Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-10-29

ESCAPED LYNCHING.-Parts of Fair
fax and Alexandria counties were
thrown into high state of excitement
yesterday by the attempt of negro
fiend named Albert Hawkins, Is year
old, to assault Sadie Sherier, aged u,
daughter of Henry Sherier, well.te-
do German farmer, living four miles
from Washington, on the Falls Church
road. The timely arrival of two Of
Sadie's school companions caused the
negro to run away before she had been
seriously injured The Cane School,
taught by Prof. Henry Stalcup, is on
crossroad off the settlement, and little
Sadie Sherier is pupil. Her sister,
two years older, also attends the school
but yesterday the sister was visiting
relative, so Sadie attended the school
alone. Hawkins was in the lane and
saw her pass in the morning. Upon
Ter return in the afternoon the negro,
who was hidden in the bushes, sprang
at her, and she started to run. She
made few steps and tripped and fell.
Hawkins darted forward and caught
the poor child. She screamed with al
her might. He tried to hold her mouth.
He tore her clothing from her. He
threatened to kill her. A moment
later the Russell children, who live
next to the Sheriers, came running
down the path, having heard Sadie's
cries. Hawkins jumped to his feet and
darted into the thicket. Sadie, who
was frightepen almost to death, was
helped home by the Russell girls,
where she told the story of the assault.
Hawkins fled to the house of his broth
erin law, Daniel Masterson, in Lincoln
ville, three miles from Washington, and
there he was captured about & o'clock by
Geo Connolly, nephew of Mr.. Sherier.
The negro was hurried to the house of
Magistrate William Payne, in Cherry
dale, one mile away, and held there
three hours, while an angry mob hung
about, determined upon lynching the
youthful brute. In the meantime thirty
or more of the negro citizens of Lin
,colnville armed themselves with sho.-
guns and revolyers and took stand
near the magistrates house. They de-
clared that they would protect the
prisoner at whatever cost. About $50
O'Clock the attention of the lynching
party was attracted to the front of the
house, and Constable Lemuel Massey
and special deputy, John Costello, slip
ped Hawkins out the back way iuto the
woods. The lynching party divided it.
self and hurried along the two roads
which branche into one that leads to
this city, bent upon heading off the con-
STABLES and the prisoner. The armed
negroes hurried along one of the roads,
four abreast, at double quick time, in
order to meet the lyncners and give
them battle if necessary. Massey, how
ever, landed his prisoner in the Alexan-
dria Jail at o'clock this morning, hav-
ing waited in the woods until ne was
satisfied the danger was past. Then he
took circuitous route. Que squad of
she lynching party followed him some
little distance, but failed to connect with
tine other squad and thus lacked suffi.
Gent numbers to carry out the threats
oflynching. Hawkins is Washington
negro, having lived vagaband's life in
Twentieth street, northwest, nearly all
Of last summer. Hawkins was inter-
" 'awed in Jail this morning. He gave
q IN ofnsed and contradictory account
of his movements yesterday to one per-
som bnt fatty denied everything to
others IA pretends he never saw the
little p;rl n Ntij brought into her pres
ence and saws ~ vas saving wood ct
the time the alles ed assault was con-
mitted. Hawkins - OF the horsecake
hue. of full size for hls age, Is dressed
in battered garments AM - fa'nei resi-
less under close scrutiny.
Hawkins will be indicted tomorrow
and if possible Judge Chiches, er VIII at
once order a trial of the case.