The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-10
THEY FEAR LYNCHING.
oBOReE DODsOx KEM0vED TO TIE
JAZZ Ar ROAx0KE CRY.
The Man Charged with Asssuiting Miss
Pierson Talks Freely - Suspicious
Circumstances Against Him.

ROANOKE, VA. May Especial. Geo.
Dodson. who was arrested Sunday even
ing IN the mountains near Gala Water
in Botetourt county. for a criminal as
sault on Miss Mary Pierson. near Salt
Peter cave. on Saturday and ali attempt
20 poison her by forcing pill down
her throat. has been removed from the
Bo;etourt county jail at Fincastie' IN
which ne was lodged Sunday night' to this
city. The removal was by order Oh Ioun'
fy Judge Simmons, who reared 'ha' '"S
people along the line Of the CHESAPEAKE
and Ohio railroad from Jackson TO Glen
Wilton. would carry out their threat 10
lynch him. He brought here carry
yesterday morning heavily ironed, Dui
so secret were the movements OF the
officers accompanying him. that the fact
of hts presence in our city jail ala not
leak out until late hour last night
DopsoS TALKS FOR PUBLICATION.
The Times representative called 10 see
podson to-day. and be expressed will
tnguess 10 talk for publication. He says
he has a wife, Lizzie +. Dodson, and
seven children. residing near Lewisburg.
w. Va. and that he was arrested ana
indicted there for breaking mao the gro
Gerry OF Andrew Mclaughlin, out obtain
OF 500. with his wife as surety, he hed
20 Oriskany. on the Craig Mineral rail-
road. whore he stopped for the last two
weeks with Wash Loudermiik, an Ola
friend. and did not leave there until
o'clock Saturday evening. where he pur-
chased a ticket for clifton Forge ana
took the train. intending to return 10
Lewisburg and surrender to the authori-
ties.
WHY Hg FLFD TO TIE MOUNTAINS.
When asked why he jumped from the
train and fed to the mountains Dodson
said
II noticed that tho conductor and
brakeman watched me closely. They had
got some word. and l thought they were
going TO arrest me for that old Green
brier county scrape. so ] jumped from
the train just before II crossed the river
this side OF Glen Wilton. | lost my hat
on the train and took 10 the woods |
was going back to Gala Water and give
myself UP. as l heard they were looking
for me-"
In answer 10 n question, he said sub
sequently that he never heard of the
Persons: was never at Salt P,tre Cave.
and did not know anybody wanted him
for anything at Gala Water until he
met fat boy in the woods. who drew a
double barrelled gun Oh him. IL kept
right on to him." said Dodson. land gave
myself up. for | wanted that woman TO
see me. and that was not the man."
Dodson says he can prove an alibl by
Wash Lcudermik and his sons. Val and
GTiff Jlm Selmage, George Crawford.
and Milton. one OF the Loudermilk boys
was seem and denied knowing anything
about Dodson. but afterwards said he
was a; his fathers house at the time he
claimed he was there. Crawford and
~.
but Conductor Harris says he took the
train at Orskany at the hour named.
with ticket for Clifton Forge.
HIS MOVEMENTS.
Several parties were here to-day from
the neighborhood in which the crime was
committed. and say Dodson left the train
after IL crossed the bridge at Baldwin.
near Gala, waded the river. and took to
the woods on the north SIDE and emerged
into a field near the residence of Rich
ard Haden Sunday morning. but noticing
that several men were looking for him,
broke for cover again.
Dodson denies seeing any of his pur-
suers. but admits that he saw in the
woods one man who he supposed was
looking for him. and hid until he had
passed. lie is badly scared. and express
ed qualification at being brought here
from Fincastle. and asked your CORE
spondent II he would be safe here On
receiving an answer in the affirmative
he frightened up, smiled. and talked
glibly.
He is about six feet high. rawboned.
muscular and weighs about l75 pounds.
Ills hair Is black. forehead broad. eyes
blue and receding, check bones high.
there is an abrasion OF the skin on the
right cheek, and his chin and lip have
been scratched. He says these marks
were made by brushes and brlers. but
Miss Persons friends say they are the
imprint of her finger-nails
HE WAS PHOTOGRAPHER
The prisoners suit was originally blue.
the pants have retained their color. but
his coat has faded TO a reddish brown
over the back. skirts. and sleeves. lie
wears boots. and a striped calico shirt.
and answers the description the Young
lady gives Of her assailant. He was pho
tographed this morning and "A copy sent
TO Justice Hope. VINO resides near her
home. Dodson made no objection TO this.
and says he is ready for her to see him
and that will attest his innocence. The
people along James river are divided in
opinion as to his guilt. but those 20
whom your correspondent talked to-day
are confident that he is the man they
want and think his removal from Fin
castle wise.
Dodson has told several different stories
here, and talks ahead apparently uncon-
scious that he frequently contradicts
himself.
Miss Pierson is on the road to recovery.
CONVENTION OF BRETHREN.
Polk Mi Ter il to be here Thursday
night, AMI every Virginan is hustling
around fr' ticket
The an ual convention OF brethren is
I'm session here. Rev. ID. c. Moomaw,
pastor of the Roanoke church. delivered
fhe address of welcome, and Rev. George
A. Copp and t. Il. Shara. of Shenandoah.
responded. Rev. Moomaw was lected
president. Thirty-hve churches are rep
resented by about seventy-five ministers
and laymen, and the session will con-
tlnue three days. Tonight Rev b. c.
Moomaw, of the Buena Vista Advocate,
delivered his lecture on "The Rum Val
ley Railroad"
GRAND COUNCIL OF RrD MEN.
The forty-elghth annual session OF the
Grand Council OF the Improved order of
Red Men OF Virginia assembled in the
wig,yam of Wahoo Tribe at the ninth
run OF the rising OF the sun to-day. There
are abou; eighty delegates from Rich
mond. Manchester and other Virginia
cities Judge J. Asa Dupuy delivered the
address OF welcome on behalf OF the
citizens of the city. which was responded
10 BY j. S. Trower. OF Richmond. Edward