The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-27
MANY GIVE CHASE
TO FLEEING NEGRO
sIsPECT HIM OF BEING TIE
SLAYER OF WOMAN AND RUN
HIM DOWN.
HE DON'T KNOW WHY,
BUT KEEPS MOVING
LEADS PeRstERs MERRY CHASE
AND WHEN FINALLY CAPTURED
PROVES TO BE NOT MAN
WANTED.

More than dozen police officers in
plain clothes and in uniform and half
the colored population of North SeY-
enteenth street and Butchertown took
part in a chase at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning after negro believed to be
Willie Murphy, alias Mercer, the
slayer of Roberta Mitchell, the chase
extending north on Seventeenth street,
eastward through Paramount. and
ending on Broad street hill.
When the officers finally caught the
fugitive on Broad street, between
Twcnty-fourth and Twenty=aftA
streets. he gave has name as William
Braxton. But dozens of negroes de-
clared that he was the fugitive muir
derer, and he was escorted to the
First police station. There he was ex-
amined by Captain Mcmahon and De-
tective Sergeant John f. Wiley, who
found him to be the wrong man. He
was accordingly discharged. and he
left the station a very much relieved
man.
Hue and Cry Starts.
Gaines was sighted coming out of
a bar at Seventeenth and Washing
ton streets. Several negroes called
the attention OF Policemen FoIkes,
Tucker, Pendleton. Hackett and Leiss
to him. and the hue and cry started.
Bicycle Policeman Bryant and Cor
don Smith appeared on the scene. and
joined in the pursuit. Negroes poured
out Of their homes like rabbits from
yKa "a rzt vi 70 of
terror. put a hot foot to the ground.
The more they yelled behind, the fast
err he went He didn't know why they
were chasing him. but he feared for
his life and raced for every ounce 81
energy that WAS in him One negro
came out with a sawed-off shotgun
and others lesser armed Joined the
bowling mob. 1t increased as II went,
and Fairmount wondered as ii saw
the lone man speed by and then saw
the pack OF humanity strea ming after.
At the. mouth of the sewer running
between Baldwin and Washington
STREETS. between Twelfth and Buchan-
an, someone yelled that the fugitive
had gone In. Policeman Smith fol-
. lowed. He looked back, and saw a
crowd Of hungry-looking negroes be-
hind Avoiding the water by strad
ding the narrow way, he pushed on TO
the end. and came out the other side
without seeing the negro lie was
almost out OF sight then. and StiIl
running.
Takes to Country.
lie turned towards F'airmounr.
where the green country Afforded
an inviting refuge He would have
liked To stop and ask the meaning OF
the chase, but feared TO do go lie
was headed OF, and others Joined the
crowd Painting. he turned towards
Richmond again. He had left ms
early pursuers. with the exception OF
fpysr policemen bekiEad. bat when
others took up the chase IN buggy
gave up as he got 10 Broad street lie
was trembling in every limo. ana
chartered so that he could not make
himself understood
But a short examination was suf-
xrtrnt tn show that he was not the
right man
Policemen Smith and Bryant after
wards arrested Chester Gains oolored,
IN xusnicfon of being an accessory, az :
Ter the fact, in the murder case tie
is said to have called the girl to the
door when Murphy shot her down
and IN alleged to have ben the go-oe-
tween for the murderer and has
friends He IL believed TO nave Ia
food TO him in his hiding place. lie
refused 10 talk.
Roberta Mitchell was shot foaF
times and killed in her home at looV
J.owndes street on Tuesday night he'
slaver first embraced her and then
hurled her from him and emptted MS
ravolyer into her body. She dfed
without q struggle.