The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-12
DARK CRIME
IN LYNCHBURG
Lady Assaulted by Negro
in Her Own Home.
CUTS HER THROAT.
Bleeding and Nearly Dead She Falls
Upon the Street.
BlOODHOUNOS ON THE TRAIL
Citizens Offer Rewards aud the Railroad Au-
tboritles Giving Every Aid-lntcnse Ex-
element Prevails and Cit.zcns Stand
Agbast at the Knowledge That
Such Crime Was Possi-
Bile In Their Midst.
BLo0DH0UNOs ON THE TRAIL
Especial Dispatch to The Times.

LYNCHBURG, VA, Jan. 11-Lynch-
burg was stirred from end to end this
morning by the bolGest and darkest
crime in the history of the city, and the
VIgor and effort of officers anc. citizens
alike are strained to the utmost to Sc
cure the perpetrator OF the appalling act
Ihis morning at about o'clock report
began to spread through the city that
a dastardly crime had been committed
by negro on a well-known and highly
respectable white woman The details
OF the crime were of a most reVoltine
nature, and as they became known ex-
cltement and Indignation grew more and
more pronounced, until tonight the town
is shaken from center to cii cumference
In all its history Lynchburg has never
known more brutal deed, and the eff
feet on the community is indescribabla
THE CRIME.
The crime in question was an assault
made on Mrs. Ralph Webber. and, after
accomplishing his purpose, the negro
cut Mrs. Webbers throat almost from ear
to ear, the deed being committed at
about half-past in the broad daylight
III Mrs. Webber's chamber. Her home is
in a thickiy-Settled neighborhood, and
While tie awful deed was being perpe
trated there were people in neighborlng
houses only a few feet away.
MIR. and Mrs Ralph Webber live in
small but comfortable frame house on
Monroe Street, just opposite the FLOYD
School Building, and they have many
neighbors whose homes are within few
feet of their residence Mr.. Weber is
manager of one OF the departments in
the LynchburG Cotton Mills, and this
morning at half-parts G he started for his
work. Soon after he had left the house
Mrs Weber, thinking that she heard d
noise on the front porch, ran out of the
back door across the back lot to the
house of her neighbot. Mrs. W. T. Bur
ton. She told Mrs. Burton that she had
heard a strange sound and that she had
been alarmed
a MAN IN THE HOUSE.
Waiting until a little later, when day
light became brighter, Mrs. Webber left
Mrs. Burton's and returned to her ,.sn
home. She reached the back porch and
entered the small passage-way leading
from the front door to TIE rear. On the
right of the front entrance is the door
way leading to Mrs. Webher's chamber.
Mrs. W ebber, on reaching this point.
showed the door open and started to en-
ter her room. She had taken only
step or two when a negro man sprang
from behind the door and, seizing her
round the waist, bore her to the bed in
one corner of the room, and then pro-
ceeded to work his dastardly purpose.
Mrs. Weber had never seen the man
before, but she bears a vivid recollection
of his appearance. He was a light mu-
.latto, slimly built, and apparently about
twenty years of age 5s
CUT HER THROAT
After accomplishing his purpose. the
negro dragged Mrs. yVebber to the floor
and, placing his knee on her head, drew
q knife and slashe6 atshers throat two or
three times. The first blow was not
effective, the point of the knife only.
penetrating tie skin atone or two places.
The second blow, however. made an ugly
cash five inches long. reaching from the
muscles on The rights the throatzto the