The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-24
CAM ESTABLISH AN ALIBI
SAYS HE WAS on THE DOCK ON
THE DAY PREVIOUS.
DECLARES HE HAD NEVER SEEN THE LADY
Was Dumbfounded at the Assault and Can Es
tablish his Innocence. A Friend Writes
Of his High Standing at
HIS Home,

Goltlsboro. y c.. June 23.-fSpecial.)-
/ met Mr.. j. f. Woodard. of Warsaw,
here this morning returning from Wash
ingtom With reference to the affair
he makes the following sta,emenr:
Il have been in Washington fourteen
or fifteen days soliciting and buying po-
tatoes for q. NJ Snyder * Co, of New
York. SO far as | know my relations
with everybody in Washington were
pleasant. | had no trouble with any
one.
During the day "wednesday, June
work on the dock looking after the in
terests of my house. ! shipped the
last car of potatoes on Wednesday and
spent the entire afternoon on the dock.
About ) D. M. | started toward the
Hotel Nicholson with Mr.. Joe Taylor.
OF Washington. y. c.. and Mrs. Joyner.
Of Pittsburg, Pa. When we got about
half WAY to the hotel, Mr.. a. Hudnell.
of Aurora. joined us and we all walked
together to the hotel. There we talked
till about 6 p. M. when Mr.. Hudneil
left MS. ] did not leave the hotel again
that night. | went to supper at about
$50 and to bed at about 10 O'Clock.
As was sitting in front of the hotel
about d. m. Wednesday evening, Mr.
s. Ii. Williams came by and said 10 me.
Mr.. Woodard. / hear that you were
flirting with lady in front of the Pres
byterian church this evening. l told
him he was mistaken. that ! was Il
married man. and that WAS ont of my
line of business, that / had not left
the hotel since / came from the dock
thought he was joking in what he said
about flirting. Nothing more was said.
except as he was leaving he said, i sup
pose You will leave in the morning.
will see yon before yon leave
Next morning tThursday) / left the
hotel. stopping on the way to the depot
to bid my friends good bye. | was
joined by Mr.. JoyEer who accompanied
me to the depot. When reached there
bought ticket to Warsaw. While
standing on the platform / was assault
ed.
Il did not speak to any lady at all
during the entire day Of "Wednesday.
Jrne Dist ! did not have the slightest
idea that ! was going TO BE assaulted
or what for.''
Mr.. Woodard says he is innocent OF
the charge, that he never saw the lady
in question. ard would no; know her
now if nc were to see her. Continuing,
Mr.. Woodard said:
"Whcn ! was assaulted | begged for
time for an explanation. begged for
my life Nohody-citizens or railroad
offcials-rendered me any protection ex-
cert Mr. VIII Bragaw. who asked the
crowd to stop. / WAS then told to get
on the train and not return again. Since
| arrived at Warsaw ] have received the
following telegrams in reply 70 kilograms
sent by some Of my friends to Washing
ton:
Washington. y. c., June %.
Mr.. ]. +. Woodard, Warsaw. y. C.
Ii innocent. come back quick. The
good people will protect you. You have
lots Of friends.
r. II. FOX.
Il replied as follows:
Warsaw. " c.. June %.
Il. II. Fox. Washington. \. G.
If ] am guaranteed protection, / will
go lack and prove nv innocence.
j. Il. WOODARD.
The mayor Of Washington sent Mr.
Wcodard the following telegram.
Washington. y. c.. June %.
J. r. Woodard, Warsaw. y. G..
Ii you want to come you shall have
protection.
w. NJ. CHANCEY. Mayor.
This is all the statement Mr.. Woodland
desired to make at this time.
II. j. HARDY
FROM MR. WOCDARD'S HOME.
The following communication was re-
ef.yed yesterday afternoon:
Warsaw. \. c.. June %.
To the Editor: Yonr teday's issue
contains an account with large display
heading Of the brutal attack cl one Of
c'ir most respected citizens. Mr.. J. f..
Woodard ut Washington. yesterday
morning. The good people of his native
town are interested that the world he
arnised Of the other side OF the story.
ard to this degree reiaier tardy Justice.
NJ. Woodard has lived here all his
life: is known and respected ny all. as i;
jnvial and courteous gentleman Of unim
reafhable hoDor. ard in the forty odd
years of his life no breath of scartlal
has ever been allied With ms fair name.
None that know him can for ii .noni.a1
believe this shamefrl story. and ali are
alike indignant oyer tho barbarons treat
ment he received. without opportunity
for explanation or defense.
1t iSs Il case or mistaken identity that
ID likely to get the perpetrators ana