The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-16
UNDER THREATS OF DEATH.
SAVANNAH WOMAN BRUTALLY AS
sAULTED NEAR VAUDEVILLE.


Victim of a Negro, George Thomas,
at the Point of ReFolver-Left
the Train Two Miles From Hardee-
willie and started Through the
Woods TO the Home of Her Father.
Thomas Saw and Followed Her
and In the Darkness of the woods
Accomplished His EVIL Purpose.
Law Permitted to Take Its Course.
Mrs. Rosa Douberly. of Savannah, the
wife of an employe Of the Mutual Gas
Light Company, was assaulted and out
70 ged by negro. George Thomas, near
the little town of HardeevlIle. S. c..
shortly after s clock yesterday morning.
Thomas has been captured and committed
for safekeeping to the jail at Beaufort.
Mrs. Douberly is the wife Of Joseph D.
Douberly, living at No. 80 Wheaton
street The family IS not well off, but is
of entire respactab' i.y
Early in the morning Mrs. Douberly left
on the Plant System train for Hardee-
vile, her former home, where her father,
benjamin Bradham, lives. She was unac-
comranied, and left the train at the brick
yard two miles this side of the town.
From which point there is a short cut
through the WOODS to her fathers home,
also about two miles Thomas was en-
ployed at the brick yard, and was loung-
ing about the place when Mrs. Douberly
left the train.
The path to her fathers home led
through the woods and as she passed
among the shadows of the trees Thomas
followed her. She did not see him until
he was almost upon her and then made a
frightened and tinid effort to escape his
clutches. It was vain, for with bound
the negro siezed her. Drawing a revolver
from his pocket he thrust it at her head
and ordered her instant compliance with
his demands upon pain of death. Half
swooning with terror and shame overcome
by the negro's strength, there could be but
one result. The negro left his vet m and
vanished in the gloom CT the woods that
surrounded the scene of the crime.
As soon as she was sufficiently recover
ed, Mrs. Douberly made her way to her
fathers house and told him of what had
happened. He gave the alarm and within
a short time an armed posse of twenty-five
or more determined men were securing he
surrounding country in search of the fugl-
tive. Mrs Douberiy, in the excitement
and weakness of the moment. had been
AiidbAc ~ give any very accurate account
of her assailants personal appearance
and the posse. therefore, was somewhat at
a loss. From what they had learned,
however, they were of the opinion that
some negro employed or living a the brc ok
yard was the guilty party and to the brick
yard they gave special attention.
While they were looking about and
through some of the negro huts by which
it is surrounded, they saw Thomas creep
ing down the side of a fence keeping
within its shadow and apparently en-
deavoring, as far as was possible, to keep
himself out of the sight of the members
of the posse. His guilty and suspicious
movements attracted their suspicion; and
they made a rush 40 capture him.
AS soon as Thomas saw that he was
likely to be caught he made a break for
the woods. The posse followed, and at
last located him in a thicket. This was
Immediately surrounded and the circle
gradually contracted. penning Thomas up
within a Gordon of armed men and rem
dering escape impossible.
1t is likely that Thomas realized his
situation, for. becoming uneasy, he left
his place of concealment in the midst of
the thicket, and made a wild rush for
liberty. He ran, fortunately, almost into
the arms of one of his pursuers, who, at
the point of a revolver, forced him to sub
NIT to arrest. shout notified the other
members of the posse of the capture and
within few minutes they were gathered
about the negro.
Thomas denied his guilt however, and
the posse started back with their pris-
oner 10 the home of Mr. Bradham, for the
purpose of having him identified by Mrs.
Douberly. He was placed among eight
other negroes and his victim was called.
She picked out Thomas when she was If
ty yards away, without a moments hest
tation. A revolver that had been taken
from the negro at the time of his cap
ture was shown her and she identified il
as the weapon with which he had threat
cned to kill her or, at any rate, as one
similar to 1t.
BY this time the crowd had become Wild
ly excited, and the Identification of Thorn
as by Mrs. Douberly, came within on ace
of deciding the negro's fate a once. There
were demands that he. be strung up 10
the nearest tree, as a warning that there
is at least one crime in the calendar for
which the punishment is swift and cer-
| tain.
Mr. w. NJ Hayward, Jr. q young law
| yer, who formerly practiced in Savannah.
! succeeded after much effort In allaying
| the fury of the crowd and inducing it 10
| listen to reason. Mr.. Hayward pointed
| out that the moral effect OF Thomas pun
| ishment. in case he should be found
guilty and sentenced by the court would
| be infinitely greater than if the mob took
| the matter into its own hands and in
/ hlcted the death penalty Illegally and
without warrant of law. The voices of
| others of the more conservative citizens
/ wore added TO the entreaties of MIR. Hey
| ward, and the crowd gave at last a re-
! luctant and qualified assent TO the de-
| lay.
! It was agreed that Thomas should he
| taken before Magistrate w N Hayward.
| the father of the young lawyer who had
| pleaded for his life, and tFat an examna-
| ton should be held. This plan was follow
/ ed and the magis rate held Thomas, upon
| the evidence OF Mrs. Douberly ana other
| witnesses. to answer at the next term of
| the Court of General Sessions for the
! crime with which ne IS chareed.
The crowd was finally induced to per-
| nit the prisoner to be sent to the county
! Jail at Re1ufcrt. This concession was Sc
| cured by the promise of the leading and
| influential citizens Of The community that
| thew would unite in a petition to Gov.
| insolvency OF South Carolina asking
| that a special term Of the Court of Cen
| eral Sessions be convened at once, so
| that an Indictment may be found and a