Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-11-04
DESPERATE STRUGGLE
WITH NEGRO THIEF
Officer Gochenour And Big
Antagonist Go Down Rail-
road Embankment Locked
In Desperate Embrace
Had Been Sick in Bed For
Three Day Butts Succeeds
in Landing His Prisoner

Officer Gochenour had . rather ex-
citing time a1resting big negro, who
gave his ma ne as John Lewis, yester-
day about noon near the arch bridge
over Middl. brook Ave.
Mr.. Gochenour had been off duty
since Wednesday when he had been
placed under an anesthetic for the re
moval of several of his front teeth
which had given him considerable
trouble of neuralgia character. He
was out on the street for the first time
yesterday and was just leaving res
taurant on New street when Mr.. Jos
Mote called him and reported the
theft of coat from his establishment.
Having received word that the negro
wearing ths missing gar ment. which
matched pair of trousers left behind,
was seen few moments before on the
O. AMI o. r. R., he asked Mr. Goche-
nour to effect his arrest In his weak
ened connitlon, not anticipating any
trouble, he W rot to the place mention.
ed and found the negro standing on
the tracks. He was without pistol or
chilly" and when he caught hold OF
che negro Is collar, at the same time
sailing him ne was under arrest, the
latter gave lunge and together they
rolled over and over duwn the rail
road embankment until they brought
up against the fence at Miller's coal
yard. Here they fought until both
nan we're out Of breath. Several
spectators gathered on the railroad
track, one of whom shouted TO 3och-
enour to get away from the negro
and he would hit him with rock
A more timely suggestion however
was heavy iron coupling pin thrown
to him by another observer. With
this as a substitute for his trustJ
might stick"the suspect was foored
jast as he succeeded in breaking
away.
LEWIS IS LOCKED UP
|
Officer Gochenour then brought
hi n TO the top of the embankmsn
where he again showed aggressive
tendencies and succeeded in gettin,
away from three OF four men who at
tempted to assist the officer. AS h
iived under box car, however Ric
| Slu nate caught him by one foot an
held him there till he was dragged on
and overpo wervd. He was locked q
by officers Sutton and Goohenour an
will face trial this morning.
| This is but one of series Q
thefts that have annoyed Mr.. Mot
consi lerably aud it is hoped tn
real culprit has been apprehendet
Lewis says he is from Cihcin.a
but evidence points strongly to h
being the same negro who raise1
disturbance On Green street son
time ago ami who escaped arter losin
portion of his clothing O6i,er Gocl
snour sustained cut on the nose an
the skin was removed from several
his knuckle joints. He considers hi
self "beat up" but pluckily ave-
that he would have swung on to IL
negro even had it meant certain destt
Later in the day q raid was made
the negro's quarters over Carr's stor
near the Jefferson street tIestle. ar
practically all Of the clothing missir
from the pressing establ ishnsnt
Mr.. Joe Mote, among which was s
overcoat and several suits Of clothe
was recovered. In committing Il
thefts, entrance was gained through
back window from which pane
glass wae removed and replaced wi
til, care Of professional.
Lewis has also been identified
the negro who escaped from the OF
GERS following disturbance on Jeffe
son street several weeks ago.