Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-23
AN APPALLING CRIME.
A Nameless Deed so HOrrifying in
all its Hideous Details as to
Make the Very Blood
Turn Cold.
A MONSTER IN HUMAN SHAPE.

yesterday evening that an outrag'
had been committed upon the person
of a little eight-year-old girl. TIL,
detectives were at once put upon tn,
track and before midnight had gained
full knowledge of the entire affair
Detective McCune went to tn,
house in the rear of the street car sta
bles on Main street and waking the
inmates up, took a little negro girl,
named Clara Johns, to the station.
house as an important witness. He
statement being corrOborative of tn,
information already received, a war
rant was sworn out against JohT
Phillips, who was arrested and placed
under close guard at the Office of the
chief of police, where a LEDGER re.
porter found him this morning while
the affair was undergoing an examina-
ton.
In answer to inquiries, he said
my name is John Phillips. l an
a shoemaker by trade. Was born il
ireland, and have lived in Memphis
about five years. l am at present
working for John LiHkhauer and have
a room at 29S Second street, upstairs.
About three weeks ago l met a little
white girl in company with two little
negro girls on Main street near Union,
and one of them asked me what ]
wanted. | asked them what they
wanted, and the largest one (meaning
Mary Johns asked me if | did not
want them up in my room, remarkiDg,
We all three knows all about it, |
was disguised, and told them to leave.
l did not see them for several days,
when | met them again on Second
street, when the oldest one asked me
again if l did not want her up
in my room. | then told her she
might come, but the little ones could
not. She followed me to my room,
but after | bad closed the door begged
me to let them all in, which | did, but
| was so disguised when l saw what
little things they were, that l gave
them twenty cents and told them to
go, which they did; and so help me
God | never had any connection with
any ofthem."
This rather lame tale was frequent
ly interrupted by quavers and violent
trembling, from which it was evident
that the man was laboring under the
deepest fear. He was also interrupted
from time to time by the little negro
girl, Mary Johns, who stood byduring
the recital. She is a light mulatto of
about thirteen years, and gave a state
ment as follows:
1--WE never met the man over there,
(pointing to Phillips but once, and
that was on Main street near the cor
ner of Gayoso, late one evening about
three weeks ago. 1t was raining at
the time and we were all standing
under an awning. He asked US to
come up to his room, and l said I did
not want to go, but the little colored
girl, Clara Bell, said yes, lets go up
and make some money; we allfollowed
him there and after we had got in his
room the outrage was committed upon
Lee Turner the little white girl, and
Clara Bell. He did not say anything
more to me about it, but we all went
out of the room and down the stairs.
On the way home Lee said her side
hurt her so hal she could hardly
walk"
This is in substance the statement
Of the eyewitness, but for decency's
sske it has been necessary to omit
many Of the details that are too dis
gushing to put in type.
The Ladies' Christian association
had got wind Of the affair in the mean
time, and have since been caring for
the girl. She was brought from the
Home this morning to the chiefs
Office, where the writer saw her. In
appearance she is a frail blonde, about
eight or nine years old. She is very
intellectual looking, has blue eyes and
long golden curls that cluster in heavy
masses about her neck and shoulders.
She was examined this morning by
DIR. Marable, who discovered she was
afflicted with a loathsome disease,
which seemed to be of about three
weeks duration. Phillips was also
examined, but is not diseased, though
DR.. Marable says that he has had
ample time to recover under proper
treatment. Phillips is about thirty
Ave years old, andhas a coarse, brutal
face, projecting forehead, deep set
eyes, and heavy red mustache. lie is
also lame, one leg being a little shorter
than the other. He has no family.
The warrant, as sworn out before Els
quire Quigley, charges him with rape,
for which he will be tried this even
ing.
To every man Of pure ideas, to every
advocate Of virtue, and to every man
L ~.u. nr Jouobtore kbss