The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-03-06
FIEND BLACK
IDENTIFIED.
And lie Is Committed To
Jail For Trial. Black
Says He Is Innocent.

Baltimore, March 6. - William
Black, colored, who has been held
4 at the Eastern Police Station since
last Wednesday on the charge OF
feloniously assaulting Miss Jessie
Bradford, of Aberdeen, Hartford
county, was fully identified by that
young lady yesterday.
At formal hearing before JUS
ticc Bond acting in the place OF
Justice Janetzke. Black was COM
mitted to the Baltimore city Jail to
await the action of the Hartford
county authorities. That action
was taken upon the request of
Judge Waters, OF Hartford County
Circuit Court, States Attorney J.
\ w. McNabb and ex-State's Attor-
ney Walter w. Preston, who has
been, retained by the parents OF
u Miss Bradford to assist the State
in the prosecution OF the accused.
Blacks incarceration in the city
Jail was deemed necessary to pre-
vent him being violently dealt with
in case he should have been taken
Immediately to the Jail at Belair.
Delegate Noble l.. Mitchell, of
Hartford county, was among those
who saw the prisoner at the East
ern Station, and he said that Black
could not be tried speedily because
4 the grand jury had adjourned, but
that bill had already passed the
State Senate which empowered the
judge of any court to reconvene the
grand jury whenever deemed nee
essary. Delegate Mitchell said
that he would make special re-
quest of the House Of Delegates to
suspend the rules and enact the
I bill for the purpose of permitting
the count to dispose OF the case
right away.
Accordingly, when the Senate
bill was reported favorably in the
House at Annapolis last night, Mr..
Mitchell took the floor and urged
its immediate passage under sus-
pension OF the rules, and the bill
was passed with an amendment
providing that the act shall take
effect from the date of its passage.
Miss Bradford arrived at the
Eastern Police Station early yes
terday morning and saw Black at
9o'clock. There were present with
her Mr., and Mrs. George W. Brad
ford, her uncle and aunt; State
Attorney McNabb, Sheriff Andrew
Kinhart. DR.. W. B. Rowe, Dele
gate Noble L. Mitchell, all of Har-
ford county.
Black was nervous and uneasy.
He refused to look Miss Bradford
in the eyes, shifting his head when
ever she fastened her gaze upon
him. He was placed in several
positions and walked about the
room for the purpose of ident fca-
ton. He was dressed in the suit
Of clothes which it is alleged he had
~-the day the assault occurred.
Some Of the clothing he had aban-
doned. The articles were recover
ed by Sheriff Kinhart and brought
to Baltimore. Other portion, of his
wearing apparel were in the pos
session of Captain League.
After Miss Bradford satisfied
herself with the inspection she
nodded to Captain League and
Black was taken from the room.
Then she announced that Black
was the man who had assaulted
her. When pressed again she said
with, pOsitiyene SIS that he was the
man and that she could not by any
means be mistaken. Black was
brought back to the room and Miss
Bradford made oath that he was
the person who had assaulted her.
Black was remandcd for a formal
hearing in the afternoon and Miss
Bradford and her relatives return
ed to Hartford county.
At ! . clock p. NJ. when Black
was brought before Justice Bond in
tie magistrate room for the for
NAL hearing. State Attorney Nc
Nabb, cN.State 5 Attorney Preston,
Sheriff Kinhart and number of
Hartford county citizens were there.
Black looked frightened but did not
say ANYTHING. The only witness
examined was Mr.. Joseph +. Kelly
the conductor OF a lrcighttrain who
saw Miss Bradford being assault
ed by Il negro. Mr. Kelly was
positive that Black was the man,
and upon his Identification the COM
mitmcnt was made out.
During the day Captain League
had several interviews with Black
in hi, cell and endcayored to get
him to confess, but he stoutlv main
tanned that he was in nocent. Alte
he had been committed he was
again interviewed By Captain
League and pressed to tell the
truth, hciag informed by the Cap
tain that Miss Bradford had posi-
lively stated he was the person who
had assaulted her.
before God and man, Captain,"
he said. II am not the man. know
nothing more about that gal than
YOU do. She has told this on me
because she was put up to do it, |
am rot the man; If | was would
tell the truth about it. "
When questioned as to the con-
flicting stories he had told Black
answered: II told YOU the truth,
but | was so much worked I'D over
this charge that | hardly knew
what was SAYING Black want.
ed to know what would be done
with him, and when informed that
for the present he would be con-
tiued in the city iail he beEpcd Cam