The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-22
ASSAULTED by a NEGRO.
An Old Woman in Connecticut is the
Victim This Fime-The Villain Ar
rested and Lodged In Jail.
orwalk (Conn.) Gazette, June II.

Victim This Time-The Villain Ar
rested and Lodged In Jail.
Norwalk (Conn.) Gazette, juno r.
a dastardly outrage WAS committed
Saturday morning by q negro upon
Mrs. Margaret Roberts, an aged wo-
man living on the Ferry road in Strat
ford. Mrs. Roberts lives alono in q
tiny house peculiarly isolated by q turn
from several residences on East Broad
way, Of which the Ferry road is an
extension. She is the widow OF Thomas
Roberts, an old man-of-war's man, who
went down SGratford river ia small
boat one day q dozen years ago and
never came back. The empty boat
WAS found drifting in the harbor, tell
ing of the unfortunate mans fate.
Saturday morning, just before nine
o'clock, Mrs. Roberts nea-d noise at
her front door and upon looking out
OF the window saw negro attempting
10 force An entrance. Mrs. Roberts
WAS frightened, but there was no way
for her to escape. The negro, young
man, falling to force the door with his
shoulder, picked up a shovel that lay
in the yard and succeeded in prying
open tho door with it.
Mrs. Roberts screamed for help, but
the brute thrOtLlGd her, threw hcr to
the ilOOr, bound tho helpless old wO-
man with strips Of cloth that lny at
hand and gagged her with s. handker-
chief which he forced down her throat
with q closed razor. The brutc's de-
sign was carricdu out and the old wo-
man was left lying unconscious on the
floor.
Half an hour later Mrs. Charles II.
Bradley, who lives nearby, in passing
Nlrs. Roberts home, noticed that
something was amiss with tho door
and entered. She found Mrs. Roberts
still unconscious aud gagged. She
lifted the unfortunate woman from the
floor, released her frorn her prcdica-
ment and gave her restoratives. Tho
old woman was somewhat scratched
about the face, but had not received
serious physical Injuries. She suffered
greatly from the shock but her condi-
tion has improved rapidly, despite her
great ago.
Mrs. Roberts was able to give CO.
hercnt account of the assault and a
close description Of tho black ravishcr,
who left the house imme dlateiy upon
the accomplishing; Mt OF his purpose.
Sunday morning, Sheriff Stagg, ac-
cOmpanicd by Constables Beardsley
and Frcyer, took the $50 train to Nor
walk, taking their bicycles with them.
Al Norwalk they reported the affair to
the police, learning that no such negro
as the one wanted had been seen pass
ing through thai town. The Stratford
officers thercupon took the back track
along The road and bctwcen Westport
and GrceDc's Farms came upon the
object Of their search fast aslecL under
q tree. The negro was captured and
handcNffed hcfore he was fairly aware
of what was happening to him, dc
was taken to Stratford by train and
locked up In tho little brick calaboose
The prisoner Is " typical tough negro
tramp, black and apparently abont 2;
years Of ago. He took his arrest coolly
and was given but little chance to talk
In fact he was not informed OF the
cause Of his arrest.
When seen at the lookup he said his
name was William Morrison and tha
his home was in Newport.