Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-05-04
fELONIOUSLY ASSAULTED.
A Young White Woman Outraged
by a Brutal Negro.

- fobllB WHITE woman outraged
by a Brutal Negro.
The fiend Entered the cabin OF Tug
Boat, where the Woman, Wife of the
Captain, Was Sleeping ---Arrested by
Detectives Meyey and witsil.
George White. 32.years-old cclored
man, was arrested last Saturday
charged with committing a felonious as,
sault on Mrs. Carrie Bentley, a colnely
white woman 30 years old. The woman
is the wife of Captain John Bently OF
the tug Isabel, now lying at Enoch
Moore's shlpyard,
The crime was committed in the dark.
ness OF Wednesday night, when the de.
fenceless woman was sleeping IN her
berth on the tug Isabel. Her husband
was in charge of the tug Jansen, which
took party of Wilmingtonians TO New
York 10 witness the great naval review
in New York harbor.
1t was about 1890 o'clock when Mrs.
Bentley was aroused from her slumbers
by the form OF man appearing in her
cabin. The stranger entered by means
OF small window over the cabin, which
had been left open in order TO secure
ventilation. The man came through the
window backwards.
A light was dimly burning in the
cabin and this was eX,inguished by the
intruder as soon as he entered.
Mrs Bentley was startled by the APP
pearance of man in the cabin and
called loudly for help. The brute seized
her BY the throat, and placing one Of
his tlsts in her mouth oyerpowered her
as she lay almost unconscious in the
berth. She madly struggled to free her.
self, but in vain
In momentary dread of being killed,
and choked almost into insensibility,
Mrs, Bently made heroic defence ef her
honor, but to no avail. The superior
brute force OF the assaiiant subdued her
weaker nature and the infamous crime
was finally committed.
Having committed the assault the
iiend admonlShed the women against
making any optcry or stirring from the
berth at the peril Of her life. The negro
then made his exit through the window.
lhe victim Of the assault, despite his
threats upon her life, ran UP to the top
81 the vessel and caGghta glimpse Of the
assailantas he was leaving the boat.
During the scutiie in the vessel Mrs.
Bently had an opportunity 10 observe
the asSatlant, although absolute dark
ness prevailed. She recognized the man
arrested by his voice, and by the fact
mat he had mustache, and wore
soil cap. She was unable To positively
state that the features of the man ar.
rested were the same, although she had
every reason 10 believe he was the as
sailant.
The negro arrested is employed as a
host!er by Colonel Enoch Moore, and
had been engaged to work about the
vessel and help Mrs. Bentley during the
absence Of her husband in New York.
lie formerly worked at Gordon
Heights and came To this city two wears
ago. lie was born III Maryland.
The negro was arrested BY State De.
tectives Witsil and McNey while work
ing about the boat at 1880 o'clock Sat.
uFdsy morning, and taken to the police
station, Where he was locked up.
he crime was not revealed until 7
O'clock saturday morning when Captain
Bentley, the husband Of the victim, ar.
riYed home from New York. He was
then informed by his wife Of the perpe.
tratiJn Of the deed
lie was ftenzicd with rage and threat.
ened 90 shoot the negro on sight. He
inally became more collected, however.
and sent word 70 Chief Francis and De.
tectiyes Witsii and NcEey. The neero's
arrest followed.
When confronted with the accusation
Of his guilt, White protested his limo.
cence and stated that he was home tAe
time u the alleged assault. He resides
with Mrs. Mary Wand, ut No. lOO2
French street, and is married.
In contradiction 10 the story told by
the negro, Mrs Ward stated on Satuf.
day that she retired at 1890 o'clock
Wednesday night, and when she went
p bed White had not returned home.
lie went out about Z O'Clock in the
evening.
Deputy Attorney general Branch H.
Giles was informed Of the commission
OF the crime and at once repaired 10 the
police station where Mrs. Bentley was
examined as to the details Of the assault
and her statement taken in writ.
ing. She said that while she could
not positively identity White as the
Gssallant she believed him To be
the man who committed the assault She
SAID the assailaMt was man OF small
stature, and she claimed 10 be able 10
say the man was White by the iutona.
tons OF his voice.
She had frequently seen White pre-.
yious to the assault ana was familiar
with his voice. White was the only
person who worked about the boat AID
had access 10 its apartments.
The crime Of which White stands
charged is capital offence in Delaware.
W "a 4 .