The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-03-08
NEGRO ATTACKS
A WHITE NURSE.
Desperate Attempt to
Commit an Assault.

Newport News, Va. March T.
Little Frank Benjamin, a burly
negro brute, last night made a de.
termi ned attempt TO commit Grim
inal assault on Miss Carrie X
Caine, handsome young trained
nurse, who is at present waiting
on Mrs. George A. Schmelz, wife O.
the well known banker of this city
and Hampton. The negro was ar
rested and lodged in the Elizabeth
City County Jail after desperate
struggle. He endeavored to impress
the crowd that congregatcd around
the jail that ne was Insane. The
crime occurred at the Schmelz
home, just outside OF Hampton.
The feeling against the prisoner
was intense.
About 10 O'Clock Miss Game and
! Miss Hickman. sister of Mrs.
Schmelz, were sitting in the sick
room, when some one rang the door
bell. Beth ladies went to the bot.
tom of the stairway that leads up
to the room occupied by Mrs
Schmelz, but before opening the
front door inquired as to who was
there. The negro responded, say
ing: "Mr. Heffcllinger.' Believing
him to be a friend Of the family,
Miss Caine opened the door. As
she did SO, the negro threw her on
the floor. Miss Game, who is
plucky little woman, fought hard,
and Miss Hickman lost no time III
gong for assistance. The two lad
les, although very much frightened,
managed to keep him from accom-
plishlng his fiendish crime, until
Mrs. Smith, who was sleeping III
the upper part OF the building, ran
out to the yard in her night attire
and sore amed for help. Mrs.
Smiths cries soon brought G. l..
Buck. who resides several doors
below the Schmeiz's, to the rescue.
MIR. Buck made his way into the
room where the negro had thrown
Miss Came on the floor, and was
endeavoring to tear her clothing
from her body. He grabbed the
brute by the throat, and then fol-
lowed 4 severe fight. Others came,
and the brute was finally subducd
and his hands and feet tied with
rope. benjamin was placed on Il
car and taken to Hampton jail, He
was frightened and said his name
was Little Frank Benjamin " and
that he had been employed in the
Soldiers lone restaurant. He
said he was crossing Hampton
bridge when some one struck him
on the head; the blow made him
sick, and he wandered about. He
begged for mercy, and bcsought
Sheriff Curtis to protect him, be-
levlng the crowd had come to lynch
him. Mr.. Schmclz lett yesterday
or New Jersey to attend the meet
ny o. the stockholders of the New
port News Abattoir Company.
Miss Calne and Miss Hlckma an
we're too i'll this morning to appear
IT the bearing, and, to have the
.rand jury investigate the crime at
nee, the case will probably go up
Without magistrates hearing.
lhc grand jury will meet Friday.
The condition of Miss Caine is SER
GUS tonight She is suffering from
, severe nervous strain. benjamin
Junk his teeth through Miss Games
light hand and inflicted an ugly
wound. He pulled her hair ont in
'andsful and otherwise injured
Ter. Miss Hickman is also suffer-
ne from the effects Of the nervous
train. Some of her hair was
'ulled out, and her lace is marked
y large black bruises. She was
nablc TO leave her room this morn.
ng. According to law in Virginia,
tempted rape IS punishable with
cath.