The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-05-25
ASSAULTED BY A NEGRO.
A Former King George couasy Lady HIS
Victim.

A black tiend. who is still at large,
brutally assaulted Mrs. Ada Hardy. n
young white woman. near wesley
Heights. near Washington city. Tues
day morning. Mrs. Hardy's home is q
small cottage, isolated from the few
houses in the neighborhood, and her
two little children were the only other
occupants when the negro entered and
committed the criminal assault upon
the mother He Irefaced his hldeous
crime with demands for food, and
when his hunger was satisfied, attacked
the helpless woman, and then. theaten'
ing her with death If she moved, search
ed her house for money or other valu-
ables. The crime was quickly reported,
and the police took instant action for
the capture OF the brute a large squad
Of mounted men were withdraw n from
the Jubilee parade aud sent to the scene
of the crime. from which they scatter
ed following every clew, but without
success. While Mrs. Hardy is terribly
shocked and in a highly nervous condi-
ton from her terrible experience, she
was not beaten or injured. Her hus-
band is employed on canal boat, which
hauls stone from the quarries near Sc
neca, Md. and is at present away on a
trip to Monocaoy.
The home of the Hardys is u frame
cottage story and half in height,
and Is located in the valley below Wes-
ley Heights, on the Ridge road. about
half mile from the Loughborough
road. A spring about 100 yards from
the house. supplies the water they use,
and Mrs. Hardy went to this spring
Tuesday morning about 9 O'Clock. She
left her two children. one an infant
and the other about three years old,
in the house. The house is half mile
from any other dwelling.
THREATENED TO SHOOT.
When Mrs. Hardy returned from the
spring and was about TO enter her
house she saw big negro sitting on a
couch in the front room. The sight of
the man frightened her. Fearing first
that the negro might contemplate an
attack upon her children or the robbery
Of her home, Mrs. Hardy armed her
self with the blade OF an old scythe
and entered the use. As soon as the
negro saw Mrs. Hardy he drew re-
volver and pointed it at her, ordering
that she instantly drop the srythe blade
The poor woman. who began to recog'
Mis- her desperate position. stood ir-
resolutely. but a rough spoken threat to
shoot made her let the weapon fall
from her baud to the floor.
When he found the woman helpless
and frightened before him, the negro
coolly asked her il she had anything To
eat in the house The kitchen is on the
second floor. in the attic room, and
when Mrs Hardy said she hid food,
hoping TO find a way to give an alarm,
OF at least delay the negro. she was
compelled 10 mount TO this kitchen.
There she was helpless. Her only
means of escape was by the stairs which
the negro guarded Finally. hoping to
appease her brutal guest. Mrs. Hardy
put molasses on some slices of bread and
took them downstairs
The negro took only one bite before
he put it aside and turned to crime
Turning to Mrs. Hardy. he asked her
in a threatening tone for her money.
The woman told him she had only a
few cents in the house, but the negro
refused to believe this. and said that he
knew her husband had left her money
when he went away.
SEARCHING FOR MONEY.
With his revolver he again threatened
Mrs. Hardy. and swore he would Kill