Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-03

! b." had been traced by one OF the
posses li's captors were Henry Pot.
tcJ and Il; T. Mayer. citizens of tho
ncsghborh9od They were watching tho
pursuing parties when they saw negro
jump over some brcastworks. stop and
look about anXlously. They started FOR
! him. and as tho negro led gave pur-
/ suit. The fugitive wus apparently
| broken down by fatigue after his four
days in the swamps and fields. during
which time he had been trailcd by
| bloodhouuis. and as his pursucrs
! gained ON him h. stopped and gave
! himself up.
/ Scouting parties soon gathered about
tho negro and his cnptors. and there
were threats OF summary justice. Tho
negro WAS struck and Knocked down
but was saved from further violence by
tho arrival of Sergeant Il. l.. Sullivan.
Of Blackstone. who placed the prisoner
in Il. H. latcs'S automobile and rushed
HIM 10 the Petersburg police station.
from whore without delay he was taken
! TO the jail for sarckccping
Skouloudis a written demand for pro-
! News Of the arrest soon spread and
| throughout tho afternoon and until
! 'nidniGht thousands of people throuGcd
! tn" streets ana surrounded tho Jail.
4 Mayor tahaniss and the chief OF po-
! ice had taken precautions against vio-
! !cncc by placing twenty heavily arm
ed policemen in the Jail as soon as tho
| negro was locked in his cell. but as the
crowds grew IL Was seen that further
protection would be necessary. and the
Petersburg GraYS were ordered to re-
nort at their armory and hold them
selves in readiness for emergency duty.
RtMORS or MOBs
FAN. TO MATERItIIXt:
| 1t was :umorcd that inohs had becu
organized in Blackstone. and ,,reyr.
! determined 10 lynch TIA. negro. and
| would arrive in Petersburg on tn. 5: o5
train. but they failed to matcrializ..
other rumors had il that the mobs
were marching on Petersburg from
( Nottoway and Dinwiddic Counties over
/ the county roads, and were pronared
|" storm the jail. What basis there
! Was Tor these vuInorS is not known
nut these mobs failed to natcrializc
J .hc"ht!lne. every train ANA street car
from ii"rewcli swcllcd the crowds in
! INC streets OF the city some cam.
| as merely lookcrs-ou, while others an
parcntly only lacked a leader 10 r,I
Vanize them into action
y snort time before 10 o'clock several
hundred people came into the alley
leading 10 tho jail. but they were halt
ca by tho police ana disperscd after
closely guarded building. riot call
was sent in after this demonstration
land tn" GrayS were soon patrolling
tho streets where trouble threatened
y few minutes later u second alarm
brought out the fir" department and
several streams OF water were turned
on the crowds i'm front or the Jail
At 1850 o'clock. Mayor Cvhaniss no
tilted Acknowledgement Sale, At Rich
mond, that the local authorities had
the situation wcll i'm hand. and that no
outside assistance would be needed.
General sale had told th9 Mayor that Il
provisional company was being held in
! readiness in Richmond and special
train was waiting to take the troops
ito Petersburg should their presence
bc necessary.
At midnight martial law had been
declared in tho streets surrounding the
Jail. the mob which had threatened the
building had dwindlcd, and Mayor Ca
banisS declared that there was abso-
lutcly no likelihood OF further trouble
CRIME MOST HRITAI.
IN HISTORY or COT NTI
The crime To which Williams has
confessed was one OF the most brutal
| in the History OF Nuttoway County
Miss Mamie Mason, with hcr brother
and sister. WAS on her way TO school
about three miles from Blackstone
when the negro stopped them at tho
point OF Il gun. lie compelled the
brother and sister to witness the as
| sanlt. which he perpctratcd on Miss
Mason. When the childrcn returned
home they gave the alarm, and n posse
f., with bloodhouuds. under the leader
ship Of Sergeant Williams, WAS quickly
! formed. The purSucrs rested neither
day nor night until their quarry was
brought to bay this afternoon. Will
| lHms, hard pressed. stayed last night
at tho home oi 1t colurcd family named
! Cook. near Scaconsi, II flag station ON
| the Norfolk and Western Railway. a
few miles from this city. 1t was
| learned that Il stranG. negro had been
seen there. and this gave The clue
| which led to his capture
| Whether tho negro shall be taken
! back to Nottoway County for trial. he
| tried here or be taken to Richmond
| will hc determined tomorrow In
any case. immediate. trial will he Civ
len him. - convicted he will have
I thirty days OF grace. The law requires
f., that so much tim" shall be given 10
every man condemned To death.