The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1892-10-18
Sedalia Experiences a Sensa.
ton in Which a Negro and
a Young Lady
Figure.
William Petty Attempts to Grim.
inaIly Assault and Then
Robs Miss Fannie
Gruber.

that white woman had been robbed
and raped by a negro on North Grand
Avenue.
Considerably less than a year ago
Sedalia was shocked by a similar &C.
currence, and to have it repeated was
to arouse public Indignation to the
highest pitch.
As soon as the report reached Ohio
street a BAzoO representative took the
assignment and was not long in work
ing up the sensational case, with all
the thrilling details which usually ac-
company such unhappy occurrences.
1t was ascertained that, at about II
o'clock this morning, negro man,
who gives his name As William Petty,
had gone to the home of Miss
Fannie Gruber, at No. 800,
North Grand avenue, entered the
house and robbed and attempted to
rape her.
Miss Gruber was engaged in some
household duties at the time when
Petty alias Simms, entered her room
aud seized her savagely by the throat.
The terrible grip he had on her pre-
vented her from screaming, and he
threatened her with instant death
should she scream. She fought
with the fury of tigress,
for, all that maiden can hold price
less was trembling in the balance.
He grew desperate, also, in his hellish
design and dragged her by the throat
from one room into another and, lift
ing her in his arms, threw her vio-
lently upon bed.
When he released his grip on her
throat she still struggled furiously
and screamed as only a woman can
scream under such horrible circum-
stances.
The black fiend knew full we'll that
the alarm would be heard by the
neighbors, and after snatching $3.50
from her person, he fled out at the
door and hurried nOrthward.
Mrs Hamilton and other persons
who reside in adjoining houses hasten
ed to the scene and into the room
where they found Miss Gruber pros
trate on the bed. She was hardly
conscious, the fright and shock
having overcome her and she
could only relate in a hyster-
ical manner the way in which the at
tempted assault and the robbery were
perpetrated. She was able also to give
a description Of the negro, SO that he
could be identified.
The report of the outrage spread
like wildire, and Chief of Police De
Long, his son, Harry, Officer Tom
Smith and Special Officer Price
Howell were soon in hot pursuit. De-
long necessarily lost some little time
in getting a buggy and team at
Bowers livery stable. Howell, noun
ted on good horse, was not long in
running upon the black fugitive a
short way north of the Sedalia brew
>ery and arresting him. Pettis denied
having been in any trouble, and de-
clared that he saw another negro rum
ming away in that direction. Chief
belong and Officer Smith soon
came up and the desperate was hand
cuffed, put into the buggy and taken
to the calaboose.
As the news spread the excitement
increased, and great throng Of men
and boys gathered about the station,
eager to catch glimpse Of the brute
in human form.
Pettis remained securely barred in
from harm or sight-seers in the
southeastern cell, from which he
was taken an hour later, under strong
guard to Justice Fisher by whom he
was committed to the county Jail.
A BAzoO representative saw him as
he was brought out of the cell and
had brief interview with him. He
was fairly well dressed, black, stout
and impudent, though nervous and
alarmed. He said that his home is
ut 105 South Third street, St. Louis,
but that he has been
in Sedalia the past
month, being employed part of the
time in Quinn's restaurant opposite
the union depot. He said he is Is
years old and denied the charges
against him.
But there is one point connected
with the affair which places the guilt
unerringly: When captured there
was found inside his straw hat the
money he had stolen from Miss Cru
Der. The 80 cents in nickels and silver
was wrapped in the five dollar bill :
and hidden between his hat and head.
The trick was clever one, but it
would not work as he meant it to.