Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1910-06-02
CHARGED WITH SERIOUS CRIME
NEGRO IS SHOT, THEN ESCAPES
/. Will Ross, Accused of Criminal As
> sault, Badly Wounded Breaks
Away from Hospital.

Away ITOm IlOSpitdi
Will Ross, a mulatto about 20
years of age, was shot through
the breast and seriously wounded
by either Constable J. J. Col
tharp, of Fort Mill, or Constable
VIM. Austin, of Charlotte, Thurs
day morning at 10 o'clock while
attempting to evade arrest, in
the Dilworth suburb of Char
lotte, on warrant charging at
tempted criminal assault.
Ross is Fort Mill negro. He
has been in trouble a number of
times and has the reputation of
being a notorious thief. He has
served terms on both the York
and Mecklenburg county chain
gangs for stealing. In January
Ross was released from the
Mecklehburg chaingang and re-
turned to Fort Mill. He was
given employment by a farmer
in the upper section of the town
ship, where he had since lived
until last Thursday. Wednesday
morning he did not go to work,
claiming that he was sick.
About noon he came to Fort
Mill and secured a valise at one
of the stores upon the statement
that the wife of his employer in
tended to visit friends at a dis
tance and needed the valise.
Ross returned to the home of
his employer at A o'clock in the
afternoon and after ascertaining
that the daughter of his employ
er, young lady 19 years of age,
was alone in the house took off
his shoes and entered the house
at the back door. Confronting
the young lady, he asked the
loan of some shoe polish. The
young lady became frightened at
Ross audacity and ran out of
the house to nearby field where
her father was at work and told
him of the occurrence. Ross
also ran from the house, but
stopped long enough in his haste
to steal pistol from the mantel.
The father came to Fort Mill and
swore out a warrant before Mag
istrate McElhaney charging Ross
with attempted criminal assault.
The warrant was placed in the
hands of Constable j. j. Coltharp,
who left Thursday morning for
Charlotte in search of Ross. At
Hilton's crossing, three miles
south of Charlotte, Constable
Coltharp saw Ross in a farm
wagon going in the direction of
Charlotte. Upon reaching Char
lotte, Constable Coltharp hurried
to the office of Magistrate Hilton
and secured a warrant for Ross.
The warrant charged criminal as
sault. Accompanied by Consta-
BILE VIM. Austin, Constable Col
tharp hurried out the road lead
ing to Hilton's crossing, hoping
to meet Ross.
The two constables concealed
themselves at a building near
the Atherton cotton mill and
presently saw Ross approaching
in the wagon. When he got
within a few feet of where they
were concealed, the constables
ordered Ross to surrender.
Instead of obeying, he jumped
from the wagon and ran, the
constables in pursuit. The chase
was short-lived as Ross, OBJ
serving that the constables were
about to overtake him, stopped
suddenly and threw his hand to
his hip pocket as if to draw a
pistol. Both constables then
fired on Ross, the shots being
simultaneous. The negro fell
and upon examination it was
discovered that he was seriously
wounded, through the right
lung. He was removed to &
Charlotte hospital and there has
since been doubt of his recovery.
Following the shooting o1
Ross, warrant was issued by &
Charlotte magistrate for Con.
stable Coltharp and he was
placed under a 5000 bond tC
appear for trial at the next
session Of the Mecklenbure
superior court, which opens il
Charlotte Monday.
Ross Escapes From Hospital.