Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-11-04
BRUTAL OUTRAGE.
Attempted Rape of Little Girl by
n Negro = Her Father Dies from
the Shock.

Attempted Rape of Little Girl by
n Negro = Her Father Dies from
the Shock.
From the Courier-Joournal Of the 1st.
On last Monday, while some school
children were returning from school, in
Jacksonville township, Clark county,
Ind, about two miles from Jefferson
Vile, Annie Stacy, a little girl aged
about thirteen, loitered behind and got
out of sight of her schoolmates AS
she neared beech tree by the roadside,
she perceived large, black, vicious
looking negro under it, apparently en-
gagged in picking up beech nuts. She
did not see any cause for apprehending
danger, and, without a thought Of harm,
she passed on her way, going close by
him. 1t seems that the infamous wretch
was in wait with evil purpose, and, as
she passed, he seized the unsuspecting
and innocent girl, and, drawing knife,
declared that he would kill her if she
made any noise. The child was so ter
riiied, however, that notwithstanding
she was menaced with instant
death she screamed as loudly as she
could, and called for help, struggling at
lut hdluG lllut WIFI al utI hiItHkAu "
free herself from the scoundrels grasp.
The foul intentions of the fiend were
only strengthened by resistance, but
terror made the child strong, and she
fought with such desperation that her
clothes we're almost entirely torn from
her body in the struggle. Her powers
could not have long borne up under the
extraordinary effort, but just as she was
beginning to grow exhausted the negro
became alarmed lest her continued
screams should bring assistance to her
and certain death to him, and released
his grasp when, swift as frightened
deer, the little girl sped away from the
spot aud the fo;led ravisher sought
safety by fight in the opposite direction.
The child reached home in mental and
physical suffering that can better be i'm
agined than described, and poured out
her tale of grief and shame to her aged
and venerable father, Amos b. Stacy,
who resides about two and half miles
from Jacksonville, on the New Albany
and Charleston pike. The shock was so
great that Mr.. Stacy was taken with a
paroxyism Of the heart disease, TO which |
he was subject, but no fears were ex-
cited as to his safety. On Tuesday he |
continued in feeble health, and spoke |
frequently about the outrage attempted |
upon bis daughter. He seemed to brood |
over the matter, and to suffer great mem
tai anguish. On Tuesday night about |
half.past eight o'clock Mr.. Stacy grew
suddenly much worse and died at eleven |
o'clock. The deceased was between |
fifty-fve aud sixty years Of age, and has |
been for the last half century resident
of Clark county. He was a very quiet
and inofensive man, and at the time Of
his death his estate was valued at about |
$4,000. He leaves a wife and num-
Der of children, most of the latter grown
up
The black scoundrel who made the
fendish assault has not since been heard
Of, nor is he known 10 any one in the vi
cinity. He had been seen lettering in
the neighborhood several days previous
to the outrage. The greatest indigna-
tion and excitement we're created by the
and had the negro been
caught he certainly would have been
lynched on the spot