Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-10
Says Warner 7. Flanders, Former
Inmate Of Soldiers Home, Was
Shot to Death in Woods.
WHITE MAN LEO ARMED NEGROES
story Told Chief Of Police Reynolds
Yesterday Now Being Invest gated
BY Sheriff Curtis-Empty Shells and
Tree Peppered With Shot Found by
Officers.

Accord ing to a story told Chief OF
Police Reynolds by an aged negro
woman in upper Warwick county yes
terday Warner T, Flanders. Of Haver-
hilt Mass. a former inmate of tho
National Soldiers HCmc al Hampton,
was shot to death by party OF
negroes headed by white man about
a mile and a half from Lee Hall last
Saturday night. No report tn" al
fair had been made to the county au
thorities until Chief Reynolds sent 4
message TO Sheriff Curtis yesterday,
but the sheriff is making an invcstiEA-
ton and arrests may fellow today.
Chief Reynolds and Officers 7. !.
Chewing and r. A. Johnson. Of the
local force. went on hunting trip
yesterday morning As they we've
passing dilapidatcd old house IN
the neighborhood of Lee Hall they
were hailed by an old ncgresS. VIVA
appeared to be about - years of age.
The old woman told the chief plausi-
BILE story of how Flanders vas killed
near her home and bur ed in the
woods nearby.
She said that Flanders was box
agent and had been stopping at her
house She carried the chief into
the ramshackle attic of the house ana
showed him a trunk that had belong
ed to the man. and pallet on which
her visitor had slept.
Began to Shoot O., Sight
She said that Saturday night Flan'
ders was called out Of tn" house by
party composed OF half a dozen
negroes headed by white man nam
ed Fletcher. and upon his appearance
at the door the callers began 20 shoot
at him with shotguns Flanders start
ed 10 run. with the men in pursuit.
firing at every step. When she saw
the fugitive last he was passing Z
walnut tree some distance from tn"
house. and she WAS calling to him 10
run for his life,
Chief ReynC!ls found an empty L.
guage shell in from OF the cabin. an
others along the path said 10 haN"
been followed by the fug i've and his
pursuers. The wainu; IRE" referred
TO by the old woman was r"2per"d
with shot. and $ M OF 5 bark sho'
away.
Insists Man Was Killed.
The old woman insisted that Elan
ders had been killed and buried in
the woods, but ,nr officers could find
no trace OF body or gray" in me
vicinity.
Iron returning 20 L. Hall n"
chief made some Inquiries anG learn
ed facts that seem % explain IN"
mystery. II was stated that Elan
ders. Who was man probably owe
30 years Old appeared n the Commli-
nifty recently. bringing with him a
Young mula % woman, tn" daughter
of Margaret Ashbv me woman who
hal told the chief ui N" story. Tao
veteran took up his abod" al n" ola
woman's hause. and ii became rcn&r
ed in the nciEhbOgho that he had
married the muia,jo girl
Old Man Not Seen.
|; developed that n" old man ha1
no; been seen since Saturday. hut II"
information concerning a shooting az
fair could be ohra ned Be r. tan
ing the train for hone. ChiCi R"N-
noIds sent a message 20 Sheriff Curtis.
who went 10 work on tn" cas-"
The chief Is CORY inCcd hat Elan
4ders' BODY will be tound in ~" WOOD :
near the home N" old negroes
He thinks the re2or; that III veteran
had married a muls''o probably cans
ed the shooting From l"';"r f1uTd
In the house. Il was l,a-U"I TINT
FLANDERS address Was number !" Wal
nut street. HaNc-hiil. Mass