The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-03-02
BLACK
IDENTIFIED.

Baltimore, March 2.-William
Black, colored, who is held at the
Eastern Police Station charged
with feloniously assaulting Miss
Jessie Bradford, the 15-year old
daughter of Edward Bradford, a
farmer living near Aberdeen, Har-
ford county, Md. on Wednesday,
February Fl, short distance from
her home, was positively identified
yesterday afternoon by Capt. Jo-
seph e. Kelley, freight conductor
on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road, who gave the alarm by drop
ping the note off the train to the
station agent and operator at the
station at Aberdeen.
Captain Kelly lives at 1905 Light
street. He went to the police sta
tion about 3 o'clock. Black was
taken before him in Captain
Leagues Office. He looked at the
negro very closely and stated posi-.
lively that he was the man whom
he saw struggling with the girl on
the side of the track. He1 had
changed his clothes, but Mr.. Kelly
identified him by his face. Mr..
Kelly said he was about 20 feet
from Black and Miss Bradford as
the train passed. Captain Kelly
was asked ifby any possible chance
he might not be mistaken, owing to
the rapid motion of the train, which
was going at the rate of 80 miles an
hour. He became slightly annoyed
at this, and answered.: ''If thought
there was the least possible chance
of me being mistaken l would not
say Black was the man.
Black was taken before Justice
Janctzke at 9 o'clock yesterday
morning and after being sworn was
asked what he had to say regard
ing the charge against him. He
strongly denied that he had any
knowlcdgeI whatever of the crime,
and said he left his home near
Aberdeen about three weeks ago
to make some money. He asserted
that he had not been anywhere near
Aberdeen since. He HeeXplained that
the letters "W. J. L." pricked with
India ink on his arm had no signlfi-
canoe, but had been done by man
on schooner on which he at one
time worked.
Justice Janetzke said that he
knew the man had been working at
different times about the wharves,
and that he then went under the
name of William Lewis. The negro.
however, claims that Black is his
proper name, but could not say why
he assumed the name of Lewis. The
negro appeared very much fright
ened at the hearing and stammered
out answers when questions were
put to him. He made no attempt to
explain his movements.
After the hearing he as taken
back to his cell and given good
breakfast of ham and eggs, which
he ate with evident relish and
thanked Turnkey Rochfort for CIV
ing it to him.
II is the intention of the police to
hold Black at the Eastern Police
Station until Monday at 10 o'clock.
when he will be given another hear
ing. Miss Bradford will be brought
down Monday to identify Black.
Sheriff Andrew Kinhart of Har-
ford county, arrived at the police
station Yesterday morning from
Belair with a number of residents
of Aberdeen. The negro was taken
before them in the captains room
and they each identified him as
Black. He only recognized two of
them. whom he called by name.
The others spoke of this as rather
strange, as he should have recog-
nized all. When he faced them he
to be hardly able to
speak. When each asked him if
he knew him his replies were
scarcely audible. His hands
twitchcd nervously. He looked ap-
pealingly toward Captain League.
The Captain asked him if he liked
his breakfast as much as he did the
didner Of corn beef and cabbage
he ate on board the Ivanhoe. Even
The recollection of the dinner failed
10 make him smile.
Sheriff kinhart said the feeling
against Black is very stroug all
through Hartford county and that
he negro would be in great danger
of being lynched if taken back to
The publication of Black cap
:ure has led to clue as to the
-oute Black took when on his way
rom Aberdeen to Baltimore. Will
lam McClelland, the track walker
If the p, w. e. b. railroad at
Bengies. says he is very positive
hat he met Black between Bengies
and Middle River about o'clock on
morning. McClelland
vas reading an account of the out,
age and had just risen from his
lnees on the track rail when Black
walked up to him. The track.
walker asked him where he was
.ong and Black replied: II have
,een to Havre de Grace to get some
money owing me by a fisherman
md 1 am now going to Baltimore to
ret work on dredger. , lie re-
marked that it had been bad night
md said he had been out in the
ain all night. He also said he had
'ecn IN Bush River Tower and that
lie had hard time getting across
bridge. He wore a
AIDED gray soft hat, gum knee
'oots and dark pants. His coat
vas of a soiled and faded red color.
rhe traclswalker walked nearly 10
fiddle River with the fugitive and
n their conversation he remarked
hat the rain had melted all the