Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-24
KILLS CONDUCTOR AND
HOLDS POLICE AT BAY
Supposed Crazy Man Starts Trouble
by First Shooting Down Harior Car
Porter Near Wilmington, Del.-6ar-
ricates Himself in Toilet and Fires
From Arsenal Until Dead.



An exciting battle. in which three
men were killed. took place on 4
northbound Baltimore x Ohio Rail
road train this afternoon. The iish,
began at Newark. Del. and ended
in this city. Several persons were
wounded in the deadly affray. which
occurred at the Delaware avenue sta
ton here following the arrival OF
the train at 5:17 O'Clock.
The dead are
o. +. Wellman. aged 40 years. oil
Philadelphia. conductor OF the train.
Samuel Williams. aged 30 years
negro. Pullman porter, whose home
is said to have been in Jersey City.
j. II. Bethea, aged 40 years, Of
Dillon, S. c.
The injured.
John o. Wiley. aged 40 years. q
Park guard of Wilmington. Del, shot
III the hand and leg.
Matthew Haley, a citizen Of VIII
minktCn. shot in the Lex.
Others were grazed by flying bull
let's.
Where Trouble Starts.
The triple tragedy was the result OF
an alteration between Bethea. who
was a passenger, and Williams. the
Porter In the Pullman parlor car Mer-
cury.-4-s -.e,s't- r
The car was hound from Washing
ton TO Jersey City.
Bethea. who had been drinking
heavily, shot the porter through the
heart. killing him instantly. When
Conductor Wellman saw the porter
fall. he ran to the scene 10 remon-
strate with the passenger. who still!
held the smoking revolver in his
hand. Bethea fired second shot intJ
the negrOs body. Then without a
word. Bethea shot Wellman through
the heart.
The conductor fell dead in his
tracks. When the desperate fired
the conductor threw up his right arm
10 protect himself. The bullet
struck his arm and. continuing,
plcughed through his body and lodS-
ed in mis- heart
Defies Interference.
Before the passengers could inter
fere. the double murderer barricaded
himself in the toilt room OF the Pull
first person who appeared.
Meanwhile the train reached VIII
mington. When il came into the sta
ton a hurry call wss sent to the
notice station. A sqnad of patrolmen.
headed by Police Captains Kane and
Evans and reinforced by Park Guards
and a posse Of citizens and trainmen,
ran TO the scene. The police called
upon Bethea to surrender. AS an
answer he opened the door of the
tcilt room a short distance and open
cd fire al the police and the crowd
from an automatic revolver. Chief OF
Police Black. who also rushed to the
railroad station. lodged behind an
express Office on the train floor just
in time to escape several bullets
Firenen Join in Battle.
Betea is believed to have had al
least 100 rounds OF ammunition. for
he succeeded in holding the posse al
hav and also held up the train from
5:I7 until 6:35.
During this time many shots were
fired on both sides until finally all
the windows of the car were riddled
Travel over the Baltimore 4 Ohio
Raiload was also tied up.
When the battle had lasted about
an hour the police realized that they
would be unable to drive the man
from cover. A cali was sent to a
local FIRE company nearby. The firemen
responded with their engine. A.
iaching high pressure hose to fire
plug and with the fremen barricadcd
behind trucks and boards a siteau
of water was played upon the win
dows Of the toilet room The des
pcrado fred a number Of shots At the
firemcn. bur they we're not injured
Subsequently Bethea. drencheo
with water. staggered 10 the platform
and the police once more called upon
him 10 surrender.
Ills reply was several shots "
quick order. from his revolver.
Desperate Killed.
Several Of the policemen had arm
I'd themselves with shot guns and
Just a. Bcthea fred The last shot
Police Captain Evans fired load 81
shot into his face. NotNithsiandinl
tho injury 10 Kept cu hiazing away
rafroi-nan Bcughman opened hTs
wish a pistol and struck Dcthea ir
the right arm. The desperate mar