The evening Republican., 1902-05-29
COt:0RED FIEND
ATTACKS WOMAN

A colOred tiend Yesterday afternoon
murdcrouSIy and feloniousIy assaulted
Mrs William ii. Ferguson of Rock.
ford. BY super-human efforts she
prevented him from drowning her in
The Brandywine.
Mrs. Ferguson is 60 years of age,
and lives at No. % Rockford road.
She is an cstmable and kindly woman
her husband being an engineer in the
mills Of the Joseph Bancroft and Sons
Company. She left her home about
9 O'Clock to call ON a sick friend Ut
Rising Sun.
As has been customary for residents
Of that neighborhood, Mrs. Ferguson
sought u shorter route by following
the kentmere branch of the Whining
ton and Northern railroad to Rising
Sun She had gotten about half way
between Bancrott's road and Rising
| sun road when she was accOStcd by
the negro, who was Of medium height
black and appeared to be about IS
years old.
In polite way he requested to be
| directed to the nearest grocery store.
! Mrs. Ferguson informed him as best
she could, and thinking he might be
hungry, she offered him some cakes
she carried in bag. The negro re-
replied that he was not hungry, but
added that he was fatigued by his
| journey from Gainesville.
| When about to renew her Journey
Mrs, Ferguson was grabbed by the
cololcd. man and beaten until she
was unconscious. Then to finish his
ticndish work he dragged her limp
form down the embankment along
the Rrandywine Park. 1t is u seclud-
ed place, not much frequented ex-
cept by persons who take advantage
OF The shortest route afforded by the
railroad. There the assaiIant com.
plclcd his iiendish work. Mrs. Fer
yuson rallied somewhat, and when
tie negro bchcld this he declared
that he would throw her into the
Brandywine rather than permit her
TO escape 10 tell of the assault.
As with superlluman strength Mrs.
As soon as the woman was able she
reached her home where the news of
the savage attack was communicated
to neighbors, and to Edward Aims
worth. a foreman in the Bancroft
mills. a brother Of Mrs Ferguson. lie
Immediately called at the police sta
ton by telephone, and notified Chief
OF Police Black.
Gathering Captain Evans, Sergeant
Baylcy and a squad OF eight police
men, the chief started with them for
kentmere. Officer Pierce was mount
! ed on his bicycle. Patromen Scrson
and Palmer were mounted on liorses.
patrolman Hawke and Davidson
started in a buggy and the others
went on Il street car.
As soon as the affair became known
forty employees of the Bancroft's mills
were detailed by John Bird to assist
the policemen in their search. Bicycle
Policeman Pierce arrived at the Fer
guson h, % ahead Of the detail and
from Mrs. Ferguson he got as accu'
rate dcs> RI ,iion as he could of the
atrocious negro. Chief Black and
Captain Evans also called at the
house, and supplemented the descriD.
ton with few details Mrs. Fcrgu.
son was In condition Of nervous COL
lapse. and the description was obtain.
cd with difficulty.
Th G policemen and Bancroft de-.
pu,ation scattered through the sur
rounding country. making inqul ries
and peering into every nouk and
Granny that might secrets the fugi-
tive. Several times they were given
information about strange colorc d
men being seen, but no definite re-
suits were obtained. Chief Black had
policemen posted At every railroad
station and had descriptions sent tt
railroad detectives aud trainmen Il
keep vigil for the assailant. Dcscrip
tons also were sent to every city ant
town in this section of the country a
. soon as possible.
Detective Francis aud the searcl,
ing parties failed last night to tint
any traces Of the tlcnd.
ii lie is described as being about 2!
years Of age, 5 feet inches and yer,
black.