Covington Officer’s Cheek and Face Burned by Flash
HUNT NEGRO WHO FIRES GUN AT POLICE CHIEF | COVINGTON, Tenn., Dec. 3. – W. C. Dumas, chief of police, escaped death by the narrowest margin at 1 o’clock this morning when a negro he sought to arrest opened fire upon him at close range with a revolver.
The flashing powder from the rapidly fired gun scorched the chief’s cheek and face, barely missing his eyes.
Sheriff Volz and a large number of men were looking for the negro, John Stoklen, alias “Bear,” a few minutes after the shooting which occurred in a negro cafe known as Al Hill’s place. Mr. Dumas had heard that the negro was armed and went into the cafe to arrest him. He touched the negro on the shoulder and the negro came up with a revolver firing as he backed out of the door of the cafe. It was thought that a shot from Mr. Dumas’ gun found a mark in the body of the black but the searchers were unable to find any trace of him. Stoklen came here a short time ago from Osceola, Arkansas.
[ Hunt Negro Who Fires Gun at Police Chief | The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, TN; 3 Dec 1922; Pg 1]