The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-11
Robert 0. Bell Grapples
With HighWayman
Before Murder.
T E ERRIFIED WIFE
STOOD BY HELPLESS
Robber SPrang Upon Them, Gun
in Hand, Knocking Bell Down
Before He Could Shoot
Body Driven Through Mid
way at Fair Grounds
Gets Bail.


highwayrnan. With his wife n helpless
Witness to the struggle. Robert o
Bell. president OF the Bell Book and
Stationery Company. shot and killed his
assa!lant at 1890 o'clock last night on
Sherwood Avenue. just after they left
the State Fair Grounds
Mr. and Mrs. Bell. who live IN G!nter
Park. were on their way home, and
were about quarter OF q milo from
the northeastern gates Of The Fair
Grounds. In lonely spot Of the road
encompassed with dense Underground
and trees on either side.
Fought in Lonely Rond.
The negro sprang suddenly upon
them from behind tree. and shout
Ing. Don't go step further: don't
go step further" presented a revolver
at Mr.. Bclrs head. Mrs. Bell shrank
back screaming, and reaching his hand
back 10 his right hip pocket in which
he carried .S2-calibrc revolver Mr.
Bell also backed away. trying TO avoid
the onrush OF the negro. Tho latter
pursued. and the two men grappled
They fought and struggled on the side
OF the lonely road, while Mrs. Bells
terrified screams rang out SO that they
were heard far back In the Fair
Grounds b. two policemen patrolling
near the Midway.
Mr. Bell was forced back into the
honcysucklc vines and long grass
growing alongside the road. ard trippcd
and fell. with the negro on top Of
him \ Teddy bear he WAS carrying
home to one OF his children was
dropped. and fen in the ditch.
Fired nt Close Range.
But at length he got his revolver.
and managed to draw it from his
pocket as the robber had him by the
throat. As the pistol rubbed against
his forehead Mr. Bell pressed his re-
voiver against the body OF the negro
and fired. The negro's revolver ex-
ploded at the same time. but the hull
let missed its mark. and Mr.. Bell was
untouched.
With a loud shout that sounded above
the cries OF the fear stricken woman
standing By, the robbcr leapcd 10 his
1eet and sprans out into the darkness.
Bullets sped after him. Standing on
tho roadside. Mr. Bell, bleeding from
cuts received in the struggle. emptied
his gun In the direction OF the fugi-
tive. Then he ran 10 his wife's side
and when Policemen T.. l.. Kidd and
Louis Bertucci, OF the city department,
arrived, he was trying To soothe her.
After search that lasted ten min
u,es. the two officers found the negro
lying with his head on his arms about
200 yards from tho road. He had fallen
in ditch. with hts hat beneath his
body. He was stil living when the
officers found him. and was groaning
out what they took TO be n prayer
They dragged him back TO the road
and laid him down. near the foot of a
tree. where he died. DR.. j. NJ. Cofer
OF tho City Hospital. who arrived some
time later, made n cursory examination
OF the body. and said that the bullet
had passed through the heart
Heard Shot Mt Fair Grounds.
More than 1000 people We're still
making merry along the Midway when
the tragedy occurred, but not half n
dozen heard OF It until Mr.. Bell had
been formally arrested by Policemen
Kidd and Bertucci. and was on his way
home The two officers wero passing
along the roadway near the exhibit OF
tho agricultural and farm implements
when they heard the sound OF the first
shot fred. They listened moment
md then heard another shot ring out
Then sounded the terrified cries Of
woman. shrieking and calling for
help. Gatemen heard the sounds, but
thought 1t was only two negroes fight
Ing. But the officers ran to the. en-
trance. and met a buggy driven by a
man they did not know coming back
for help. They jumped on the rear
axle. and were driven rapidly TO the
scene.
AS they came up Mr.. Bell was stand
1He III TIE Hiiuuie OF the ROAD beside ms
wife. who was still crying and calling
for help.
bleeding From Struggle.
"1ve got him." said Mr.. Bell calm
j. Il shot him. 1 think. and he's gone
of In that direction" and he pointed
10 the right side OF the road
The officers saw that he was much
distraurht and that his collar was
crumpled and that he was cut and
bleeding from the struggle. II. H.
Stoltz, also of Ginter Park, and
ncfghbor of the Bells. came UP. and ran
to the assistance of Mrs. Bell, while
the officers conducted their search for
the h.ghwayman. Just as they found
him a few people who were on their
way homo came by and seeing that
there was trouble, but not knowing
what was the cause, stopped to in
qurc They were in time to see the
officers drag the unconscious form of
the robber from the bushes lining the
road. The police laid him down on
his back, and he died while they were
looking through his clothes for mark
OF Identification. a call was sent back
to the Fair Grounds for the city am
bulance, but 1t was at the farther end
of tho Midway, and there was nothing
that DR.. Cofer could do but pronounce
the negro dead when he arrived.
After she had recovered from her
first fright, Mrs. Bell was anxious
about her husband, and wanted to know
If ne would be arrested. When in
formed that only n formal charge
would be laid against him. she became
calm. Though still suffering from
nervousness, she did not walt for med
ical attention. and was taken home by
TContjnucd on 'Tbird PoCl ---