The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-03
ASSAULTED, THEN OUTRAGED.
BLooMINGDALE AROUSED BY COM
MISSION OF A NAMELESs CRIME.

Allen Brooks. n Negro, CriminalIy
Assaulted Mrs. f. w. Hart. Young
Married Woman Who Has the Re-
spect of All Who Know Her-Her
AssalIant Escaped and No News OF
His Capture Has Been Received.
Homes Are Deserted and Men of
the Nei.hbOrhood Are Securing the
Country in Quest of the Ravssher.
A dastardly outrage was committed
near the Kite town of Bloomingdale,
twelve miles from the city. on the Cen
trail Railway, yesterday afternoon
Mrs. F. W. Hart was assaulted by ne
gro. Allen Brooks, overpowered and fore
ed to submit herself to his lust.
The country in the neighborhood Of
Bloomingdale is stirred up 40 the widest
possible pitch of excitement. Every home
has yielded up its male protectors, who
are securing the woods in pursuit of the
ravisher
The story Of the assault is sufficient TO
arouse a thrill of indignant protest and
denunciation in the most cailous and in
ance any ordinary appeal for wisdom or
moderation. There are men in the Vicin-
ity who counsel the part that is Of course
that of wisdom, but they are in the mi
nority. 1t viii i'll betide Brooks should he
fall into the hands of the husbands faith
eTs, brothers and sons who feel that they
have their own womankind TO protect as
well as a fiendish crime TO punish
Mrs. Hart has the respect of every per-
son in the little community in which she
and her husband live. Their home is not
in the village itself, but some distance
out on the road TO Pooier She is young,
and her personal attractions but served
10 expose her TO the desire of the criminal
by whom she was assaulted Mrs. Hart
spent the day with a neighbor, and in the
late afternoon was returning to her home.
Al a lonely spot along the road she was
met by Brooks, who had evidently been
expecting and awaiting her coming. Be
fore she had time to realize his presence
he Yves upon her. and thrown her to the
ground. He left her weeping and pros
trate, half dead with shame. and as he left
threw back his curses. threatening the
life Of her husband and swearing he would
Kill him on sight.
Mrs Hart made her way to her home
and the alarm was given. Within an hour
the entire neighborhood was aroused and
as the news spread armed men began
IL
forming into groups and posses. endeavor-
ing to cut off every available avenue of
escape, started a hunt fer the fugitive
The start he had obtained gave him an
advantage IL was difficult to overcome
and late into the night the searching par
ties had searched in vain. About 9:2O
o'clock Mr.. George H Miller telegraphed
Sheriff Sweeny the facts Of the crime and
urged him to send men and dogs by the
Central train The sheriff wired back that
dogs could not be obtained, but that any
number of men in reason could and would
be dispatched a. once
In the meantime Mr.. Miller reached the
city over the Georgia and Alabama and
had a conference with the sheriff Mr.
Miller himself knew little of the details of
the crime, as he had only heard of it up
on his return home from the city where
his office is located, and i'm the excited
state of the people could learn but few
facts After consulting with Sheriff
SWeeny IL was decided that it would be IN
necessary to send men if dogs could not
be procured, as it would be little use to
continue the hunt. without dogs, in The
dark. Mr.. Miller, having missed the
Central train, returned TO Bloomingdale on
an outgoing freight train.
Bands of armed men are patrollng the
roads and the banks of the river, and 1t is
thought that Brooks chances 10 escape the
off To-day the circle will be contracted
and it is expected that he will be cap
tured. Should this happened it is too much
10 think that, in the state of the mind of
this pursuers anything but swift punish
ment will be meted out.
Brooks bears a bad reputation and but
a short while ago was under arrest for
the commission of a like crime to that for
which he is now sought. He was charged
then with having committed criminal
assault upon negro woman, living in
the vicinity of Pooler. He is of medium
hight and weight weighing about 15D
pounds, and Of a ginger cake colcr. He is
said 10 be about % years old
Sheriff Sweeny will send a posse or go
himself to the scene Of the crime to-day,
for the purpose CT enforcing law and or
der, and If possible, saving the fugitive
II he is captured. 1t may be that during
the night one of the bands of man hunt
ers have found Brooks and wreaked a |
summary vengeance upon him. The tele-
graph offices at Bloomingdale and Pooler
closed al O'Clock. and no news was re-
ceived after Mr.. Miller returned there.