The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-26
COWARDLY SCOUNDREL
Prominent Ladies' Of the Town Of Suffolk
Escape the Clutches of a FIend.
SEARCHING PARTY ANXIOUS TO FIND HIN
A Suit for Ten Thousand Dollars TO
he Entered Against n Railroad
Closing of the Public Schools
Farmers OF Nansemond waxing
Warm Over the No Fence Question.

Suffolk. Va. April 25.-On the towns
main thoroughfare and in a thickly pop
ulated district. dastardly attack was
made between 10 and IL O'Clock last
night upon Miss Eva Darden. a highly
respectable young lady. about seven
teen years old. who was on her way
home. accompanied by her mother, Mrs.
.. K. Pinner. Long and piercing cries
aroused the residents Of that vicinity,
who ran as quickly as possible to the
the attack. a burly negro, had made
good his escape.
Mrs. Pinner and Miss Darden had been
calling, and were returning to their home
on North Main street. When just be-
yond Suffolk College they saw man
walk over from the opposite side OF
the street. ahead of them, and stop near
the fence which encloses q grass plot
at the Seaboard depot He stood by
the post nearest the sidewalk as they
passed, with averted head, as II to pre-
vent his face being seen. When they
We're Just beyond the point where the
man stood he made spring and
grabbed Miss Darden, who was walking
on the inside. around the body and at
tempted to drag her towards the shrub
berry.
Both ladies screamed. and Mrs Pinner
caught hold of her daughter to prevent
her being removed. AS the struggle
proceeded the man fell down, whereupon
Mrs. Pinner began to rain down blows
upon his head with all her strength.
thus gaining temporary advantage in
the unequal contest. At this juncture
the villain was frightened away by the
sound of approaching footsteps, and
ran with the speed of a deer down the
Seaboard railroad.
Among the first persons to arrive
were Messrs. John +. Hoffman. .. *.
Pinner and Capt. r.. E. Norfieet, the
last named Of whom heard the screams
at the County jail, more than two blocks
distant. ~ posse was Immediately or
sanizcd. which started in search of the
fleeing and bafIled rufiian. The feelings
of the pursuing party were thoroughly
aroused. and had their man been cap
tured he would never have lived to come
to trial. They were heavily armed.
Their game was tracked for a distance
down the Seaboard road and then up
the narrowguage bed, where the tracks
were lost. The search was continued
until about o'clock this morning. but
without result. No trace was seen OF
being of low height middle aged and
heavily built, wearing dark gray
clothes. The community is indignant
over the attempted outrage.
SUIT AGAINST ATLANTIC AND
DANVILLE.-John Stevens, who was
injured on the Atlantic and Danville
road. about a week ago near Franklin,
died from his injuries da before yester-
day. s. Il. Everett. young Suffolk at
toreny has been employed by relatives Of
the dead man to bring suit for the recov-
cry of damages. The maximum amount
for which the suit can be brought Is
$4,000. Everett thinks he has a good
case. Stevens, ii appears, was on a side
track and the train backed down upon
him. crushing the body and inflicting
internal injury. The suit will be brought
in Southampton county.
FARMERS GETTING MAD.-The
farmers of Cypress Magisterial District.
Na1semond county, are divided into two
factions regarding the "no-fence" move
ment. which is strongly advoca ted by
one. and opposed by the other. division
An open breach growing cut of scurri-
lous communica tions and Crher evidences
of hostility is threatened, and there is
talk of making. test case to be taken
TO the Court of Appeals. There was
meeting a Cypress Chapel this afternoon
Looking to Cancellation Among those
from Suffolk in the interest of an amica-
BILE adjustmen were Hons. j. e Book
er and +. L. Holland
PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLOSING
Many of the public schools in the county
closed this week while others will end
the term next week. Among the Suf-
folk lady teachers who will return home
for vacation are Misses Freevey, Shep
nerd, Britt, Tucker Bailey. and Nurney.
Mr. c. F. Norment. of Washington. d
G.. former Suffolkion. having been In
the hotel business here with the late c.
Jones, was in town to-day. settling up
old affairs
Rev. James M. Copeland will preach
to the inmates Of the county jai Sun
day morning on "Who Shall Deliver Me
from the Body of This Death?"
Isiah Parker was this week tried in the
County Court of Southampton for house
breaking. and sentenced to two years
Imprisonment in the State penitentiary.
Schooner Abbie G. Cole. Cole. New
York. Is al the wharf to take a cargo
from Suffolk Sawmill Company.
A party from Suffolk left town tonight
at midnight for Lake Drummond, where
they will spend Sunday.
Wthers' Division No Z. II. r.. K. of
p, Captain Lawrence. who attended the
Norfolk Bazaar last night. have return
ed They report good time.
Mss Annie Degge. OF Norfolk. who
had been,visiting Mrs. Donald Mcleod.
returned home to-day.
Cut Glass Water Bottles 81 49; regular