Negro Who Ran Down Small Girl Is Caught When Shot Third Time. . . Myrtle Cates, 4 Years Old, in Watts Hospital Following Accident Monday Afternoon in Business Section, John Fuller, Driver of Car, Attempts Escape from Officers and Is Shot Three Times
With three bullet holes neatly drilled through the arm and both legs, and one warrant charging assault and battery with a deadly weapon already having been served upon him, John Fuller, 45, colored of Durham is in jail, following an attempted escape from officers who were bringing him to police headquarters to explain circumstances surrounding an accident on Parris street at 4;30 p.m. Monday, in which a touring car, driven by Fuller, ran down and injured Myrtle Cates, 4-Year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Will Cates of Parrish street.
Fuller was brought to the ground and finally captured by the third bullet from Patrolman Bobbitt’s revolver after an exciting chase which extended from the police station to the Venable storage building in Haiti. Besides three officers, and Dr. A.S. Campbell of the county health department, several citizens joined the clamorous race from the business section to Haiti, one of whom fell and slightly injured a knee.
Myrtle Cates, who had been run down by Fuller in the accident, was reported to resting well at Watts hospital at a late hour Monday, and her injuries, chiefly about the breast and arms, are not expected to be fatal.
Bullet wounds in Fuller, one above the knee, one in the upper part of the left arm, and the third, the most serious, in the ankle, fractured no bones, and the negro is expected to recover shortly.
Hundreds of people thronging the business section in the annual Easter parade, quickly congregated at the corner of Mangum and Parrish streets following the accident which resulted in the injuries to the little Cates girl. Traffic was blocked for several minutes, and in the midst of the general confusion Fuller, the driver of a touring car which struck the child, made his first attempt to escape.
Sidney High, Durham barber, who was a witness to the accident, stopped Fuller, however, and together with firemen from the Fire Station No. ??, Holloway and Mangum street, guarded the almost hysterical negro until Sheriff Harward arrived upon the scene. Fuller was turned over to Officer Bobbitt, of the police department, who ordered him to drive his car to the police station. When Bobbitt, seated beside Fuller on the front seat, reached police headquarters with his man he ordered him to get out of the car through the door on the right side of the automobile, but Fuller had already made up his mind to escape, and instead of getting out of the car as directed, he quickly opened the door on his side of the car and sprinted away from the car in the general direction of Haiti, with Officer Bobbitt close behind.
The hue and cry was raised and the man-hunt was on. Patrolman Mims, county officials, and citizens of the near vicinity took up the chase. After the negro had shown a clean pair of heels for several blocks, Bobbitt, in the lead of the pursuers, called to him to stop. Fuller put on more speed, and the patrolman’s Cold barked. With a bullet in his arm, the hysterical fugitive continued his flight. The second bullet entered his leg just above the knee. And still Fuller fled. Levelling his gun with accuracy, Bobbitt fired the third time, and the negro fell with an ugly wound which plugged his other leg. It was only a few minutes before 5 o’clock when Bobbitt caught his man.
When he was finally brought to the courthouse, where his wounds were dressed by Dr. A.S. Campbell, county physician, it was found that each of the three bullets came out on the opposite side of the limb, drilling clean holes.
As yet but one warrant has been served, but is possible that others will be issued against Fuller.
According to witnesses of the accident, which started Fuller’s troubles for the day, the negro was not driving at a rapid speed, and apparently could not be held to blame on any other grounds than carelessness, and failure to see the little girl. Shortly after 4 o’clock, he was driving a touring car said to belong to his brother, westward along Parrish street. As he approached Mangum street, he failed to see the little Cates girl, who was crossing the street, and the front wheel is said to have passed over the upper part of the child’s body. the car was brought to a stop within three-fourths of the length, witnesses state. According to Sheriff Harward no evidence of liquor was found, either in the car or upon Fuller himself.
Mrytle Cates was carried into Rogers Drug company, corner of Mangum and Parrish streets, immediately following the accident, and first-aid given before she was carried to Watts hospital. Full extent of the child’s injuries have not been determined as yet, and further examinations will be made by physicians Tuesday. Her father is Will Cates, employe of the ice lant of the Durham Public Service company, who resides on the second floor of a building on Parrish street.
Fuller, who has never been in serious trouble before, as to why he attempted escape, said:
“Dis is the first time I’se ever been in trouble, and I didn’t even have a dollar to pay my way out o’ jail, sheriff. I was just plum scared to death.”
It is doubtful if Fuller will be given a hearing in court before the latter part of the week, on account of his injuries. He will not be taken to Lincoln hospital, for doctors say his wounds are not serious unless blood poisoning sets in. The third bullet came out five inches lower down his leg from the place where it entered.
The accident, and the following chase, attracted crowds of people in the down-town business district, and officers experienced difficulty in handling the crowds at the corner of Mangum and Parrish streets, the scene of the accident, for several minutes afterwards.
From page 5 of the Durham Morning Herald, April 22, 1924
