Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1900-04-20
A VERY SERIOUS
AND UGLY CHARGE
A Colored Man Attempts
Assault on White Lady
TRIAL BEFORE MAGISTRATE
Enters a House During the
Husbands Absence. = Wife
Testifies. s.-Prlsone Says that
He Was Asleep in the Woods.
Sent on to Grand Jury,

Sent on to Grand Jury,
On Wednesday John Peery, col.
ored man, who lives near Five Oaks.
few miles east, was arrested upon
warrant sworn out by w. A. Whit
ley, charging him with entering the
house of Rev. Mr.. Daugherty, who
lives on Whitley's branch. near
North Tazewell, and attempting to
commit a criminal assault. The
prisoner, who is about 30 years old,
and has family, was brought here
by Deputy Sheriff Gillespie, and
lodged in Jail. A preliminary trial
was held before II. G, peery, Esq.
and the case sent on TO the Grand
Jury for further investigation.
There was qsite n lcrye crowd at
the trial, which was one of peculiar
interest owing TO the serious charges
against the prisoner.
"A' - DdukhsEtN, the WIG OF lcN. ~
A. Daughsrty well konwn Methodist
minister, was tho first witness. The
substance of her testimony was us fol-
lows. Mr.. Daughsrty was abesnt from
home in Russell. There wns no one in
the house except herself aud Graeie
Mays, n young girl about IL or 13 years
old, who was raised by Mr.. Wesley
whitley, in whose house Mr.. Daugherty
lives. Some time in the night of Tues
day she was awakened with n sort Of
smotheriHS feeling. She put out her
hand and felt some one-thought her
husband had returned, bat finding out
her mistake she screamed and q heavy
hand was put on her mouth, and the
man said, "hush, hush, wont hart
you" Witness did not know how lour
he remained, but heard him walk "A way
and 20 out OF the door; didn't know
whether raan vas white or black-could
not see as there was 30 light in the
roo@zai&nrr rnsw the prisoner. ~ yer
had seen him. 1t was about II O'Clock
in the night.
The next witness was Gracie Maxs
who said she was sleeping with Mrs.
Daugherty, and was awakened bv
screams, saw man walk around bv
the foot OF the bed aud out of the door:
heard prisoner say Hush. hush. ! wont
hurt you Witness positively identified
prisoner as the man who was in the room
she knew His voice aud sav- him on
the porch after he left the room. Sh,
said the moon was shining and she could
see.
The next witness was Reese Whitley.
who knew nothing Of the case. except
that he saw the prisoner in that vicinity
on Tuesday evening about o'clock.
The prisoners wife testified TINT he
left home eli Tuesday afternoon. to go
TO Mr. Burtons, n neighbor, about ~
miles,after onion sets, and got back
home at 10 o'clock. She looked Mt the
watch when he came and knew positi-
vely.
a girl about 13 years of age, who
lives in the prisoners family testined TO
the same thing. She asserted positively
that 1T was 10 O'Clock when the prisoner
returned, because she looked at the
watch. She was given n watch. and
asked to tell the time of day. but could
not tell the time at all.
The prisoner was given the opportu-
nifty to testify in his own behalf. He
ssld that after going to Burton's and
failing to get the onion sets he started
to town to get them. This was about
. +. M. 1t commenced raining aud he
decided not to go to town, but started
across the ridge home. He sat down
under tree to shelter from the rain a.d
went to sleep. He woke up and went
home, when he got there it was 10
O'Clock. Here the case closed. and the
Justice sent the prisoner on.
Letter From Mr.. Wise.