Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-20
NOT LYNCHED YET.
Further Partieulars of the Attempted
Outrage at Potomac City, Va.

Outrage at Potomac City, Va.
THE PRISONER COMMITTED TO JAn-AN ALLEGED
ATTEMPT TO RESCUE HIN LAST NIGHT.
Special Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR
POTOMAC CITY [QUANTICOl, P. w. Co.. VA,
March Goth.
The colored man. Henry Fisher, charged with an
attempt to commit rape upon the person OF Kate
Pearson. white girl, was kept in the lookup or
Jail at this place till to-day. when he was taken by
Constable kearney to the county jail at Brents-
Vile, twenty miles distant, under commitment Of
Justice or the Peace James V. Nash. Fisher. as
stated in THE STARS special yesterday, is colored
man about p years OF age He has been arrested
once before for similar offense and suspected Of
another. He was raised about ten miles north OF
this place, and has been working about here for
three or four years-jobbing and farming. Re-
Gently he has been boarding with a colored man
named Fleet. The girl attacked by him, Katie
Pearson is about IA years OF age and well grown.
She lives about 90 or miles west OF the town.
Coleman here for about two weeks past, coming
and going generally With children residing near
here.
THE ASSAULT.
On the evening OF the nth, after the school had
closed, she started home alone. taking byepath
through the woods. When about 15O yards on the
way She was attacked by colOred man. She was
not aware That any one was near her until the man
In his attack on her he scratched her face badly.
Placing his hand over her mouth he pressed 1t so
hard as to bruise her cheeks While holding her,
by some means his hand slipped from her mouth,
and with wonderful presence OF mind she called out
as II to one OF ner playmates, " Here, Wit am
waiting for YOU" Her assailant, thinking she had
seen the companion named (Wit EnniS), gave her
a severe blow on the side Of the head with his nst
and ran off. Miss Pearson. with her clothing badly
torn, and with scratched face, made her way back
TO the village and going to her teacher at Mr. j. IL
hing S, made known what had happened.
THR Arrest OF FISHER.
The next morning, Justice Nash having procured
from her description OF the man. suspected Henry
Fisher as the party, and issued warrant on which
Fisher was arrested Fisher at once denied the
charge. The girl sent for and required to pick
her supposed aSsailant out from three colored men
She was not certain at first as to Fisher but after
looking at him closely, was quite positive In her
1dentlhcatiOn. In addition to this, testimony was
given that Fisher left the railroad and went in the
direction OF the spot where the attack was made
seen coming out OF the woods he said that he had
been in there to change his clothing This tesu-
mony, together with the contradictory statements
made by Fisher was sufficient, the justice thought,
loWarrant MIN In committing Fisher to jail
THREATS OF LYNCHING
There was considerable excitement over the az
far, and threats were made to lynch the prisoner.
Justice Nash, however used his efforts to prevent
any appeal TO mob violence, stating that while the
evidence was sucn as owarrant him In sending the
case TO court yeb 1t was not OF the character that
Judge Lynch should always require. He succeeded
In keeping the populace quiet.
yesterday the foot prints about the spot were
measured, and one or Fishers shoes was found to
nj them exactly.
AN ALLEGED ATTEMPT To RESCUE THE PRISONER.
Last night there was some movement on the part
of colored friends OF Fisher toward effect1ng his
release, number here claiming that the evidence
was not sufficient to ensure his commitment, and
Others being prompted towards this course by APP
prehenSlons that he would be lynched. By ii
O'Clock the colOred men had gathered around in
knots. Justice Nash who Is looked as the MAYOR
or the town, determined to take every measure to
maintain the peace He hastily summoned eigh-
teen men and SwOre them in peace officers. and
they at once went On duty at the lookup. which is
small wooden building. Most OF these guards
finally retired but tie Jail vas closely guarded All
night About d&ytreak this morning, as the Off
GERS were about dispensing, they drew up In line on
the piankWaik lulnc'iNcr which frightened tn.
prisoner badly. When lie taken out OF the
lookup this morning, u be taken to Brentsvlie he
was SO badly frightened that he could scarcely
walk. Constable kearney and his prisoner took the
Richmond, Fredericksburg ana Potomac railroad to
Alexandria. and then proceeded by the Virginia
Midland railroad 10 BIent5Iiic.
THE JURY COULDN'T Enthusiastically, in the
Criminal Court, the jurors in the case of John j.
Alley, indicted ter violating the postal laws by
using the mails TO deffaud pensiOner, after being
ont all day. reported that they We're unable to agree
ana were DISCHARGED.