Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-15
CAUGHT BY A NEGRO.
MISS RUSSELL THE VICTIM OF An
ATTEMPTED ASSAULT.
OCCURS NEAR CHESTNUT HILL.
The Young Lady, ON y VISIT from
Norfolk, Is Approached While
Walking With Two Companions
The Brute Escapes.

Yesterday afternoon, shortly after
o'clock, in secluded part OF the chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad, between tho
Chestnut Hill crossing and the Locomo-
tive-Works, a negro, whose name and
whereabouts are at present unknown. at.
tempted to assault Miss Nina Russell. q
young lady who came here with her
sister on the excursion from Norfolk to
visit her uncle and aunt, Mr.. and Mrs.
ID. A. Sanderlin. who live short way
from the city.
L Miss Russell, with her younger sister.
Priscilla, and her aunt, Mrs. Sanderlin.
were on their way from Mr.. Sanderlin's
residence TO his laundry. on Chestnut
Hill, after dinner, the visitors hayng exc
pressed a desire TO see the laundry in
operation, and took a short cut up the
railroad track. The younger Miss Rus
sell was walking several PAGES in front
of her aunt and sister.
THE NEGRO SEIZED HER.
When within some forty or fifty yards
of the crossing they became aware or
the fact that o. negro, who had been sit
ting on the side of the track. was follow
ing them. He approached them rapidly
and seized Miss Nina Russell round tho
waist. She turned as he did so and
struck him violent blow in the face
The negro struggled with her, and they
both tripped over the west rail and fell
TO the ground. Miss Russell clutched
the rail and managed TO keep her POSI-
ton on the roadbed, while the negro
rolled down the embanknent. Mrs.
Sanderlin ran towards the laundry
calling loudly for the fireman. and sue
ceeded in attracting his attention after
some little time. In the mean time the
negro, who had fallen down the en-
bankment, gathered himself together and
started off in the direction Of Richmond
making for Fifth avenue. Chestnut Hill.
down which he ran, past Fourqurean &c
Ruffins coal-yard, to the Fifth-street
bridge The fireman of the laundry fol-
lowed in hot pursuit, but the fugitive
lodged under the bridge, and running to-
wards the Barton-Heghts bridge, was
| lost in the maze OF underground which
grows in the hollow.
THE POLICE AT WORK.
In the mean time the news had been
spread very rapidly from tho laundry.
and a posse was soon formed and In
pursuit of the young iady's assaiant.
Policeman Huxter and other county ofn-
GERS took hold Of the case at once. and
through the thoughtfuness of Private
Watchman T. j. Smither, of this city,
who happened to be out on the north
side the police were notified at once
and put on the lookout for the fiendish
brute. Detectives Tomlinson, Hall. and
Gibson are giving special attention to
the case, and while the very meagre
description that the ladies are able to
give might fit thousand negroes In
Richmond they were keeping sharp
lookout last night for certain suspects.
Mrs. Sanderin and Miss Russell de-
scribe the man as mulatto, with
lfparticulary fiat nose. lie wore black
lwult Of clothes and black hat, and
,was without collar.
|, AN ATTRACTIVE YOUNG LADY.
|, Miss Nina Russell Is an attractive
young girl of 16 years. She is decidedly
petite. a brunette, and boasts pretty
figure. She is the daughter OF Mrs y.
J. Russell, OF Norfolk. Her father died
recently.
Her sister. Miss Priscilla Russell, is 10
wears old. She returned home on the
excursion last night, but her sister will
remain and pay visit 10 her relatives.
as she intended when she eame up. Miss
Russell was naturally very much excited
over her lamentable experience. but she
had recovered her composure last night
and gave a very clear account OF the oc-
currence.
The outrage took place within stones
throw Of the place where Miss saaderiln
lost her life about two years ago, wni.s
driving to the laundry. The only bund'
ing near the place is the Sanderlin acn-
dry. and the road at that place Is very
lonely one, and at this season or ths
year Is infested with negroes In searcn
of hIackberries.