Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-08
A MURDEROUS TRAMP
Assaults an UNPROTECTED Lady
in Her Home.
Leaves Her In a Dying COndltiOn-Is
AfIerWard Captured.

A 6endish crime was committed Mon.
day afternoon near Tsylor's Depot, on
the Mississippi Central railroad, some
six miles south OF Oxford, Miss. The
news produced a deep sensation here as
far as it spread, especially among for
mar Mississippians from that section, q
large number OF whom are in business 10
our city.
A young farmer, whose name our ia.
formant could not remember, sccomps.
MED several of bis neighbors to Oxford,
where court was 10 session that day,
leaving bis wife and two or three chi.
dren at home, and little dreaming Of
harm to them. In the afternoon a
neighbor passing heard a piteous cry in
the house, and on entering discovered
the unfortunate lady in a dying condi
ton. She had a horrible wound in the
head, and was wel:ering 10 her own
clotted blood. A terrified little girl was
bending over the PROSTATE form. Every
attention possible was rendered, and the
poor woman revived sufficiently to tell
the story Of her terrible wrongs. A
stout, heavy.built tramp called at the
house and asked her for something to
eat, and as she turned to get it be sprang
upon her like a 6end, and threw her upon
the Aeor. The little girl fed screaming
from the preai9es, aud the villain
fearing detection and proof Of his crime
seized sr ak and struck the woman a
fearful blow on the head. Without &C.
complishing his purpose he fed.
As soon as the discovery was made
known the news few like wild FIRE all
over the ne~ighborhood, aud the people
turned out en- masse to search for the
vile wretch. The woods were secured in
all directions, and as night came on fires
we're built in a portion Of a swamp in
which it was thought be had taken ref.
uge. But it seems that be took to the
open fields rather than the woods. One
man followed bis track three miles, and
lost it. Word was sent up and down the
railroad, and all conductors were
notified to be on the lockout
for any such a man. The
description given Of him by the little girl
Tailed exactly with the appearance of a
man seen by a passing neigh5or on the
road within two hundred yards of the
house q short time before the occurrence
Of the terrible deed. Had be been ap-
preheuGei any time yesterdl W, while the
excitement wa still high, he would have
suffered the EXTREMIST penalty without
unnecessary delay. With a whole PEG.
pie aroused for many miles in all direc-
tons, it was almost impossible for the
murderer 10 escape.
He was caught this morning at 2:30
o'clock, at Mslons's water.tank, some
FIVE Or six miles from the scene Of his
crime. He planned his escape well. and
must have known the situation thor.
oughly. No passenger trains stop at
Malone's tank - only freight trains.
The up freight arrives there just
after two o'clock in the morn
ing. He watched for this train,
little thinking that any one on it would
be on the lookout for him. There we're
several empty box.cars. The conductor
saw somebody crawling into one Of them,
and had his man. The prisoner refused
to confess or talk ,but he filled the descrip
ton exactly, aad he was taken to Tay.
lori depot and lodged in the cslAboose
If identified, a. he doubtless will be, the
proverbial delays Of the law will not be
likely to interfere in his behalf. An
iucensed community will be most likely
to execute him 90 the spot, Yet we
cannot but think that the moral effect,
both on the law abiding aud the outlawed
CLASSES, would be better to try aud pun.
ISL such a msn by due process Of law.
LATER We learn that the urname
Of the unfortunate lady is Warner
-
Three tramps have been arrested, but the
guilt has not been fixed on either one so
far. They are now in Jail at Oxford.
A special dispatch from there this morn.
ing says: The lady is alive, bat there
is no hope Of her recovery. She has
only spoken one since it happened, aud
then said: 1t was o white man."