Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-07

After he had shot and almost In
stantly killed Walter Fleming,
negro, at GA Twenty street.
early Sunday morning and then mace
his escape, Robert Whiting, Jr, an
other negro, was pursued by a posse
of score or more negro men, armed
with rifles. shot guns and revoIVers'
and had he fallen into their hands
instead of into those Of officers of the
local and Bloodfield police forces, ne
probably would have been lyDched.
From evidence adduced at the coro-
ner's inquest. the killing was In cold
blood and, as Fleming was respect
able. hard working man, and general
~ popular among the members OF the
race, the negro residents OF the Sec
ton where the shooting occurred
were highly incensed. They quickly
formed posse to pursue the heeing
negro. Detective Sergeant Henry
Bridgers and officers Parrish, Padg-
EFT and Edwards Of the local force.
had already started out after the man
and they were joined later by On
Ger Whitfield. of the Bloodfield force
Taking up the trail along twenty
second street. the officers and the
posse followed it to the Ivy farm, on
the outskirts OF East End. There
the officers learned that the man had
changed his course and gone toward
the Ivy avenue pier. The armed me-
groes also doubled back and spread
cut into a sort of skirmsh line 10
scour the fields for the man.
Fugitive Caught at Disney.
When the party had been search
ing for half an hour without seems
the man. the officers met a negro, VINO
had been held up by Whiting at the
point of gun and relieved OF mis-
hat and oyeralls. This man told the
notice In what direction the fugitive
had gone and they followed quickly
The officers and negroes made fast
time 10 the Ivy avenue pier and there
they learned that Writings brother
was a caretaker at Disney -on-tne
Roads. the home of Dr. Fl. p. Taylor.
near the pier. The officers hurried
to the house and met the brother and
a woman. Both claimed that they mad
not seen Whiting, but the officers de-
cided to search the house. Or. ray
lor was absent from home and the Of
f,cers were compelled to force WIN
dow In order TO get into the house
Officer Padgett climbed into the
building and found whiting hiding un-
der a bed. The man still had the
loaded revolver with which he had
done the shooting.
While this was going On. the posse
of negroes reached the scene, but the
men made no effort 10 take the man
away from the officers.
Saws It Is His Second Murder.
On the way TO the station house.
Whiting calmly admitted the kiiiins
and volunteered the information tha'
this was his second murder.
According to the evidence given BE-
fore DR.. B. R. Gary. the coroner. ana
the jury. Whiting and Sarah Battan'
a uegress. went to Flemming's nome
! early Sunday morning and asked Tor
Fiemming. No sooner had the man
gotten out on the back porch tnan
| the woman began swearing at MIN.
He warned her to stop and when she
continued to curse him, Fiemmins
struck her. Whiting told him II ne
struck the woman again he would Kill
him.
The woman continued swearing ana
again FIemming hit her. Then WHIT
ing drew his revolver and fired two
shots at Flemming. He then advanced
toward the man until the muzzle OF
the ss-caiibre revolver was almost
touching the mans chest and then
hred the third and fatal shot. F1em-
ming ran about fifteen feet and then
dropped. dying witnln a few minutes
whiting followed his victim a re"
! steps and then. pocketing the revoiv-
er. he made his escape Several ne
rro women and men saw the shoot
ing. hut none made ans attempt 70
step Whiting.
In the police court yesterday morn
Ing. Writings case was continued
until today
Fsemming vas a young man ana