The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-18
IN THE NICK OF TIME
st. Louis Police Rescue a Negro
from a Mob Of Lynchers.
He Had Assaulted Woman and Had a
Rope Around His Neck When the
officers Arrived on the Scene.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 1.-THE nearest ap-
proach to a lynching bee that has hap
pened in this city for a number of years
took place this morning, on Forest Park
boulevard, between Sarah and Boyle ave-
nues. But for the timely arrival of the po-
lice George Jones, burly negro, twenty
two years of age, would have paid, at the
ropes end, speedy expiation for GRIM
inal assault on Mrs. Sarah May, a feeble
woman, past middle life. She is a widow,
and lives with two young children, who
are at present stricken down with scarlet
fever, in a miserable tent erected in a
hollow on Forest Park boulevard, near
Boyle avenue. About $50 o'clock this morn
ing she went to spring about one hun
dred yards from the house to procure
bucket of water. While filling her pail the
negro crept up beside her. Dawn had just
broken, and the mist made the light uncer-
tain. Before the startled woman could
move hand was on her throat She
screamed, and another hand covered her
mouth She struggled. but her feeble
strength was no match for the burly brute.
He choled her till her strength was gone,
and threw her to the ground. He would
have accomplished his fendish purpose, but
her one cry brought help.
Mr.. NJ. p. Bivins, who lives at No. 492S
Forest Park boulevard, heard the scream
and ran instantly TO the spot. He saw the
negro's purpose, and, picking up a. stone,
hurled 1t at him and frightened him off.
The assailant ran north on Sarah street.
with Mr.. Bivins giving chase. Another
stone from the purSuer struck the negro
in the leg. At the corner of Sarah and
Pine streets they came up with a crowd of
work They jumped from their wagons
and stopped the negro, and Mr.. Bivins.
too. The crowd was half colored and half
white. They thought the matter was a
personal affair between Mr.. Bivins and Tie
negro, and the colored men were for turn
ing Jones loose. Mr.. Bivins explained the
lynching the negro The latter was hustled
back by rough hands to the scene of
his attempted crime while emissaries were
sent to the house IN the neighborhood to
procure a rope. Meanwhile some one who
had witnessed the capture Of the negro and
overheard the parley between Mr.. Bivns
officer. The man was mounted. AT Vande
Venter avenue and Olive street he met OIL
Ger Ed Dundon. He told him of the in
tended lynching and the officer took the
mans horse and rode quickly to the scene.
When he reached the spot Jones was sur
rounded by mob of fully one hundred
men. They had a good. thick rope around
his neck and his hands were pinioned. The
rope was noosed, and one of the crowd
held the negro by the throat.
The mob was excited, but lacked leader.
There was no man to direct or give the
word of command. Had there been such
man the officer would have arrived in time
fearing he had desperate men to deal with,
drew his revolver and demanded the sur
render of the prisoner.
Hang the black BRUTE Swing Up the
black DEVIL" howled the mob.
The negro appealed to the officer for pro-
lection and protested his innocence Ser
geant Sommers and officer Lynch, mounted
men from the fifth district, dashed up The
three blue coats awed the crowd, and they
surrendered their man. The crowd had
gradually increased, and there were fully
three hundred people on the spot when the
prisoner was led away.
One month ago George Jones passed
through the gates of the penitentiary at
Jefferson City a free man, after having
served eighteen months for the preparation
of crime which he attempted TO repeat
this morning. About dark on the evening
of Dec. s, 1891, while Mrs. Charles A.
GRADER, of Cabanne place, was returning
to her home she was assaulted by Jones In
a lonesome part of the street. He threw
his arms about her and forced her to the
ground, but her screams attracted a
crowd and the negro was frightened off,
At the trial a very sensational scene was
enacted. the lady's husband attempting TO
kill the negro in the court room. He was
convicted and sentenced March y, 1892.