Hattiesburg Daily Progress

He Outruns the Police and Gets
Away, But Finally is Captured.

Merce Richardson of this city, a
mere lad, had an old pistol which he
had carried long enough without try-
ing its powers upon the open air.
He decided that a pistol manufactured
to shoot ought to shoot. Hence Fri.
day night he turned it loose.
The next day the police learned
that he was guilty of violating the
law by shooting within the limits of
the corporation and carrying a con-
cealed weapon. They went in search
of him, after learning that his where-
abouts was near one of the planing
mills and soon discovered him a short
distance away. They gave chase,
but Merce was fleet of foot and
throwing his pistol in the shingle
mill disappeared around the corner
and concealed himself among the
great stacks of lumber. Hence the
police had to return without their
little prisoner.

Yesterday afternoon some one told
Policemen Beverly and McDonald
where they could find the object of
their search. The police followed the
directions and at one of the machine
shops they discovered their little
man. But this time they took greater
precautions than did the police the
day before and surrounded the shops.
Merce spied them, but it was too
late and he was grabbed as he was
making a break for another hiding
place. But he fought like a tiger
and would not give up until he was
compelled to do so by main force of
the police.

He was carried to the police station
where he was locked up and this
morning the charge of carrying a dead-
ly weapon concealed and shooting with-
in the limits of the corporation was
put opposite his name.

Merce was fined $25 and sent to the
streets for ten days. He plead with
his honor to remit the street fine, but
the mayor told him that was the very
kind of punishment he wanted to put
on him. The mayor, before passing
sentence, gave Merce a good lecture,
telling him the numerous offenses he
was charged with, and advising him
to reform. He put the least fine on
him he could, but if he appeared be-
fore him again he would give him the
full extent of the law.