Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-01-28
BALL FROM
OFFICERS GUN
KILLS NEGRO
PatrOIman ZebIey Puts Bullet
in Brain Of Man Who
Fled From Him
DID NOT INTEND
TO SHOOT FUGITIVE

Frank Fisher, colored. who lived
az No. 500 stpeet. beyond Third
street bridge, was shot and instantly
killed last night by Policeman
Thoomas j. Zebley. while he was run
ming away from the patrolman. who
had a warrant for his arrest charging
him with threatening to do bodily
harm to Sarah Spencer. also colored'
living at No 129 Buttonwood street
zebley, who is greatly unnerved I
and shocked by the accident was call /
ed In from his district and remain |
ed at the police station all night. He |
was allowed to go 60 his home this I
morning. and until Coroner Spring /
takes action he will be allowed TO /
do duty.
President Jones. OF the Police Com
mission. said today that the shooting
would not be taken up by the board
at It's meeting this afternoon and
nothing would be done until after the
lcorOner had acted
Coroner Spring said today that he
had not made any arrangement To
hold an inquest but would do so at
an early date. probably tomorrow. A
post mortem examination of Fishers
body showed that the bullet fired
from Zebley's revolver struck him
Immediately in back OF the left ear.
The bullet was found in the mans
brain.
Yesterday afternoon Sarah Spencer
appeared at the Office Of the clerk OF
the City Court. G. s. Rice, and made
lcomplaint against Fisher. She said
he had threatened TO murder her. The
icouple are said 10 have been friendly.
and the trouble between them was due
TO some jealousy on the part OF the
man. Dr. Rice issued a warrant for
Fisher charging him with threatening
TO do bodily harm.
e Patrolman Zebley Is stationed be-
lyond Third street bridge. and he was
r given tho warrant by his sergeant late
- Bin the afternoon Soon after 6 o'clock
Inc located Fisher in his home at 500
b street He went there, called the
man 10 the door and read the warrant
Il TO him He then placed Fisher under
ARREST and took him into custody. Pa
Z trolman Zebley had hold of the Negro
+, tby the coat sleeve. Fisher did no
: offer any resistance or demonstrate
= land he started to walk along quietly
w Patrolman zebiey thought he was 20
n. ling 20 submit without making trouble
aud he did not place the handouts o.
him.
& They had not taken many step
when Fisher suddenly jcrked his arm
from the grasp OF the policeman an
started TO run as hard as he could
Patrolman Zebley ordered him to stoT
and although he started in pursuit h
found the negro was outdisianeinl
him
z Thinking he could frighten the mai
\ and cause him 10 stop. Patr0lmai
zebley drew his revolver and fred
bullet in his direction This onl
1. served to cousc the fugitive TO in
!, creasc his speed Another bullet wa
sped after him. but 10 did not hav
lu ANY more effect than the first
~ Patrolman Zeblcy fired a third sho
IN lin the direction OF the fleeing mar
lstill thinking the sound cf the shot
Z" might bring him 10 a standstill. II
ne was startled 10 see the negro stun
ne bic forward and then plunge TO th
er ground This was at B and Heal
e. streets, and when the officer ran dp {
re him he found that Fisher had bullG
ed wound IN the head.
Tho noise of the shooting, tho ma
e. running wildly through the street
We with a policeman in pursuit had a
We tracted crowd Of people followin
ms along i'm the wake of the officer Tho
ltc collected around the dead body, an
es as tho report that a man had bee
he shot and killed spread through th
is lscction Of the city, the crowd d
nd creased
ay Pairolman Zebley remained besi'
20 the body. Victor Gael clerk OF q
av city markets. telephoned TO the poll
I'm station and told The officers what h'
occurred Chief of Police Black al
sit Captain Evans it,nped into the poll
Ia patrol and hurried 70 the scene. Chi
md Black thought there might be sol
is signs of life in Fishers body so
ART ordered him taken to the Delawa
tor Hospital. He was carried into
rtv institution. but the physicians fou
the all signs of life extinct The DO
for was then removed TO Coroner Sprin
INF office. at S14 King street
nav Chief Black called Zebley 10
ar police station. 1T was an accide
it was an accident" Zebley repeat
several times He said he fired fit
IS. on one side and then ON the other
A. the fleeing negro but he WAS J
ia shooting TO hit him. and he ne'
,ha thought of shooting 10 Kill He W
% much wrought up by the affair a
-ad plainly showed that il had affecl
az him deeply.
tis Coroner Spring ana Deputy Nich
-. went 10 the police station and hac
a,a conference With Chief Black.
Pstrolman Iebley was appointed
the force on October rs. 1908. He
"a years old and has always been
garded as a careful and efficient Z
day Ger He is popular with the otl
EAR members ~ mo force. and his &C
IAN rades synressed the deepest sympa
s.S- "a. for him last night.
nts. LETTERS STIR TOWN.
of crAEoPD Del Ian 9S-Nanv ,