Reidsville, April 8—S.F. Poe was killed and Policeman John Chaney, of this city, was seriously wounded in a pistol battle at the store of L.S. Heiner and Company here late tonight. The shooting occurred when Chaney attempted to arrest Poe, who was wanted for an attempt to pass a worthless check on a merchant here.
Poe opened fire when Chaney got to the store, firing three times, one of the shots taking effect. Chaney returned the fire and Policeman Norman and Deputy Sheriff Neal, attracted by the shooting, hurried to the store, taking part in the shooting. Poe toppled over dead a few seconds after the last shot was fired. Chaney is expected to recover.
Two women with Poe when he came to Reidsville escaped, rushing away in an automobile. Police officers in surrounding cities were requested to be on the lookout for the women.
Poe, arriving here Saturday, went to W.J. Pettigrew, a real estate man, and offered him a money order and a small mount of money for an option on a lot. Mr. Pettigrew refused the money order. Then Poe went to the store of Burton, Chance and Walker Furniture Company and gave a money order for some chairs, going from there to A.P. Sands store and giving a check, supposedly worthless, and a money order for some goods. From there he went to Heiner’s store and tried to pass a check for $100 for some groceries.
Mr. Pettigrew, who had learned of the man’s actions, told Policeman Chaney and the latter went to Heiner’s store for Poe.
Poe knew that Chaney had come for him and saying, “I guess you are after me,” drew a pistol and began shooting.
A big crowd surged around the store immediately after the shooting and several hundred went to the undertaking establishment where the body of Poe was carried to view it. The man was a stranger here and is thought to be from Virginia, it being stated that he had said he had a brother in Norfolk who intended to move to Reidsville in a short time. It is also rumored that he has a brother in Elkton, W. Va.
Police officers here state that they think Poe was wanted in Maryland for robberies of post offices there, a man answering to his description, they say, having tried to pass post office money orders in and around Salisbury, Md., and points in Virginia.
From the front page of The Greensboro Patriot, published every Monday and Thursday, April 10, 1922
No comments:
Post a Comment