The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-25
DEPUTIES AFTER
THRILLING BATTLE
ARE OUTW|TTED
Negro Thomas and Wife Be-
hind Barricade Defy
the Law
MARVELLOUS THAT NONE
FILL BADLY INJURED
When House Finally Taken Birds Had
FIown-Thomas Voluntarily Sur
renders-The-very Exciting
Circumstances.


which the sheriff's deputies have figured
in many months occurred night before
last, when a force of six officers vainly
tried to capture John Thomas, a negro,
who had barricaded himself with his wife
In their home, three and a half miles
north of Birmingham, between East Lake
and Dolcito. That the affair did not
terminate with serious results the depu-
ties consider a very fortunate and rather
remarkable fact.
The negro, John Thomas, Is accused of
criminal assault upon a 14-year-old
negro girl and Monday night Deputies
Lee Higdon and Jack Brown went to his
home, intending to arrest him. It seems
that Thomas house is situated on the
top of a little knoll and Is surrounded
by q corn field When the two deputies
reached the house one went to the front
door and the other took stand at the
back. Deputy Brown was stationed at
the back door.
Looked Down a Barrel.
The negroes had evidently seen the Off
GERS approaching for when Deputy Brown
raped on the back door it flew open and
the deputy was surprised to find him
self looking into the barrels of an army
rifle and a shotgun in the hands of the
negro man and his wife, respectively. Mr..
Brown, it seems, told the negroes that
there was no need of trouble, and finally
induced the negro man to come out on
the back porch, where they sat down.
After Deputy Brown told the negro he
had a warrant to serve upon him the
deputy called to Deputy Higdon to come
on" and as soon as the latter officer ap-
peared around the corner of the house
John Thomas, the negro, jumped up and
started back into the house, closing the
door behind him.
1t seems that there were two doors
opening on the back porch and while
Thomas was hiding himself his wife
stood calmly in the other door armed
with S2 calibre revolver. Deputy Hig-
don went to her and told her he wanted
her husband, but the woman kindly In
formed him that he could not enter the
house and that Thomas would not como
out
CoIors Hauled Down.
IJpon receiving this very pointed piece
| of information the two deputies took in
| their colors, went to East Lake and tel
ephoned for aid. Four deputies respond
ed to the call and the party went back
to take the negro.
Thomas was evidently waiting for
them. however and as soon as they put
in heir appearance he opened fire with
an old discarded Russian army rifle.
the like of which has been sold in Biz
mingham at greatly reduced price
for several months past.
The party of deputies reached the
house shortly after o'clock, and at
| that time the moon was shining very
brightly. 1t seems that the corn in
the field surrounding the house had
all been topped so that the stalks only
came up to the waists of the officers.
The DEPUTIES were evidently in plain
view of the negroes barricaded In the
house, for just as soon as one ventured
| TO show his head above the corn he was
greeted by the whizzing of bullets
close by. The negro man was using
the rifle, which shoots about a .4b
| calibre bullet while the woman was
| sh ooting a sngle-barrel shotgun. 1t is
! stated that the shotgun cartridges
were all cut so when the gun was
fired the whole end of the shell leaped
| out Of the barrel in a mass with the
effect of a mimic ball.
The Officers Outwitted.
Several of the deputies had close
| calls bullets flying near them on nu-
merous occasions. The exchange of
fire continued for an hour or more.
| The deputies were afraid to advance
| as thew were in full view Of the ne
| eroes. while the negroes had shelter
and were in the dark.
The officers all finally took positions
| 70 watch the house and everything be-
| came peaceful. At daybreak the depu-
I ties ventured to advance and upon
reaching the house found the doors
| omen and the negroes gone. The little
shanty. it is stated, was fairly riddled
with bullets.
Yesterday morning before O'Clock
| Thomas showed up at the sherin's OF
| fee and stated his desire to surrender
He stated that he had been almost
frightened to death, that he had day
| or two ago received black hand let
ter and that he thought the deputies
| were "nightriders."
The negro was committed to jail on
| a. charge of criminal assault. The ar
rest of his wife may follow.