Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-05-01
A FIENDISH CRIME.
A YOUNG LADY ATTACKED BY
A BRUTE AND SAVED BY
HER SCREAMS AND THE
HERoIsM OF GEO.
Y. LANDER.

dEhVlSM UF GEU,
V. LANDER.
Sunday evening about o'clock a
Miss Matilda KruG, young Swed
: "a years of age employed as a servan
: in the family of Mr.. Max Mendel
was on her way to her home in thu
northern portion of the city, she wa
attacked by negro brute in TIT
most revolving manner. When abou
opposite.the entrance to the Cemetery
the negro approached her in an in
sulting way. A sharp scuflle ensueC
in which the young lady's arms were
badly bruised, but she finally broke
from him and ran screaming to Sex
ton Roark's house. While the william
held her he pressed his revolver tc
her breast and attempted to smother
her cries, but she escaped before his
foul design was accomplished.
Mr.. George V. Lander, Roarks
next door neighbor, ran out, and as
soon as he could learn the cause oil
alarm he secured a pistol and jumping
in his buggy started in pursuit. lie
saw negro man and hailed HIM.
The fellow turned and came back
towards him, at the same time draw
ing a revolver which he snapped
twice at Lander. George then jump
ed from his buggy, and, after swapping
twice, his pistol went off and lodged
bullet in his the negro's back knock
ing him to the ground. Lander fired
another shot and the negro rose and
ran. George gave him a long chase
but finally lost him in the darkness.
Mr.. Lander's horse ran away in the
meantime, and after securing him he
came to police headquarters and re-
lated all the facts. The officers be-
gan to scour the country, and early
Monday morning chief Biggerstafl
located his man at VIM, Wallace's. col
near the old fair grounds. Officer
Wellington was left 10 guard him
till he was lodged in Jail at 10 o'clock.
DIR. II. M. Fairleigh was summoned
to attend the wounded man and
gives it as his opinion that the fellow
is not seriously hurt.
The negro who was shot is Jim
Crutchield. lie is employed at MI
Coburn's a few miles from town.
He relates the facts as above
given, except he denies that he
Is the one who committed the out
rage. In appearance he is tall and
slim, black, 20 years of age and wears
4 cap and faded worsted coat. He
was suffering intensely yesterday |
from his wound,
About 10 o'clock Chief Biggerstaff
arrested another negro at the rock
quarry, and the indications are that
he is the guilty party. His name is
Dave Baxton, tall, awkward man 30
years ofage with thick chin whiskers
The officers were led to suspect him
by an incident which occurred sever
al weeks ago. He followed a res
pectable white lady on the streets and |
made familiar remarks to her. He was
spotted al the time. For the last week |
or two some lecherous negro has been |
soaring white ladies on the outskirts
of the city by meeting them alone
and approaching them with revolving
language. Several citizens have
been ON the lookout for him, and as
soon as the assault on Miss Kruff
was made known the police began |
the search for Baxton. When he was
arrested he was brought to police
headquarters and confronted by the
injured young lady who identified
him as being her assailant. He was
also taken before three other highly |
respected young ladies and identified
as the villain who had frightened
them. lie denied having been near
the scene of the assault Sunday even
ing, but subsequently admitted that
he was in that neighborhood.
George Lander has been praised on
all sides for his conduct. lie may
probably have shot the wrong man
but he was trying TO serve God and
humanity. The trials will be held
before Esq. Tinsley to-day. Mr..
Lander is confronted by awkward
circumstances, but he has not only
a holy intent on his side, but the
fact,of CrutchfeId having snapped his
pistol at him, places him on the
ground of complete self-defense. The
community deeply sympathizes with
Miss Krufl, and the feeling is so
strong that it will not be safe here
after for any man to insult respect
able lady and escape the gallows.
All day yesterday excitement was
at a high pitch. The colored people
are little indignant that Crutchfield
was shot, but most of them see the
affair in its proper light. There was
some talk Of a mob, but it was not
significant of any trouble ahead. If
Baxton is the guilty man he should
suffer the EXTREMIST penalty of the
law. He has been employed by Geo.
Dalton for sometime, and Mr.. Dal-
ton says he has never observed any
thing vicious about him. But the
courts will investigate the case and
place the guilt where it belongs. An