The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-25
BRUTE'S DARK DEED
MRS. JOHN SMITH ASSAULTED IN
HER HOME NEAR PEMBROKE.
HER ASSAILANT ESCAPED.
PURSUED BY A MOB INTO A SWAMP.

John Wise, n Negro Hand at Tuten's
Mills, the Perpetrator of the Crime.
Choke6 His Victim Into UncOn-
sciOusness in Her Home and Car
ried Her Into the Woods a Few
Minutes After Her Husband Left
the HOuse-Her Screams Brought
Rescuers, but Her AssaiInnt Had
Disappeared-Retur to Work
the Next Morning, but Suspicion
Pointed to Him and He FIed-His
Fate Certain If He Is Captured.
Bryan county was the scene of
dark crime night before last, and all
of yesterday and a part of last night
the woods and swamps within a radius
of five miles from Pembroke were be-
ing searched for John Wise, the negro
assallant of Mrs. John Smith, who was
ravished in her home at Tuten's mill
four miles from Pembroke station.
The first information received in Sa-
vannah of the crime was through tele-
grams to the sheriff and chief of police
asking for bloodhounds to pursue a ne
gro rapist. A dog was secured and
was sent up by the first train. Deputy
Sheriff E. w. O'Connor and Morning
News reporter left for Pembroke at
7:30 o'clock and reached the
scene of the assault about $50 O'Clock.
In the darkness of the night the dog
offered the only hope of capture of the
rapist and when he refused to work
the chase had to be abandoned. Every
surrounding town and village has been
notified of the crime and the escape
of the criminal and in various di-
rections men are on the lookout for
him.
Victim of Assault Pursued to
Mrs. Smith, a young and beautiful
woman living at Tuten's Mill, was the
victim of the brute. Her husband is
an employee of the mill. The couple
live in a little house near by. About
nine O'Clock Wednesday night Smith
left the house for the purpose of
getting a bucket of water and as he
went out the wife locked the door
after him.
Smith was delayed at the commiss-
airy of the mills and during his alb
sence there came a mufled tapping
at the door of his house. Thinking
it was her husband Mrs. Smith threw
the door open. Instantly Wise sprang
inside blew out the dimly burning
lamp that lighted the room and clasp
ing his helpless and trembling vic
tim in his arms carried her away
from her home. Her piteous cries were
choaked back by the iron fingers that
encircled her throat. She resisted with
all her feeble strength, but Wise
forced her to a copse of woods near
the house and there the fearful deed
| was done.
Escape of the Ravisher.
Mrs. Smith lay fainting on the
ground while her ravisher fed. At
last she struggled to her feet and
with faltering steps attempted to
make her uncertain way homewards.
Her screams of shame and terror
brought her the aid that came too
| late to save her honor
she was delirious and not in condi-
ton to identify her assailant. The
negroes from the mill and the woods
were brought to her bedside, but she
| could scarcely speak. In the mean
| time Wise went to his work
and throughout the the morn
ing attracted suspicion to him
self by his constant inquiries as to
Mr.. Smiths condition and his spec
ulations as the identity of the man
who had assaulted her. He was at
last carried into Mrs. Smiths presence
and, though she could not positively
identify him, she said she was reason
ably certain he was the man. He was
allowed to go and soon disappeared.
Pursued to swamp.
| Besides the almost positive identifi-
cation of her assailant by Mrs. Smith,
various other circumstances directed
suspicion to Wise. Remarks he had
made contributed to this belief and
the mob started after him, but he had
gone. He had been seen to enter
nearby swamp, and into this he was
| tracked by the crowd but there
for some reason the chase
was stopped. The members
of the mob made half hearted effort
to watch the swamp and valuable time
was lost while they tried to secure
blood hounds from the city.
Mrs. Smith in a Critical Condition.
Mrs. Smith is woman of about 20
years, who has been married only
year. Although she has recovered her
faculties she is still in a desperate and
even critical condition. Her neck is
SCARED and discolored with the marks
of the brute's cruel fingers, and she
presented a pitiful appearance. Her
condition is sufficient excuse for the
rage that now possesses the neighbors
and friends, and should Wise fall into
their hands his doom will be certain,