Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-18
||.B[[CHERi CAT 1URED.
NEGRO ABDUcToR OF LITTLE.
oDELL ATKINS CAUGHT.
HE coNFEssEs HIS GUILT.
There is Great Indignation Against
Him ana ne May BE Lynched-Hi.
Victim Found at Roanoke, and
in Critical Condition.
IE CoNFEssEs HIS GUILT.
There is Great 1ndignation Against

ROCKY MOUNT, VA. October 17.-(spe-
cial.)-The negro. John Belcher, who abb
Quoted pretty 13-year-old Odell Adkins,
| mentioned in these dispatches yesterday,
was captured yesterday by Special Officer
Joe billiard, at Writ station, on the Nor
folk and Western railroad, in this county.
All the indications point to the conclusion
that it was the negros purpose to carry
the girl to the coal fields, from whence
he came six weeks ago. The officer noticed
the negro place the girl on the train,
the girl having a hood wrapped around
her beau and shoulders, and dodge around
the depot a few feet from the train. He
was certain in his own mind that they
were the parties, but before he had time
to communicate with the conductor con-
corning the girl, the train pulled out, and
billiard jumped off and arrested the ne
gro, who Is now safely lodged in Jail here.
The negro denied his identity bitterly,
stating to the officer that he was from
North Carolina. but when told that Mr..
r. w. Finney. from whose home the girl
was taken would decide the question Of
his identity, the negro, whose hands mean
IAAe " DIS UOullu DeuiHu 5IliIll, 4ully CcI-
fessed his guilt, and said that if he were
out OF this scrape he would give pile of
money as high as a telegraph pole. When
asked by the officers where ne staid with
the girl the night before, he replied that
he had built a fire in the woods and staid
there all night. Then he asked the officer
If the girl should state that they staid in
a house. and he should state that they
stayed in the woods what effect it would
have upon the case, remarking in this
connection that he did not know what
the girl would state The girl, of course,
went on to Roanoke and the man had
intended walking through the country to
the same point.
The police Of Roanoke were notified to
look out for the girl, and it is hoped
she may be returned here tonight. Ger
tainly she will be, if she is found.
THE GIRLS ANTECEDENTs.
The girls mother was blind from her
birth, and fourteen years ago married
man by the name of Adkins. She had
lands and means. This child was of issue
from this union. On her deathbed, Mrs.
adkins gave the child to Mrs P. w. Fin
ney, who promised to rear it and care for
it. Mr.. Finney is a member of the Board
of Supervisors Of this county, and an ex-
cellent citizen. He has been indefatigable
in his efforts to recover the child and Sc
cure the arrest of the brute who abducted
her. He was in Roanoke on the lookout
for the negro and the girl when the negro
was caught at Writ.
Before the negro carried the girl off he
cooked up rations and told a brother in
black during the night of hi plans to abduct
her, leaving with the girl before dawn.
This negro told Mr.. Finney, who was
thus enabled to pursue the brute earlier
than he otherwise could have done.
Matters concerning the affair are cx-
citediy discussed but as to threats Of
violence towards the prisoner, there is
none at this time.