The daily gazette., 1877-03-31
AN OUTRAGE.

A Woman Assdulted by Negroes
For several days three negro tramps
have been loiterlng about the south
eastern section Of the city, and their
suspicious movements have been .
cause OF great uneasiness to the deni-
zens of that locality who had reason to
fear from them some actlof crime. On
Tuesday evening about six o'clock,
Matilda. married daughter OF Jacob
Wirtz, who keeps the toll-gate ON Fac.
tory road, started for Chas. Peters
store, at Rockland and Middle streets,
where she made some purchases and
set out for home about dark. Upon
arriving at the sand hole. just opposite
the buildings Of II. A. Evans farm,
she was assaulted by the three negroes
whose movements we havo noticed.
when she saw them approach, walking
on the same side Of the street as her
self, she crossed over to the other side,
but they crossed alse, and the tsllest
of the three siezed her and knocked
her down with blow In the face. The
others warned him not to attempt to
proceed further in such an exposed
place, when they dragged her down in-
to the sand hole, doubtless for felon-
ious puI pose. Her screams OF "mur-
der" attracted the attention Of q pas
ser-by, who hurried to her assistance.
He started to 90 down into the pit,
when the negroes, seeing him approach,
ran out passing him in their exit. The
girl recognized him and called him to
her aid. He took her int the house
of Mr.. Evans farmer, where she was
found to be covered with mud, her
throat was marked with the imprint OF
fingers, and her face showed evidences
of the blow she had received. After
wards she was taken home and is still
prostrated by the nervous excitement
produced by her fright. Her father
and other persons in the neighborhood
turned out with clubs and arms in
pursuit of the sccundrels, but after
securing the vicinity gave ur the
search US a vain one, and the police
have made no arrests.
These same negroes were at the toll
house in the morning, knocked at the
door, asked for water, and left without
molestipg any of the family. In the
evening they called at the residence Of
Mrs. Elizabeth Kreider, near Stoner's
farm, this side the old factory bridge.
AS two OF them approached the house
Mrs. Kreider called to her son, who
was at the barn, not to forget to buy
some bread, as she had none baked.
This was said to let the negroes
know she was not prepared to feed
them. They came to the house, how
ever, and with great insolence demand>
ed something to eat. They would
have probably probably been still
more demonstrative had they not
known that Mr.. Kreider was within
calling distance. On leaving Kreider's
they came towards town, met Tillie
Wirtz, and committed the assault as
above described.
Last evening Mr.. Wirtz made infor-
nation of the outrage before Alder>
man Spurrier, and the police are work
ing up the case. 1t is thought the nc
groes do not belong to Lancaster. One
of them is described as being quite
tall. not very dark colored. and
wearing a slouch hat and light over
coat. The second was of medium
height and wore tightsfitting jacket
of the artillery style. The third was d
stsut-built fellow. quite dark, and
wore gray or dark brown coat, and
lighter colored pants, that were stained
with mud. While at Kreider's two Of
the negroes spoke German quite fluent
y.-LancGster Intelligencer.