear of the Woodlawn cemetery.
 Following the kilfng of the negro was a veritable battle between deputy sheriffs and the negroes, over 100 shots being ex- changed, finishing with a bloodhound chase. Three of the negroes were cap tured during the afternoon.
 The scene of the killing was in a pas ture directly behind the negro portion of the Woodlawn cemetery. Complaints had been made to the sheriff's office that negroes were in the habit of gathering there on Sundays and rlt.ting a disturb ance by gaming, quarrelling and shooting pistols.
 Reports were received yesterday morn ing that negroes were congregating there again, and Sheriff Higdon detailed Dep- uty Sheriffs Jack Brown and Lee Hig- don and Special Deputy Al Keith to make the raid. The negro, Stone, worked for Keith,
 
 negroes and find who they we're. The place where the negroes were is in the midst of the pasture, there being an open space all the way around for several hun dred yards Stone reached the spot and was mixing with the other negroes when the deputies were spotted coming out of the woods.
 This was signal for the gamesters to scatter in all directions. Before running, however, one of them, turning to Stone, said, You caused this," and shot at him, the bullet entering the right temple and passing completely through his head. causing instant death.
 As the negroes ran the deputies shot into the air. a number of the negroes replying. Some eight or 10 of the ne- groes were armed and took part in the battle which followed, firing backward as they ran. Several hundred yards sepa- rated them and the deputies and the bull lets fell short.
 One of the negroes was too scared to move and stood where he was. Two others were captured short while after ward and all three placed in the county jail.
 The killing of Stone was witnessed by the deputies. The negro who did the kill ing in his hurry to escape lost one of his shoes. The bloodhounds were soon brought to the scene and a trail struck from the shoe, the dogs following it splendidly Deputy Sheriff Ernest Rob- inson was with the dogs. After distance of over a mile 1t ran into creek. Two other negroes were with the murderer, and when they reached the creek they followed the stream for long distance and hid in a sorghum patch. They were seen running out of the patch by boy, who informed the deputies. The dogs were taken to the patch and the trail picked up again. They held it for two miles.
 The deputies caught sight of the ne- groes as they climbed the mountain at Gate City, being only about three-quarters of a mile ahead of the hounds. The trail led right into the heart of Gate City, where it was lost the negroes very prob ably swinging onto a train.
 This chase was one of the best which the hounds have made and caused great excitement in the vicinity. People living along the trail said that the three ne- groes were running at terrific speed. Their endurance is regarded as wonder ful considering the extreme heat.