Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-10
ATTEMPTED BRUTAL OUTRAGE.
Mrs. Wells Resouos Her Child-Blanhen
ship Flies to Escape Lynehing.
,cnootot taIa1rau, IN tia Dfsngfrh1

Especial telegram 70 the Dispstch.1
DANvuLE, VA, March "a daring at
tempt at brutal outrage was made here
Yesterday by Il. T. Blankenship upon the
person of little Murrell Wells, his vife's
niece. The child, who is but seven years
of age. went to Partnerships house on
Lee street yesterday about noon. No one
was at home but Blankenship and he en-
ticed her into an clubhouse, where he at
tempted to outrage her person. BY good
luck. however, Mrs. Wells missed her little
pirl and went to look for her. As soon as
She got to Blankenship's yard she heard
the child scream and ran to the house
where they were. The door was locked,
but she looked through crack and to her
horror saw the villain at his helllsh work.
RAN FOR PISTOL.
She soon gave the alarm and demanded
Blankenship TO open the door. She took
herlittle girl out, and in her desperation ran
into Relationships house, where she knew
there was a pistol intending TO use the
weapon on her daughters assailant, but
she failed to find the pistol, and when she
came out Blankenship had run off, She
went home and told the awful story. Her
husband was sick in bed, but she and some
of her lady friends and a youth named
Homer went over to Blankenship's house.
NE
He had returned in the mean time and
was armed with a pistol. Young Horner
was so indignant that he attempted TO get
at him, but one of the ladies intertered
and Blankenship drew his pistol. He was
then warned that if he remained in the
city he would certainly be lynched, and be
ran of. A party of men went out in the
afterooon 10 look for Blankenship, and if
they had found him he would have been
dealt with as be deserved. He was not
found, however, and has not yet been cap
tured.
NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED.
Unfortunately the police were not mott.
fed until late in the afternoon or he could
have been caught without difficulty. The
matter was kept very. quiet and was not
made public until to-day. The child is not
seriously hurt, thanks TO her timely rescue
by her mother, and 1t is evident that the
fiend failed to accomplish his purpose.
The entire city is aroused and if the villain
is caught before the excitement subsidies
he will certainly be swung. Bfankenship
came here from Crewe and il is said that no
was run away from that town for some of
his villainy.
MARRIED MAN.
He is married man, about thirty years
of age, and his wife. who is well connected
here, has an infant child. He is q oarpen-
ter by trade and has been working for w.
z. Horner d Co.
CONVICTED OF MURDER.
Margaret LASTLY was tried to-day in the
Hastings Court as accessory to the murder
of her husband, George Lashley, by James
Lyles. Lyles was tried last week, and the
Jury convicted him of murder in the first
degree. A similar verdict was returned to-
day against the woman with the recon-
nendation of Executive clemenoy. There
is hardly doubt that the principal to the
murder will hang.
DIED.
Mr.. Edward b. Brown, well-known
citizen of this city, died To-day; aged
thirty-tour. He had been in bad health
for several years. He leaves wife and
one child. Deceased was son Of the late
Rev. A. b. Brown, well-known Baptist
divine of this State.
Prayers were offered at Mt. Vernon church
for Rev. DR.. John Edwards, of Lynchburg,
to-day.