Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-07-21
WOMEN AND CHILDREN
PASSENGERS FRIGHTENED
Because Conductor Refuses 10 Accept
Transfer for Fare, William &.
Dixon, Theatrical Manager" Starts
8 TroubIe-BadIy Beaten and Turned
Over 10 Police.

Amid the screams Of the frightened
women. and children passengers.
Conductor Franklin and several men
who were riding on the Ivy avenue
express car eifectually subdued n
would-be bad negro at Washington
avenue and Twenty-eighth street
about 1926 o'clock last night. When
the men were through with him, the
Iegro was bleeding from a dozen cuts
on his head and face and his collar.
neck tie. shirt front. hands and coat
were covered with blood.
Just after the negro was overpow
cred and disarmed of knife which
he had tried to use on the conductor.
detective Sergeant Reynolds arrived
on the scene and placed the negro
under arrest. A minute later Ser
geant Webb arrived with the patro.
wagon and the negro was taken to
the station house to he locked up on
the charge of being disorderly on
street car He gave his name as viii
liam e. Dixon. his home as Savannah.
Ca. and his occupation as theatrical
manager. He told the police that he
was running show at Buckroe
Reach for the street railway COM
pany.
Refuses to Pay Fare.
Tho trouble first started on Jeffer-
son avenue II seems that the negro.
who boarded the car on Ivy avenue,
offered tho conductor a transfer and
refused TO pay fare OF five cents.
When the car got TO Jefferson avenue
and Twenty-third street he demanded
T. transfer and the conductor demand
ed the fare. The negro started to
get of the car and scuffle ensued
between him and the conductor. In
the mix-up the negro drew knife
and a passenger smashed him one
en- the jaw. knocking him back into
The seat. The conductor then drew his
revolver and demanded the knife, at
the same time placing the negro under
arrest. The negro refused to give up
the knife. telling the conductor to
go ahead and shoot"
The car was crowded with pas
sengers. mostly women and children.
ard much excitement prevailed. Sew
eral men who were on the car moved
their seats TO be nearby in case there
was any more trouble. The negro
held on 10 his knife. having 1t open
with the blade up his coat sleeve and
the handle griped in his hand.
Wouldn't Go Any Further.
When the car reached Washington
avenue and Twenty-eiehth street. the
negro declared that he didn't propose
to ride any further and insolently
demanded that the conductor call
policeman and deliver him up TO the
officer. There was no policeman in
sight and the negro started TO bolt.
The conductor grabbed him in the
collar and threw him across a seat.
The negro then drew his knife back
to stab the conductor. but one of
the passengers grabbed his arm and
held It.
BY this time there was great COM
motion among the women and chill
drcn passengers, many of them yelling
TO their husbands who were helping
&c overp0wer the negro. and others
screaming and crying Nearly all OF
them bolted for the front door and
in a few minutes the car was empty
OF all except few men besides those
who wers giving battle to Dixon.
Uses Screw Driver.
Conductor Franklin used the
handles Of his transfer "puncher" on
she negro's head. cutting II in a num-
her OF places Several men smash
I'd the negro in the jaw. mouth and
nose with their fists and others
took the knife away from him Car
Ranafrcr Edward Hoover arrived on
the scene in the thickest Of the fray