Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-09-24
DEAD NEGRO NOT
YET IDENTIFIED
Petersburg. Va. Sent. 20.

Petersburg. Va, Sept. 20.
The negro who was shot and killed
near the Norfolk and Western Station
shortly after midnight, after having
robbed a commissary car. has not
yet been identified. and probably
never will be. He and his companions
in the robbery were evidently mem
bers of a gang OF railroad thieves.
operating at different points, and
were strangers in the city.
The body was viewed by a num-
Der OF people in the baggage room
of the station last night, and by many
more today at Wilkerson's undertak-
ing rooms, but to all Of them he was
a stranger. The commissary car In
the Norfolk and Western yards, in
the lower part OF the city, was broken
into and robbed of a quantity of sup
plies on Sunday night It was again
visited and robbed early last night,
when, suspecting that the thieves
would again return, a watch was set
for them. c. +. Shell. an emplOye OF
the company. was assigned to this
duty, and he concealed himself in
the cab of a nearby locomotive for
the purpose. 1t was shortly after mid
night when Mr.. Shell noticed the
stealthy approach of three negroes
to the car and saw them stop at the
door. He hailed them, and as they
ran, fired three shots after them
Two of the negroes escaped by flight
across the bridge into Chesterfield
The third ran up Second Street, pur-
sued by a number Of people, who had
been attracted by the firing OF Mr..
Shells pistol. The fleeing negro
turned into and ran through the al
ley in the rear OF the Stratford Hotel,
with the pursuers close behind and
shooting to stop him.
AS the negro reached the railroad
track az the east end Of the alley ne
fell dead from the shot of one OF
the pursuers. The body was taken 10
f the baggage room Of the station and
subsequently removed 70 the under
takers rooms. on the body OF the ne
gro were found suit Of clothes
stolen from the cOmmissary car. and
/ I'm the pockets were found other ar
ticles. also identified. An inquest was
4 held on the body this evening and a
/ verdict in accordance with the above
I facts was rendered To could not be
established by whom the fatal shot
was fired.
SEABOARD CARS ROBBED.
Three cars on the Seaboard Air
/ Line tracks. in the extreme western
portion of the city were broken into
and robbed late last night and four
young white men, all residents Of the
city. are under arrest, charged with
I the robbery. Their names are Mallie
Burnett. Ernest Twas. Charles War
renton and John Whcelhouse.
Police officer Goodwin I'm travel
! ing his beat In that section late last
night. having been informed that the
seals or these cars had been broken.
concealed himself 20 watch for the
return OF the supposed thieves. Some
I time after midnight he saw the men
above named enter the ears and shot
several times after them. as they re-
fused 90 halt and fed. The officer
/ identified the men, or some OF them.
and subsequently, found In outhouses
l ON the premises OF Whcelhouse and
Warreuton a quantity OF candy. cakes
and clipped beef that had been taken
from the cars. Whcelhouse. 40 Is said.
confessed and implicated the others.
/ They viii have a hearing In the PO.
| lice Court on Thursday.