The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1901-08-30
MAN HUNT IN MISSOURI.
Inc Citizens of Johnson County,
Missouri, Searching for a
Black Brute.
HIS DOOM is SEALED WHEN CAPTURED.
In the Absence of other Members of
the Family VIII Francis Assault
ed and Then Murdered Miss Mary
Henderson. Aged Forty. Her
sisters Home In Columbus.

Kansas City. Mo-. Aug. CA spe-
/ cial 10 the Star from Warrensburg.
+ No. SAYS:
One of the most Gastardly crimes
| ever committed in the borders of
! johnson county was perpetrated.
Tuesday night. at the little hamlet
| Of Columbus. OFT the railroad, Is
miles north II here. Miss Mary Hen
/ derson, aged 10 years was murdered
in ,oid blood by Will Francis. a ~
year-oiG negro. after he had assault
ed her. The crime was committed al
the farmhouse OF Chap Hyatt, Miss
Hcnderson's= brother-in-law. prom
ineaf citizen ana once d member Of
the STATE pepHli>t committee. Fran
cIs. Who worked or Hvatt's farm. fed
but j. believed 70 have been sur
rounded in the woods near Holden.
The whole country Is up in arms and
il is believed the negro will be burned
at the stake
Miss Henderson Was Left Alone.
Miss Henderson was a member Of
one o. the best families in the county.
and made her hon with her brother
| in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Hyatt had gone
away in the afternoon. leaving Miss
Henderson alone III the house. except
tor francis, who has been trusty
for ten years. Upon their return.
about seven O'Clock in the evening,
they came upon the body of the wom-
AL in the yard. y bullet had pierced
the skull jus, above the left ear;
black marks were upon the throat
and signs of desperate struggle
were apparent.
Posse in Pursuit.
The alarm VAS given Immediately
and the sheriff at Warrensburg mott
fed. \ posse Of determined men left
| for Columbus few minutes after
ward. Francis had fed before the
deed was discovered and thereby pro-
claimed his .rult. Surrounding couu-
ties were notified anG Wednesday
morning q message came from hide
| peHdtnce saving that a negro answer
ing the description was being held
there. \ deputy VAS sent to hide
pendenee To identify. One negro at
! Sedalia who answered the description
came near being iynchcd, but escaped
py intervention OF the officers.
Negroes All Badly Worked Up.
All the negroes of the county are
badly worked up and are keeping
close 10 their homes in fear of the
whites, who arc wrought up to a high
pitct o. excitement. One peculiar
feature Of the ease is that Francis
shot 4 horse. which was standing in
the ward, just after committing the
crime, presumably to prevent it's be-
ing used to follow him.
Believed to BE Surrounded.
The very latest information comes
from Holden, and is to the effect that
Francis has beer surrounded in a
dense wood near there. That he Will
be burned al the stake upon sight,
there is not the slightest doubt, and
even if he escapes the county, his re-
turn VII no doubt mean his instant
death. Never in her history has John
son county been H. such a turmoil as
over this affair. The citizens here are
standing on every street corner and
every motel lobby. awaiting the news
that Francis has been lynched.
Told by Miss Henderson,.
y special from Odessa. in the next
county north from Johnson, says that
il rs believed Francis is near there
Miss Henderson. it appears, lived long
enough 20 teil the Hyatt family, on
their return. Of The assault. and to
make il PLAIN that Francis Was the
assaiiant. The Whole country around
Odcesa is up ia aims. aiding in the
search Tor Francis