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Sea Coast Echo, August 24
NEGRO MURDERER IS STILL AT LARGE AFTER TEN DAYS SEARCHING
Silas Richardson Has Not Been Captured - Two Negroes killed and One Wounded in Attempt at Apprehension - Still Searching
Silas Richrson, 30-year old negro, who shot and killed John Dambrino of Kiln, and wounded Mark Oliver, Bay chief of police, Tuesday, August 14, at the city hall, is still at large after a ten days’ search by officers and men of Hancock county aided by officers from all neighboring counties in Mississippi and Louisiana parishes.
Two negroes are dead, one in Gulfport and another at Bogalusa, and a third is wounded at Bogalusa camps, as a result of the zeal of the officers and citizens to apprehend the escaped murderer, each instance of the wounding and killing of the coming from a refusal on the part of the negroes to surrender, and in at least two instances caused because the negroes attempted to conceal or destroy liquor carried on their persons, which in reaching for, the officers or men mistook for an attempt on the part of the negroes to draw a gun.
The search for Richardson has let to every part of Hancock county, from Mobile to New Orleans, into the woods and marshes of St. Tammany parish, through the dense growth of Honey Island and Pearl River swamps, but without avail. Every clue that came to the sheriffs office was followed by Sheriff J. C. Jones and men. Little sleep and constant pursuit has been the order of the day and night for the sheriff and his augmented force since the escape of the negro.
A suspect was captured in Mobile, and held until Bay St. Louis officers headed by Deputy Sheriff Jos. Bontemps, went to Mobile, finding the negro held was not Richardson. Suspects in Gulfport were visited by officers. A suspect was held in New Iberia Wednesday and the description of Richardson was telegraphed by local officers there.
Every possible investigation to secure a probable clue has been used. All methods known to officers of the law in the trailing of men has been employed including the use of blood hounds, dragnet tactics, coercion of relatives and friends, questioning of any who might give information and unflagging searching. Until the past two days the searching parties went out from the Bay quite often but for two days officers have let up a bit in their search, assuming that the negro has gotten too far away from this area to be found by constant searching.
The reward for the capture of Richardson will stand, officers said, until he is found dear or alive.


Last Hanging Hancock County The Capture, Trial, and Execution of Silas Richardson SCE 1928-1929 (04)
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