The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-24
ACCUSED OF A CRUEL CRIME.
w. j. POYTHREss ARRESTED FOR
AssAULTING A CHILD.

Little s-Ycar-OId Mary FinkIen the
Victim-The Discovery of the Out
rage Made BY the Mother - The
story Told UnwiIIingIy BY the Lit
tie Victim-POythress Committed
to Jail without Bail.
W. ]. Poythress was arrested yesterday
| by Constable NJ Lilienthal of Justice NJ
Naughtin's court on warrant. charging
him with criminal assault upon little
8-year-old Mary Finklea.
The account of the crime Poythress is
alleged to have committed is revolving.
The tender age of the victim would seem
to have left her safe from the molesta-
ton of the basest man. but it was of no
moment TO him who wrought her shame.
To add to the horror Of the deed a loath-
some disease was transmitted 10 the child.
1t was through this disease that an ink
ling of the fact that she had been assault
ed was gained from her by the child's
mother. Isa4
1t was only by threats of punishment
that the mother finally ELECTED the story
Of her shame from the child and that story
charged Poythress with being the author
Of her trouble.
The Finkleas live at No. SIS Pine street
in Yamacraw, and adjoining their home
is the store kept by Poythress. The head
Of the family is Samuel E. Finklea, who
is employed by Maj. John Schwarz as a
baker
The mother of the child says the crime
was probably committed about the mid
die Of week before last She now recalls
circumstances that at the time produced
no impression, but she has since ascrlbed
a vast significance to them. At the time
she saw Mary coming from the rear of
Poythress' store. She had a piece of can.
dy in her hand and her eyes showed evil
dence of her having been crying. When
asked what she had been crying about,
she answered that she had not been cry,
ing. Two or three days ago the child be-
gan to show signs of illness, and day
before yesterday the mother discovered
her true condition. That afternoon she
went to the office of Justice Naughtin
and told her story. The magistrate adj
vised her TO go to a physician and nave
the child examined. This the mother
did early yesterday morning, TAX.
ing her daughter to DR.. Cor
bin. She was told that the
child had not only been assaulted, but had
also contracted a disease. on being told
this the mother went at once to the Office
of the magistrate and swore out the war
rant. When the officer went to serve the
paper he found Peythress at his store. He
told him of his mission and the man turn
ed pale and tried to argue with the officer.
This was of no avail and he was placed
under arrest
Poythress was soon after committed to
Jail The officer, while on the premises
of the accused man, discovered evidence
of a medicine having been used for a dis
ease.
Mr.. w. r. Leaken was retained as coun-
sci for the prisoner. The crime of which
he is accused is not bailable. and he must
remain in Jail until the court passes upon
his case.
Poythress is a man about 80 years old
and of rather good appearance. He Is
married, but several months ago separated
from his wife, he retaining possession of
little boy This child, who is years
old cried bitterly when his father was TAX
en- away by Poythress' brother, who is as
sisting the accused all he can in his trou-
BILE.
The child who was outraged is a pretty
little girl of a blonde type. Her eyes are
large and blue and trustful innocence
speaks from them. A peculiar circum-
stance connected with the case is that the
child was outraged three or four years
ago by a negro named Kelly. The affair
created great stir at the time, nut owing
to a failure of prosecution and possible
doubt of the boys guilt, he was never
brought to trial.
Poythress claims that the crime of
which he is accused was committed by
some negro boy, of whom there are great
many i'm the neighborhood, and some Of
them were thrown with the child from
time to time. 1t seems she was conscious
of some wrong doing. as she would not tell
her mother until forced to do so.
The case will be watched with interest.
It has not yet been decided when, If at all,
Poythress will be examined preliminary to
his being acquitted or turned over to the
superior court.