The Washington herald., 1911-08-14

Rallying to the shrill call of whistles
blown by the police reserves of the
Ninth precinct and Central Office de-
tectives in pursuit of negro, wanted
for the murder of Willie Stewart, whom
he had shot several minutes previous,
several hundred men and boys formed
into posses within the shadow of the
Capitol at an early hour yesterday
morning and conducted one of the most
i, sensational man-hunts held in this city
in recent years.
TRAILED BY POLICE OFFICERS.
Led by Capt. Daley. Lieut. Falvey.
and Sergt. McQuade, Of the Ninth pre-
cfnct, the search was filled with drama
tic incidents, from the time the alleged
murderer was started from cover at a
house in Gordon avenue northeast, near
where the shooting occurred, until the
search for him was temporarily discon-
tinued shortly after o'clock in the
morning.
Those Of the posse who were not armed
with revolvers obtained clubs and rocks
and Joined in the pursuit More than
100 shots were fired as the chase led
through streets and alleys and across
the plaza and parkings. in the stretch
lying between the Capitol grounds and
the Union Station.
And as the pursuit continued the re-
ports OF revolver shots. and yells of
cIa
dents and swelled the posses with new
recruits. Drivers of wagons, chauffeurs
of automobiles, and bicycle riders Joined
in the hunt. and. for the short time that
the negro was kept from cover. followed
closely at his heels.
Slain During Quarrel.
Within three feet OF the house where
Henry Guzman, the grocer was brutally
hacked to pieces with hatchet ny sew
eral negroes. a few years ago, the negro
fugitive, II is alleged, shot and killed
Stewart, with whom he had quarreled
over a woman.
AS soon as the police arrived on the
scene they realized that It would be hard
to obtain any information from the resi-
dents Of the alley, and Immediately be-
gan TO ransack every house in the vicin-
| in the alley were without avail. Then
the squads of police separated and be-
gan to scour the locality, in the neighbor-
| hood of the station.
Here is was thought the fugitive would
probably hide In the weeds and many
| little corners until daybreak. Several
policemen were sent along the railroad
tracks while others were posted in the
Union Station, to apprehend the fugitive
u, l. % L.
city by train.
Hardly had the search Of the plaza and
the parking in the vicinity of the Capitol
been started when the shrill sounding of
numerous police whistles announced to
the different scouting parties that the
fugitive had been started from cover.
Whistles Bring Crowds.
Like a hare pursued by hounds, the
negro. more fleet Of foot than any of
his pursuers. led the posse which first
discovered him at First and F streets,
across the Union Station plaza Here in
answer to the police whistles. other
crowds Of policemen, men, and boys
closed in on him.
A fusilade OF shots from the posse
ahead of him caused the negro to veer in
his course. He retraced his steps for
y
down E street. Here all trace Of him was
lost
Scarcely had the fugitive eluded his
pursuers than the cry Of Here he is"
caused every man in the chase to turn
their attention to a man who was seen
running about a block away. Immedi-
ately the several posses closed in on the
runner and drove him to cover in the
high grass Of the plaza, several hundred
orlo he nf cfa
Shot after shot whizzed by the head
of the crouching negro while he tried to
hide in the tall weeds and grass. Finally
he took q desperate chance and tried to
escape by running the gantlet. He fell
exhausted into the arms Of Sergt. Nc
Quade, who, at the head of a crowd Of
men and boys. was guarding the Della
ware avenue side of the plaza.
What has done, boss?" exclaimed
the scared negro, on his way to the patrol
box.
why, that isn't the man. sergeant"
exclaimed several men in the posse, who
knew the negro. wanted for the murder.
The captive soon proved an alibi. but was
nevertheless arrested and held, pending
investigation.
What were you running for. boy?'
inquired Capt. Daily Of the captive.
Don't you realize you came near being
killed by those bullets?"
Deed, boss, dunno. was standin'
down at yonder corner, and I heard
somebody say Catch him. and then
heard a gun go of. and I Jest started to
run. OATS all I've done, sub. Deed
It's
It Is believed the prisoner started on
the run to distract the attention Of the
police from the negro Nixon. who made
good his escape while the posses were
in pursuit Of the other negro. The police
have asked the authorities Of several
cities where Nixon Is known to have
lived to be on the look out. II Is thought
that he probably boarded a freight car
and made his escape
DEATH RECORD.