Richmond planet., 1902-08-23
Graphic Description The Neighborhood was
Aroused Animal Passion Predominant.
THE GUN FIRED-FEA BRUTALITY OBJECT OF PITY

No crime in recent years has attract
ed more attention. with the possible ex-
ception of the celebrated Lunenburg
Case. than has the iendish rape case of
Henrico county.
Thinking that it would be well TO
further investigate the affair, ON last
Sunday afternoon, Editor John Mitch.
ell, Jr., prepared his Photographic out
fit and with an easy, swinging gait went
in the direction of Chelsea Hill, Renri.
co county.
AS he assembled the hill, he enquired
of u white man, who passed him, the
direction to the Bowling Green Road.
he told him TO go straight ahead. He
did this and after further inquiry, the
Editor found himself for the first time
in his life standing in the middle of
that county thorough-fare.
THE HOUSE DESIGNATED.
A oolored lady pointed out to him the
house of Mrs. Keziah Banks. A knock
ON the door elected no response. Then
the Editor crossed over TO the next
porch and still no response. He went
around In the rear and saw Jersey
cow. A further glance disclosed the
presence Of three ladies. docs Mrs.
Ksziah Banks live here?'' "Yes, sir"
responded a lady, who introduced her
self as Mrs. Lucy O Latina, "Aunt Ke-
ziah is IN here. She has been living
with Us for years and we gave her that
room for herself" )" Editor Mitchell in
troduced himself and she proceeded 20
give him all the information he desired.
IT WAS AWFUL.
"Oh, she said, cit was awful. We
heard the noise out there and / came
out. ] told one of them TO go TO Aunt
Kezzy's door and arouse her. When the
girl reached her door there, she found
1t open. called Aunt Kezzy and she
answered down the road where she was
struggling with that man.
The alarm was given and Mr.. Board
came ont, and went over there. The
white man was using terrible language
declaring that he would shoot any one
who disturbed him. Finally the gun
was fired and he arose and came run
ming towards us, declaring that he
would kill the one who fired that gun.
Aunt Kezzy was brought in and laid
on the floor. The print of his fingers
and the bruises could be seen. Her face
Is SCARED up now" She escorted the
Editor to the kitchen room in the rear.
There sat Aunt Keziah Banks.
She has not been herself since" re-
marked Mrs. Latina. She often sits
down and cries about the way that viii
han treated her"
1t was a pitiful scene, as this aged
woman arose in response to the saluta-
ton and Editor Mitchell photographed
her In the yard of the Latina residence
THE VICTIMS STATEMENT.
In response to queries. she made the
following statement:-''My name Is
Ke1ah Banks. / am about 60 wears of
age. have been married ever since
long before the fall of Richmond. NV
husbands name is Wilson Banks. He
IS IN the insane asylum at Petersburg
and has been there about years now.
have had only one child that lived
and that died when it was six months
old. lett nay white folks soon after
the fall Of Richmond, and then lived i'm
service with white folks on Chnrcb
Hill. lived with Mr. Isaac Austin ba-
fore the war. He was my master. He
is dead and my mistress is dead. One
OF my young masters is living Just be-
fore you get to Chickahominv Swamp.
He is living down there now.
THE BRUTE ATTACKED HER.
l went to ME. Mildred's store and
bought pound of sugar and a loaf of
bread and in coming back, this white
fellow was standing down by the side
of the fence and he jumped at me. He
scared me almost TO death. was then
IN sight of home. When he jumped at
me, he put his hands around my neck.
said, go away from me, what do YOU
want? He said, i aint going 10 let You
alone. God damn you, / amt going TO
let you alone He told me he was 60
ing to have me this night, and l had
just as well stop following.
sTIFLED HEB VOICE.
He kept his hand ON my mouth and I
struggled with his hand 80 that oonld