The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-21

oHEsTEkTowN, juno po.-Mrs. William
Smith of Smithsyille. seven miles from
this place, was knocked down by negro
on Saturday In an attempt TO criminaiiy
assault her. Mrs. Smith is but twenty.
six yehrs old and the wife OF a prosperous
farmer. Size says:
II was in tho dinl Ng room ironing, while
my husband and Mr.. Fred. Wilson were
in the field at york about two hundred
yards from the h )use. I suppose 1t was
between and o'clock when heard the
door opening from the front room into
small hall connected by door with the
room in which was at work, thought
that some neighbor or Mr.. Wilson had
come in and was trying to scare me-
looked oui the window for my neighbours
carriage, but seeing none l put several
sticks of wood into tho stove and then
opened the door into the little hall at the
foot of the back stairway.
IN an instant | saw that strange per.
son was there and tho next moment / was
knocked unconscious by a brutal blowa and
fell helpless to the floor. can only say
that the man was of bony build and was
of chocolate color. He wore SLOUGH
hat pulled down over his ears and eyes. 1t
all happened SO quickly that | could not
now identify my assajlant, When came
to was lying on the floor, with my head
aching and my knee dislooated as a result
OF my fall. lorawled out of the housean
gave the alarm"
A decided scar over the right eye bore
evidence of the stunning blow
Mr.. Smith stated that when he came to
his home every room was turned topsy
turvy. Thirty.fiye dollars which Mr..
Wilson had left in his pants pocket had
been taken. Every bureau drawer, trunk
and satohel had been ransacked, and
every bed and closet had been examined
and their contents scattered in every di.
rection.
A watch on Mr.. Wilson's bureau had
not been touched. A handsome gold
watch and chain under the bolster OF one
beds was not taken or was possibly not
seen by the intruder The man was evi.
IDENTIFY bent upon booty. There Is 10 evil
dence that he laid hands upon Mrs Smith
after knocking her unconscious. Several
half pennies and old coins belonging TO
Mr.. Wilson were strewn over tho floor. A
record has been made of the numbers of
the notes stolen.
The house In which tho assault took
place Is within one hundred yards Of the
public road and within three hundred
yards of Smithvlle. People were con.
stantly passing and repasslng going and
returning from the primary meetings, in
full velW of the house. and the wonder is
that any stranger or suspicious character
could have approached and left the Smith
home:unleteGted
No clue whatever was left by which the
man may be traced but o message from
COLCHESTER Beach last night stated that a
colored man at that place was acting very
suspiciously and asked whether or not any
crime had been committed, but before an
answer could be sent tho man had boarded
the steamer as she was leaving the wharf
for her return trip to Baltimore.
This assault following SO closely the as.
sault upon the public road of Mrs Goodwin
and both crimes In broad daylight has
naturally created the greatest unea,ineas
among the people.
:, Sheriff Casey this afternoon arrested
Frank Hisks and Abraham Castle upon
suspicion and lodged them in Jail
- Inc sheriff also telegrapheu 10 Marshal
Frey to hold the man, Emory Ford, ar
rested on the dorchester steamer last
night, and will send over q deputy to
identity him, and, if necessary, TO bring
him to Kent county.
The arrest was made in Baltimore by
Sergeant Stride us tho negro stepped off
the steamer Louise at Light street wharf.
He was locked up at the southern police
station He denies the charge His ar
rest was the result Of IL statement made to
Special Officer Gates of the steamer
Louise, by the sheriff Of Kent county. who
Saturday night notified Gates thar Ford
vas on the boat just as the steamer left |
Rochester Justice Caulk committed the
prisoner for further hearing n9xJ s5aVur.
day, by which time, it is Thought, the |
Kent county authorities will claim Ford. |
Tho Orient Wheel Club roaa to West |
Chester yesterday in houc and Is min.
uto5. They were after the record bat |
failed TO get it..