The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-08
SAYS HE WAS WHITE.
NEW DECLARATION FROM BESSIE
PULLING.

Talk With the Mother of the Assailed Child.
and Brief Interview with DIR. Franklin
No Further Developments Anticipated In
the Case.
About ten days have passed since the people
of Richmond were astonished to hear that a
brutal assault had been made upon little
girl less than twelve years of age, only few
wards from Main street, and in a tmckly
settled part Of the city.
Every reader Of TIE TraEs is familiar with
all the facts surrounding the case which are
not shrouded in mystery, and BESSIE, Pull
inc. who two weeks ago was hardly known
outside Of the little circle IN which she lived
is now known by the average citizen. 80.
The police have been working the case dill
gently. but as vet there Is no Light Whatever,
but instead the mystery seems 10 deepen.
Many arrests have been made, but all have
been released as the child failed to identity
them.
BUMoR UNTRUE.
4 rumor has been afoat that the transfer
agent at Main and Reservoir streets had been
arrested. and had confessed the crime. 1hisls
utterly without foundation a. the young man
whose name is Mitchell. Is still at work nor has
he ever been arrested. The general current
of public opinion has somewhat changed
since it was hrst known that the decd was
committed. but there Is absolutely nothing
for anyone to base an OPINION upon.
Many think that the negroes IN me
shoe shop know more than they
are willing to tell, as IL
seems incredible that they should have
heard lust so much and no more. and they
also think that no attempt wa, made ny then'
although there We're three OF them IN the shop
at the time 20 investigate what must nave
been remarkably strange language ana stiai-
ger conduct o.,
Dr. Franklin in conversation yesterday with
a TINES man. said that he did not think she
could have been unconscious when the assault
was committed. although there We're
evident marks Of violence; The girls
face was badly scratched, ana TIE
Doctor said the scratches showed plain
~ that they had been made by some
ones finger nails and the decorations by
hand The Doctor said that the portions OF her
clothing which he saw were stained with
blood. and that her dress and hosiery We're
covered with mud. When he first saw her
she was completely prostrated, and he was
forced 10 administer stmulants. Dr. Frank
lin was Of the opinion that her assallant was
a full grown man.
Dr. Franklin said the pain must have been
excruciating, and said he, Il can see how
she could have kept from screaming. The
little girl told me she does not know how she
got inside the garden, and it IL possible that
she may have been unconscious before the
deed. Il is possible that one of her age could
have been chOked into insensibility without
very apparent bruises. believe candldy
that the men in the shoemaker's shop know
much more about the case than they have ever
revealed"
TALK WITH THE MOTHER.
A TINES reporter yesterday visited the resi-
dence of Mr. Pulling and secured a lengthy
interview with the mother Of the little grl.
Mrs Pulling said that she became so excited
when finding her little daughter in such
condition that she scarcely remembers any
circumstances connected with the evening.
The girl could not be seen yesterday. and It
will be some days before she will be allowed
TO receive visitors.
In answer to the question Mrs. Pulling said:
Yes Bessie is what might be called pretty
child She has blue eyes, golden hair fair
complexion, and bright and winning face.
She was very smart for child Of her age and
is a great help to me.
When we kept a store Bessie was almost
indispensable 10 us, as she did good deal Of
our buying. have since then been taking in
sewing and Bessie assisted me = good deal by
going for the sewing and returning il when
finished. She was q very timid child, and one
that would not take to q stranger, and had
very few acquaintancees, even near her
home"
sENT FOR A DOCTOR.
Mrs. Pulling says that she does not remem-
Der exactly what the little girls remark was
when she first came in the house the evening
in question but that her garments were very
muddy. As soon rs she realized her daugh-
ter's condition she ran TO Johann's drugstore
and telephoned for DR.. Johnston and while
there she tainted from the excitement
On being questioned as 10 the condition Of
the child's clothes Mrs. Pulling said that she
had never seen them: that some of the ladies
who had come IN made the necessary changes
She says that DR.. franklin (who came in the
absence of DR.. JOhnstOn) saw all Of the
child's wearing apparel This the Doctor de-
MES. As he said some of her garments had
been removed before he arrived.
SAYS BE WAS WHITE.
As has often been published Bessie insisted
whenever questioned that her assailant was
tall black negro. but now she says according
to her mothers statement. that the man was
white and that he wore a cap. This she saws
was soft and blue, and nothing after the order
of a uniform cap
The mother says that she does not think
her daughter will ever be able TO identify this
man.
On being questioned as 70 the length If
time Bessie was absent from home that even
ing. Mrs. Pulling said Bessie left home at
exactly half-past o'clock. and as near as
can remember It was about or little after
when she returned. When she went out Of
the house II was only drilling little, and il
had not commenced 10 rain very hard when
she came in. although it was pouring before |
got TO the drug store
Bessie went TO the Lombardy school. and
was in the second reader. She was very studi-
Gus, and was oil in all very good child.
have always made it point to keep her under
my eve and | know that she had neither bad