The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-09
PRISONER
SAVED FROM MOB
Man Who Shot Charlotte Officer
Rushed TO Jail IN
Richmond.
WAS FOUND HALF-STARVED
Governor Mann Instructed Pro-
lection at All Hazards
and Any Cost.

Eli Morton. the thirty-year-ol ne
gro who shot and perhaps fataiiS
wounded former Town Sergeant Mon
roe w. Dtckerson at Charlotte Court
house last Tuesday. was captured yes
terday morning near the scene or the
shooting and brought to Richmond last
night for safekecping. News OF MS
capture brought excited throngs around
the little Charlotte County jail. ana
his removal TO this city was ordered TO
avoid possible violence
The negro was discovered early yes
terday morning in feed barn adjacent
to the residence of Mrs. Sallie Nor
veile. by whom he had once been en-
ploycd He was found in a hslf-fam-
ished condition b. Miss Anna NorVehe
and Robert S Spencer. who notnec
commonwealth Attorney Thomas T.
Watkins. The negro was at once tax
en- before Magistrate John z. Faris'
who committed MN 10 Jail TO await
trial at the next term OF the Circult
Court of Charlotte Count.
Angry Mob Gathers
The news of the capture spread
quickly, and within an hour AFTER inc
negros confinement In the county JAN
a large crowd was gathered in the VI
cinitv. In the act Of bringing the ne
gro 10 the Jail the officers passed the
PRESBYTERIAN Church. in which large
congregation was gathered to hear
new preacher The news was WINS
pered from pew to pew. and one by one
the worshipers stole out TO join the
crowd.
The critical conditic.. Of the wound
ed man at his home nearby added 10
the feeling. and things began TO look
threatening a message was ols-
patched 10 Sheriff i. Coleman frlGoy
at Keysville, and that officer arrived
upon the scene at 5 o'clock. After
hasty consultation. II was decided to
remove the negro 70 Richmond aho
he was hustled 10 brakes Branch hNs
miles away. from which point ne was
brought TO Richmond on the tram III
charge of Sheriff Priddy and Deputy
Thomas J. Watkins.
At brakes Branch a suilen crowd
hung about the station until the train
pulled out, and a similar gathering
was on hand al Keysville. The party
arrived in the city at 1915 O'CLOCK
last night and went directly 10 the
CITY Hall. where Morton viii remain
until called 10 stand trial.
Message From Governor.
Reports of the capture ana the ex-
citement which followed reached Gov
ernor Mann With promptness the
Governor Immediately teleGraphed 10
Commonwealth Attorney Thomas Z.
Watkins as follows;
Have just heard that person ar
n
tect him at all hazards and at any
cost. The law must be enforceo-
(Signed)
WILLIAM HODGES MANI.
sheriff Priddy said last night tnat
violence could hardly have been avoid
cd had the prisoner been permitted
70 spend the night in Charlotte Court
house. The negro declined to talk
about the crime other than to say that
lit looked like" he just had TO do II
Remained Near Scene.
According to Morton. he has oeen
hiding in the woods IN the immeol-
ate vicinity OF the shooting and has
never been more than six miles o,s-
,ant from the scene. He was. half
s,arved when discovered. The negro
told the officers that he had made up
his mind to give himself up and was
tired OF lodging.
Mr.. Dickerson. who was shot while
assisting Town Sergeant a w VIII
Iians in serving a warrant upon MOT
ton charging him with larceny. Is
still critically I'll at his home he was
saved from certain death when VIII
liauns grabbed the pistol. as the ne
gro was in the act OF sencing sec
ond bullet after the first The sec
ond bullet tore through Wi.iiamss
hand The latter turned the piston
on the fleeing negro and shot him once
In the head The bullet LOGGED unoer
the skin above the left ear ana VIII
he removed to-day by the jail pny-
stefan