The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-16
Italian Lassie Declares She Still
Desires to Marry Henry
johnson, Negro.
EL0PED, BUT WAS ARRESTED.
When Told johnson Might Be
Lynched. She Said if He Was
Killed She Would Com
NIT Suicide.
REPCBLdC SPECIAL.

REPUBIAC SPECIAL.
Nashville. Tenn, Jan. 15.-Chariotte Ma
reno. pretty young Italian girl. and her
negro lover. Henry johnson, whose sensa-
tional elopement from Bessemer. Ala. has
! thoroughly aroused the people OF the small
. Alabama town. were taken to Birmingham
to-day In custody OF an officer. The negro
will be held for stealing 500 from the girls
father. a prosperous merchant. On account
of the threats to lynch johnson. the
authorities deemed 1t best to take him to
Birmingham for safe keeping.
With tears streaming down her cheeks
the girl dramatically confessed that love
for her dusky sweetheart is the cause Of
their present troubles. The story Is an in
teresting one. The girl is bright and pref
ty. and It may be said. is a type of the
women OF her race. She is a brunette OF
pronounced type. with big sparkling black
eyes and Jet black hair. Her features are
well formed. and she is of petite stature.
The girl remained about her parents
store a great deal, and was happy up to
few months ago. when Henry Johnson
ginger-cake colored negro boy, appeared on
the scene. He worked about the store as
porter. Several weeks ago the negro began
to grow bold In his attentions TO the girl.
which were not repulsed. Time rolled along
until the mother became suspicious Mrs,
Mareno demanded that the negro leave the
house and It was then that the love for
the black asserted itself. They finally ar
ranged TO elope, and the girl. leaving her
home ostensibly for a neighbors house.
walked w. street and met the negro
When confronted with the testimony as TO
the elopement and told at the jail that the
negro would probably be lyncned the girl
cried. -, A.,
Il met Henry at the store and fell In
love with him." she said between soos-
can't tell how it happened. but tnousnt ],
we could only go up North. where henry
said the white and colored people nveo To-
gether, We could get married l loved nun
40 that told him We could run away. "o
were on our way North when arrested here.
I know n was wrong to be In love with
him. and against the law for me 10 run
of with a culored man. but 1 couldn't heip
it, As soon VIC get out or this troapie
we will get married.
They are talking Of lynching johnson IL
he Is taken to Bessemer."
We'll, IL they XIII him they VIII have
to kill me, too or 1 will kill myself
The girl repeated her desire to become
the negro's lawful wife several times. and
when reference was made TO the fndigna-
ton of the citizens of Bessemer. sne wouio
cry, and ask to be allowed to see the negro.
She told how they carried on their court
ship; that the negro worked about their
home, and that her mother could not un-
derstand English, and they often did their
courting in her presence. After the dis-
charge Of the boy by he- parents. she COM
municated with him through other negroes.
and in this manner the elooement was
planned and carried out.
On their arrival at Birmingham this
evening 800 people met the train. and the
Sheriff barely escaped with the negro.