Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-12-29
BRUTAL RAPE.
Fearful Ordeal for Two Young Sisters
A Terrible Outrage Perpetrated by
a Brutal Negro Demon.
Pursuit and Capture Of the Fiend-Men
and Women RejOlce-Canon Fired
The Beast Hung Like
Haman."

From the Chickasaw Mics. Messo1a-
ger, of the tenth instant, we copy the
following particulars of terrible crime
and its expiation:
1t becomes our painful duty to record
one Of the most fiendish outrages, per-
petrated by demon on the persons Of
two young ladies, daughters of Mrs.
Miller, widow lady residing near our
town, on Thursday last. The facts, as
we have had them detailed to us, are as
follows: On Wednesday evening, the
day before the horrible deed was enact
ed, Miss Bette Miller, aged about eigh-
teen, and her sister Georgia, aged about
sixteen, went on foot from their moth
er's house 10 the residence of Mr.. Hugh
Welch, distance of about three miles,
through the fiat woods, where they re-
manned that night. The fiend, whose
name is Bill or win Montgomery, lived
on the Welch place, and being aware of
the fact that the young ladies were at
Welch's house and would return home
sometime on Thursday, early Thursday
morning left the premises aud waylaid
them on the lonely road which he knew
they would pass on their return home.
The Misses Miller started home about
half-past eight O'clock in the morning,
and when they had proceeded about
half way, being at least a mile and q
half from any habitation, they were sud-
denly confronted by the villain armed
with heavy hickory club.
RESISTANCE.
His hellisb purpose was doubtless
readily understood by the young ladies,
and resistance being offered by them,
he sssailed the elder one with his club,
breaking the young lady's jaw bone,
knocking out several of her teeth, and
bruisiug and mangling her face, hands
and body in q most shocking manner.
The fiend then seized the apparently
lifeIess form Of the wounded girl, with one
hand, and grasplng her sister, who was
almost as helpless from fright, with the
other, dragged them about half-a-mile
from the road, through the woods, where
be detained them several hours. Just
before leaving them, the devil incarnate
took out Of his pocket large knife, and
announced that it was his purpose to
cut their throats. Miss George, who
was not so seriously injured as her sis
ter, fell upon her knees before him and
besought him to spare their lives, prom
ising that they would not inform against
him. 1t seems that at that moment the
thought occurred to the negro, who is
very tall, stout anG lack, that il ne
could have them describe as their
ravisher a person as dissimilar from
himself as possible, he might avoid
suspicion, he therefore agreed that if
they would both hold up thei= hands and
swear, that when interrogated, they
would state they received their injuries
from low, chunkey, mulatto negro, he
would permit them to depart. They
took the oath and the fiend- left them.
With much difficulty the young ladies
succeeded in reaching their mothers
home, where the elder now lies in q very
critical condition. For several days and
nights a thousand armed men both black
and white had been securing the coun-
try far and wide, in order to bring this
fend, and worse than murderer, 10
atone for the most foul, brutal and in
human crime ever perpetrated in our
State.
HIS CAPTURE.
The particulars OF his capture are as
follows: On last Monday night he made
his appearance upon the plantation Of
Mr.. John BroYnlee, and was kindly re-
ceived and cared for by Henry Brown
lee, Clifford BrownIee, Willis Brownlee,
and Henry Crawford, all negroes. AS
soon as these negroes had given him
something to eat and placed him care
fully in his "little bed" they went off
at full speed and reported to K. ]. Wind
ham, ]. NJ. Brownlee, b. ID. Pulliam,
and w. s. Pate, who were in the neigh
borhoOd looking for William. The
above-named gentlemen repaired in hot
haste to the place designated by the ne
groes, and, ere Bill was aware of their
presence, he was made Their prisoner.
They Immediately chained and hand
cuffed him, and then sent word to the
scouts that their faithful search hsd been
by the capture of their prey.
The news spread upon every breeze,
until the whole country, far and wide,
arrived upon the scene. Early the next
Tuesday, the negro was placed
in 3 wagon, and, guarded by two or
three hundred citizens, driven toward
Hous on. As the news spread, hundreds
of negroes and boys fell into line, with
their double-baneled guns, and assisted
in guarding him into town. When the
guard and its followers reached
the corporation, thEy were met by hum
dreds of women and children, shouting
for joy.
REJoICINGs AND DEATH.
When the wagon containing the pris.
oner reached the public square, the can
non pesled forth in tones of thunder,
the awful doom that awaited the poor
wretch. The wagon was driven around
the public-square two or three times,
amid the firing of cannon, music of the
baud, ana .ha deafening shouts of a
thousand men, women and children.
Such excitement was never before wit
messed in our community. When the
wagon was hauled in front of the court
house, the sheriff came forward and de-
manded possession OF the prisoner. At
that moment hundred pistols were un-
and 3 thousand cries of "Nol
no. nOw rent the air. The exasperated
with no intent of doing vio-
lence to the sheriff or his deputies, but
firmly resolved to infiict summary pun
upon the black fiend, lifted
the officers from the ground and carried
them from the scene. The cry Of Hang
him ~ "Hang himW rang from lip to
lip, and in less time than it takes to
write 1t, he was seen standing on MOTH
ing, looking up rope attached TO tree
in the courthouse yard. After hanging
a sufficient time to be forewarning to
evil-dOers, he was cut down and given
TO his relatives.
REWARDED.
A great many OF our good and noble
came forward and donated
to the negroes who were instru-
mental in his capture. One hundred
and sixty dollars was made up for them
on the spot. May the example of this
wretch ever be q terror to
all disposed to do as he has done.
TRLEGRAPHIC EPITOAE.
Little Rockers were kept indoors by
drenehing rains all day yesterday.
The steamer Cambria, from New