The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-10
AM OUTRAGE IN MACON.
A Respectable Lady Attacked in Her Home
A DeSnerate STRUGGLE.

A Desperate Struggle.
MACON, Ga, July S.-[Special. There was
desperate attempt at rape in this city this
morning, but the news has not gotten out yet,
and things are very quiet, The assault was
made on a highly respectable lady, and,
though tho fiend did not accomplish his pur-
pose, it was decidedly not his fault, but
through the courage and presence of mind of
the lady's daughter. This morning. a few
minutes before l o'clock, Mrs Vaughan,
daughter of Mrs. j. b. Cummings, who lives
at the upper end of Walnut street, heard her
mother in the next room gasping
as if she was being choked. She
jumped out of bed and ran
to see what was tho matter. In Mrs. Cum
ming's room there was lamp burning, and by
its light she saw a large negro man in bed
holding her mother down by the right ear,
with one hand, ahis other around her neck so
tight that she could not breathe or call for
help. Mrs. Vaughan is a courageous woman,
more so than ma iority of her sex, who would
have screamed and fled, but not so with her.
In her description of the negro afterwards she
said ne had on cntaway, coat with
tail. These she grabbed, and summoning
all her strength, she gave him n jerk that
landed the intruder in the middle of tho room.
They struggled from the room, out to the hall,
and back to the room, Mrs. Vaughan holding
on with death grip.
In the meantime, Mrs. Cummings upon
gaining her freedom, screamed twice for help,
got a pistol out OF the bureau drawer, and
went to her daughters assistance. The man
succeeded in getting away. Several gentle
men, having heard tho calls, then came in and
made an investigation. A side window was
found to have been broken open, and entrance
effected in this way. There is no doubt but
that his object was criminal assault, and he
came very near succeeding in his intentions.
The news of the affair was at once sent to
the city hall, and Officer Lowenthal and col
ored Officer Bowers went up. They hung
around the neighborhood for some time and
after while their patience was rewarded by
seeing man suspiciously standing at the cor
ner of New and Walnut, about thirty-fve
yards from Mrs. Cummings's house. AT the APP
proach of the officers he started to move, and
when called upon to halt quickened his pace
to run. Seeing that he was
gaining on them, he was told
to stop or he would be shot This only added
speed to his flight down Walnut TO an alley
that leads over TO College street. 1t was very
dark, and the man thought he would take
this and elude his pursuers. About this time
both officers fired several shots over his head,
but he would not stop. At the mouth of tho
alley is bad ditch washed out by the recent
rains, and into this he went, receiving shock
that almost knocked him senseless. Officer
Barnes came next and went down on top of
him with one hand in his collar and it
didn't come out till they reached the barracks.
First he was taken back to Mrs, Cummings
residence and carried into that lady's presence.
AS soon as she saw him she exclaimed:
THAT'S the man, I'd know him anywhere"
lie tailed with the description given by the
ladies before he was caught in every way. His
clothes and his build were particularly alike
and exact. He gave his name as Ben Frank
lin, but he denied all knowledge of the affair,
and claimed to be entirely innocent of tho
charge against him. He was put In dungeon
at the barracks and the case will DO inyesti-
gated tomorrow.