Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-08
The Fiendish Assault Upon Miss
CODk ling.

The NEGRO AssAILANT ARRESTED AND FULLY
IDENTIFIED.
The assault by a burly negro man upon a
school girl, near Arlington, Va, last Friday,
following so close upon a similar outrage in
Washington, has aroused degree of popular
Indignation unusual even in cases of this char
acter The best of law abiding citizens begin to
talk Of lynch law as a remedy that must be
adopted unless some means of adequate protec-
ton are afforded. The Arlington case has been
subject of general comment since the fact
that the assault had been made was given in
Saturdays STAR. Conflicting reports OF the
affair were circulated in this city yesterday,
some alleging that the negro assailant had been
captured, and others that he had escaped. To
day STAR reporter obtained from Mr.. j. H.
stevens, justice OF the peace at Arlington, the
facts as developed upon TIE preliminary exami-
nation before him. Saturday morning last, a
complaint was filed before Esquire Stevens.
charging Samuel Brown alias Perry with assault
with intent to commit rape upon the person of
Miss Conkling, a school girl, aged fifteen
years, and daughter of Mr.. j. r. Conkling.
farmer, residing near Arlington. war
rant was issued for the arrest of Brown,
and he was captured without difficulty,
about O'Clock Saturday afternoon. From
the moment that the complaint was made
Squire Stevens gave his entire attention to the
matter, and while officers were seeking the ac-
cused, the Justice Was hunting up testimony
against him. After as thorough an investiga-
ton OF the case as could be made from all the
surroundings, Justice Stevens became con-
WINGED that Brown, alias Perry. was not the
negro who had committed the assault. He
became satisfied, aftes the arrest of Brown, that
the guilty party was one Robert Twyman, a
negro man living in that vicinity. The justice
at once authorized the sheriff to arrest ivy
man, and he adjourned the hearing of the case
against Brown until the other party could be
secured. The sheriff found Twyman and about
noon yesterday both the prisoners Drown, alias
Perry, and Twyman) were arratgned for exam
nation. Mr.. Conkling and his daughter being
present, as well as many other citizens, botn
white and colored. Both the negroes were
placed in a room, and the justice led Miss Conk-
ling, accompanied by her father, into their
presence. She at once identified Twyman as
the man who had assaulted her, and also recog-
nfZed game-bag belonging to him as one he
wore over his shoulder at the time 1t being
positively ascertained that Brown was innocent
he was discharged, and Twyman was arraigned
for examination. Miss COnking was, OF course,
the principal witness. She gave her testimony
with great deal OF reluctance, because OF the
embarrassment entailed by description of the
assault. Her fathers presence and assurance
that it was necessary for her to give Details in
duced her to describe the attack to the
justice. Her testimony was substantially
as follows: Her fathers residence is about one
mile from the Columbia pike and in going to
and from the Columbia school she always took
the most direct route Which was by path run
ming back of Mr.. Graham'S residence. Friday
afternoon when school was dismissed she took
her usual route home. Somewhere about half
way and in retired spot negro man, having
gun i'll his hand, Sprang from one side OF the
path and laid hold of her. By his superior
strength he threw her to the ground and at
tempted to tear her clothes from her person. She
resisted With al her strength and he threatened
to shoot Der if she did not submit. She screamed
murder" and help" at the top of her voice,
in spite OF his threats to shoot her il she didn't
hush up" Thinking she heard some one APP
preaching, she said MY fathers coming"
wfereupon the negro got up and ran. She I'M
mediately got upon her feet and ran towards
nome. The man ran a few steps, but upon dis
covering that there was nobody approaching he
turned rodnd and pursued Miss Conkling, evil
IDENTITY with the purpose of making another at
tempt upon her. She was pursued until she
came Within sight of her home, when the negro
turned back and disappeared. Exhausted and al
most 1a1nting with fright and eXeltion the young
lady reached home and informed her father OF
what had occurred, describing as well as She
could her aSSailant. suspicion was at once di-
rected towards Brown alias Perry, who, as has
been stated, was subsequently shown to be
innocent. Robert Carter, a colored man, testi-
lied that he had seen Twyman pursuing Miss
Conkling Friday afternoon. This fact was an
important link in the testimony against Twy-
man. The prisoner was permitted to make a
statement. He denied the charge against him,
and declared that he was not anywhere within
the vicinity of the spot where the outrage oc-
CURED, on Friday; that he was at home all
day. His mother and father corroborated
the latter part of this statement, and swore
that Twyman was at home all day. The sheriff.
however, gave testimony that exposed the
statement of the defence and proved the three
father, mother and son--guilty of perjury. He
testified that he went to Twyman's house Fri
day night to arrest him, and both his father
and mother then stated that the accused was
not at home and had not been all day; that he
took his gun and went out hunting early in the
morning, and had not returned. This evidence
confirmed circumstantially, that of Miss COnk-
ling to the effect that TWynlan had gun In
his hand and a game bag hung across
his shoulder when be assaulted her. The
evidence was conclusive, and Squire Stevens
committed Twyman to jail to await his trial.
Friday night, while Brown was in custody, and
before the arrest of Twyman large number OF
citizens, both white and colored, COLLECTED
around Squire Stevens house apparently with
the purpose of lynching the prisoner. but the
justice by tact and good management pre-
vailed upon them to await further develop
ments. He was then satisfied that Brown was
not the guilty person. Since it has been proven
that TWyman was the aSSailant frequent
threats OF executing lynch law are heard
in the neighborhoOd and to-day several
men said significantly that the Alexan-
dria Jail would mot be strong enough to
hold the prisoner" Mr.. j. r. Conkling father
OF the young lady who was assaulted settled
neal Arlington last fall and engaged in farm
ing. He is held in high esteem by all his neigh
bOrs, and his family are refined and intelligent.
When the negro threw Miss Conkling she fell
into mud-hole and thus, probably escaped
severe bodily injury. She taxed her strength to
the uttermost in resisting the wretch, and as
has been shown, succeeded by her efforts in
escaping from his clutches.