Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-14
EELONlOuSLY ASSAULTED.
Tho Asssilant Captured by Farmer and
Barely Escaped Jynching.

Tho Asssiiant Captured by q Farmer and
Barely Escaped Lynching.
Mrs. Irvine Ball, residing on the
Newport pike, near Stanton, was at
tackled on Tuesday evening week at her
home by Frank Thomas, colored, who
attempted to feloniously assault her.
Her screams attracted the attention OF
her husband, who ran hastily to the
scene, and the negro flod. Mrs. Ball
was Frustrated the shock, and for
time was in critical condition.
When the story of the brutal assault
became known to the farmers of the sur
rounding country they formed posse
and secured the surrounding territory
in every direction In the hope OF find
ing Thomas. All day Wednesday armed
men secured the woods for miles around
and il is likely that had he fallen into
the hands OF the angry farmers on that
day he would not have lived to stand
trial, as many threats of lynching we're
made. The searchers, however, were
unsuccessful, and Thursday morning
State Detectives MONEY! and Witsil
were notified of the crime and Joined
the searching parties. The negro,
however, had left the State and it was
late in the afternoon when he was
captured by Edward Brown, the
neighbor Of the Ball family, who had
gone to Mrs. Balls assistance on the
night the crime was committed. The
negro had returned to the State and
was captured on the road near New
ark. Farmer Brown started toward
Stanton with the prisoner, having
notified the State Detectives Of his
capture. The latter went in the
direction of Newark, hut they were
forestalled by a party of farmers who
| met the team short distance out Of
Newark. The sight of the negro pris-
oner set many of the party wild with
rage and it was decided to lynch him
| on the spot. A man was sent for rope,
but when he arrived some OF the cooler
headed members Of the posse advised
| that the law be allowed to take it's
course with the brute. a hot dis
| cnssion ensued and in the meantime
| the State detectives arrived. Their
| presence seemed to have quitting
effect on the angered men and the
| negro was handed over to the custody
| of the State officers
The news of the capture quickly
| spread ana the different searching
parties gathered in force at Stanton.
uotcTmlutu W thh0 VIC ucSIu ifOul tho
officers and string him up.
| The detectives on learning this
| decided to make a detour about Stan
ton. and in short time arrived at
Marshallton, where a hurried trial was
held and the negro was committed
without bail to await the result OF Mrs.
Balls injuries. The detectives then
hurried to this city and the negro was
landed safely behind the bars in the
! City Hall, between 5 and 6 O'Clock.
The crowd gathered at Stanton, COM
posed of some Of the most respectable
farmers OF the community. were greatly
surprised when they learned that the
man was locked up in this city and
many in the gathering wanted to come
to Wilmington to take the prisoner by
force. In fact several messages were
received during the early evening that
the men were on their wa2 here. and,
although the police placed little cred
ence in the stories. Thomas was made
as secure as he possibly could be.
Thomas was taken to New Castle
Jail to await trial at the next term Of
county court
He confessed the crime and said he
was mad at the time. .....@