Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-16
ROBBED IN THE STREET.
TWO NEGROES BRUTALLY AS
SAULT AN AGED WOMAN.

Followed from the Market to Her Home
and Knocked Down AS She was Enter
ing the Yard-The Pocket Cut from
Her Dress with Razor-Her Reseuer
Stabbed and tho FieDds Escape.
A most outrageous assault and attempt
1t highway robbery was made at 1880
O'Clock last night on Mrs. Ann Scan
Ian, an elderly woman who rents
a room on President street, west Of
Whitaker, and gets livelihood from sell
ing poultry and eggs. Her face is a IA
miliar one about the market. Every sat
urday night she Is at her stall with a
basket OF eyes and sometimes few chich-
Bns. Last night. after the market was
pretty we'll deserted by buyers she packed
up the few dozen eggs that remained, ana
carrying them in basket on her arm, she
walked home three blocks away.
The electric light away across on the
south side OF reltair place was pickering
and burned dimlv as she approached her
home. A large mulberry tree grows IN the
yard, and its thick-leaved branches
deepened the shadow. AS she walked
across the square she saw TWO bows fol-
lowing. Paving no special attention TO
them, she went on slowly towards ner
gate. just as she pulled 1t open two
negroes seized her roughly from behind
the other quickly caught at her pocket
and tried to take her pOcketbOOll
out. Before leaving the market she
had taken the precauuOn to pin securely
the mouth OF the pocket. Finding himself
foiled, the thief drew knife and cut the
dress. Barkis DAWSON, colOred, was
walking across Telfair place, near the art
gallery, when he heard the cries Of the
old woman. She wass Dreaming Murder
when be ran across the square.
One OF the assal8nts ran of as Davi-
son came up, but the other was standing
over the old market woman. with one foot
on her body and his knife open, threaten
ing to Kill her. Dawson seized the high
Wayman, who turning stabbed at him re-
peatedly. Dawson held on pluckily and
defended himself with an umbrella. One
thrust Of the knife cut a long slit in the
sleeve Of his right arm, but did not reach
the flesh.
The thief tried TO close with Dawson
and stabbed him in the shoulder and lett
hand. The scuf1le attracted others, and
dozen negro women from a neighboring
yard rushed out As the crowd increased
the thief became alarmed and started to
run. Dawson, though bleeding from his
. wounds, braVely gave chase and called to
two others TO follow. But they had seen
the murderOus looking knife Of the high
WAY man anu were AlI hlIs 1feANlbOll CuhhtA
the negro some distance, but Italy lost
sight Of him and returned to the City Dis
pensarY where his wounds were dressed
by Or. Cass.
Mrs. Scanlan was helped into her house
and attended by neighbors. She had been
struck and kicked in several places, but
was not seriously hurt. Broken eggs
were scattered all around the spot and
also about S. in change. When her
pocket was cut this dropped out, but the
pocketbOok containing several dollars
was all right. The small boys were pick
ing up nickels and dimes for fifteen min
utes after the assault.
The assailants were not recognized by
Mrs. Seaman or Dawson. There is no
doubt, however, but that they we're well
acquainted with the habits of their vic
tim, and followed her home to steal her
money. One of them wore a straw hat,
brown coat and light pants. Half an hour
later some one whispered, ''Dere he goes.
OATS HIM" The next minute the street
was alive with negro women who de-
clared that figure moving in the shadow
along Barnard street was the man that
cut Dawson. There was no officer about,
and the negro walked leisurely up the
street to York, casting furtiye glances
over his shoulder. The women were posi-
tive that IL was the right man, and he did
answer the description, bur he disap-
peared down York street. The women
said that IL was the second time he had
pa sed since the ARRAY.