The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-15
HELD ON A SERIOUS CHARGE
Sixteen-Year-0ld Walt Davis Is
Charged With Assault.
LITTLE MINNIE McCLAIN
An Eght-Year-0ld Girl, the Alleged Victim
The Boy Declares That He Did
Nothing by Force.

Yesterday morning Officer Brizendine
arrested Walt Davis, a white boy about
16 years of age on a charge of assault
with intent to rape, alleged to have
been committed upon little Minnie Nc
CLAIM, an S-year-o1d child living with her
mother in Elyton.
The boy was taken to the city prison
where he was locked up. In the after
noon he was removed to the county Jail
upon a warrant sworn out by Mrs. Bet
tie McClain, the mother of the child,
before Justice of the Peace I. H. Ben
ners. and a preliminary trial will be
held at 10 o'clock this morning in Ben
ners' court in Twentieth street. between
First and Second avelnhles.
The child is nothing but tot, being
quite small for her age. She does not
realize the gravity of the attempt which
is alleged to have been made upon her.
When seen at her home yesterday af-
ternoon she was playing with her little
brothers in q back room and came in
at the call of her mother, her little face
wreathed in the smiles of innocent child
hood.
Davis is an intelligent looking boy
with bright face and eyes, and is we'll
grown for his age.
He claims that what he did was at
the child's suggestion; that she induced
him into a closet, where he followed
her. but that nothing was really ac-
complished. He also says that no
threats were made against the child,
but that her fear Of whipping from her
mother provoked silence upon her
part.
The affair was reported to the mother
by Johnnie McClain, the 4-year-old
brother of the girl.
On her return home Mrs. McClain
questioned little Minnie, who told her
the entire story. She said nothing
about it until yesterday morning when
she was informed the cost of prosecu-
ton would not fall on her shoulders.
She is respectable woman, but since
the death of her husband seven months
ago, has been compelled to work in or
der to support her three small children
and herself. She Is member of the
Elyton Baptist church and stands well
in the community.
To an Agle-Herald reporter she said:
81 am employed at the Empire laundry.
and am compelled to leave home every
uorning ait 6 O'Clock and do not return
until 7 o'clock in the evening.
81 generally get some one to stay with
the children during my absence, and on
Tuesday morning left them in charge of
"a negro woman, who promised to stay
until my return; but have since learned
that SHE left shortly after I did. Upon
my return home, Johnnie, my little A.
year-ol5 boy, told me that Walt had been
in the house and made his sister scream
and cry and had taken her in the closet.
81 called Minnie and questioned her
about it,, and she seemed afraid to tell
me, but finally did so. saying that the
hoy had said that If She told me he
would kill her line next day.
81 immediately sent for "a doctor, who
examined the child and said that he did
not think she was injured, but that such
an attempt had been made. 1 went to
town this morning ard asked a police
man IL I would have to pay the cost
If I had the boy arrested, as I had no
money to do so. He answered me that
til would not and returning with me ar
rested the boy and took him to JAIL
st ,awore out "a warrant before Justice
Benners and win appear against him.
Walt Davis is not in the habit of coming
TO my house. as I have told him fire.
quently to stay away"
Davis was seen at the county Jail and
said in substance: II was playing with
the MlcCfain child On Tuesday even-
ing but did nothing to her, nor did 1
make any threats. She was afraid she
would get a whipping IL she said amy
thing about it,
The people in FHyton knew nothing Of
the affair until after the boys arrest
Several men were heard to say that It
was we'll that the boy was gotten out as
quie lily as he was. Much Indignation
was expressed when the affair became
known.