Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-13
A FEARFUL STORY.
Disgrace and Ruin Of a Young Lady
In Gibson County by a Negro
The Grand Jury Refuse to
Indict the Alleged
Seducer.

The jackson Tenn Tribune and Sun
of the 9th says;
Sunday morning last a negro by the
name Of James Doak vas arrested in
this city by Chief Marks and officer
Meade, on a telegram from I. D. Locke,
OF Rutherford Station, After the arrest
was made Chief Marks telegraphed to
know the charge against the negro, aud
was answered rape" The negro vas
lodged in Jail, and on Monday Deputy
Sheriff ]. A. McCarroll, of Gibson, and
a Mr.. George R. Anderson, appeared
and demanded his delivery to them. At.
four o'clock in the afternoon of the same
day he was taken to Rutherford, the
scene Of his
HORRIBLE CRIME
An interview with Messrs. MeCarroll and
Anderson developed the following facts:
The negro had lived for many years with
Mt. T. D. Locke, the depot agent at
Rutherford, and was fully trusted by the
family. He worked about the house,
and was considered kind and faithful.
He was in the habit of making fires
every morning, and on this business had
frequent access to the room of Miss Alice
Locke, a very pretty aud intelligent
young lady, aged about nineteen. Up to
Thursday not a breath Of suspicion ex.
listed against the negro and the young
lady, but on that day the negro mystic
riously disappeared, ard rex morning
she revealed to her father The
STARTLING STORY OF A CRIME AND RUIN,
that must have made his heart stand
still and stirred bis soul to madness.
1t is also said that she had been crossed
in love. Some twelve months ago she
was engaged to a very worthy young
man, but her father, who could not bear
the idea of giving up his idol to aaotber,
opposed and broke up the match. Since
that time she has been visited by a mum
Der of deserving young men, one of
whom addressed her some ak months
ago. But she discarded every offer, and
it is now pretty certain that when the
last young man addressed her, she was
then the enforced mistress of a black
brute arrested here on Sunday. All the
facts, the story Of her beauty and her
life, the tribute Of her character by
neighbors that have known her from 10.
fancy, the pleasant surroundings of
hume, and the alteration Of high. spirited
and intelligent men, all forbid the idea
that she could have been a willing victim
TO the lust OF o black, rough. ignorant
negro.
THE FACTS IN THE CASE
appear to be different from those above
related, for the Gibson county grand
jury has refused to indict James Doak,
and he was set at liberty. 1t appears
that Miss Locke Cnticed Doak to ruin
her, as she solicited the intercourse, and
even locked him 10 her room and also
gave signals for him to visit her. Under
this supposed state Of affairs the grand
jury refused to indict Doak. The
young woman belongs to a highly
respected family, aud is said 10 be one
Of the most beautiful women in Gibson
county. 1t is said that no cause for bel
conduct is aseribed rave a mania result
ing from disappointment in love. The
case is indeed a sad one, but the alleged
victim is not worthy Of sympathy, though
her disgrace and ruin are pitisble in thu
extreme. 1t ia said that two members o
Miss Locke's family are insane. It il
probable that this unfortunate woman il
also insane, though we hear that sht
does not seem at all Inundated by tbc
knowledge aud publicity Of her shame.