The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-18
Attempted Crime OF Negro Has
Rouscd the County Of
Henrico.
MRS. PARSONS SAVED
BY HER READY Wit
Man Released Her to Get Money
for Him, and She Escaped,
Giving the Alarm-Knocked y;
Her Down With a Heavy s
Missile-Attetnpt to Trace
Criminal Fruitless.
.- -I..
Again Is the community Stirred to fear, m

Again is the community stirred TO fear 4
and anger by the act OF a negro.
This time the peaceful and pretty SUI
burb Of Barton Heights was the scene
Of the attempted criminal assa,llt-the
victim. Mrs Rosa Parsons, an estimabls
widow lady. Her bravery and her wits n n
saved her s
1t is much the same story, more awful n
and menacing with every repetition. that
has been told SO many times In the
Issue enters the home OF respectable
white family, ostensibly5to ask for food
He finds no one at home but a delicatei |
woman. She answers the knock, and
with the Kindness OF heart for viii ch her
sex is loved, gladly gives the hungry man
bread and meat Dirlning that she IS I
alone the man seizes her and strikes !
her almost into Inconsistencies. She ~
screams, neighbors hear her cries and
rush to the rescue. But the flend iiears,
them coming and escapes -somet etiulss. ter VI
s,ible as 80 the IT. utli. never u CO the
runis hment ihe SO rich deserves:
Mrs. Parsons' nno dest Il but . nea MI san ana
com Portable home. Is on the Second
Street Road. which winds along g the hill-g !
side east OF Barton Heights. The house
faces the road and Is isolated. In 'front.'
across the road. Is st. Mary's German
Cemetery. On the right and the left are
bleak squares. Seventy-nve yards IN SthelS
rear. upon \ the hill. are a mum bera a9s
dwellings, fronting the vest hoHSs
more propitIously located for such q sdegSs9s
tilish assault In a Tricky settled comrNu u
nifty cannot be imagined. u III
Here Mrs Parsons and two daug ghferss
Mrs. MCDOWELL and Miss Rosa Lee Par
sons, have lived very happily. Tha 4
daughters come into Richmond every
morning and the mother attends to tho i
housekeeping. Esiis
The Negro Appears.
responded to a knock at the front door.
and responding, found there a youns 4
negro man. He said, Good morning.
madam politely enough. He was nun -s
cry. had not had anything that day.ss
would she give him something TO eat.
Her only thought was that the man wasSs ~
hungry. At once she brought food to tbs 4
door for him. Then he seized her Win
the coming into her mind OF the kllowl-sil Il
edge of his purpose. there came 70 heh
arms the strength OF Il tlgrcss. Slle iousnss
the savage creature before her with s'i-s b
IT.
powerful blow In the temple, he dragged
the unconscious heap into the house INTO
chamber. locking the doors. Ihs Il
lapse OF n few moments and the move
ment brought back her senses ana a neM M
realization of her awful situatiop- ms : 4,
fight was renewed with ten.tola y'gor. any ii
determination. She fought, and beggcol
for mercy with the same breath,
Would go for Money.
i eihly finding fh0 Fit
resistance more than he had counted
upon. told her that If she would give i
him all tho money she had he would leav.5 v
her. She said she would do so. and thas 8
she had 1t hidden In the next room. Hs
asked her IL that room had door
opening outside. With splendid graau
OF the situation she replied that II DID s.
not, though 1t did, He unlocked tha
door leading into this room. and shs q
entered 1t, instantly dashng out at tha
other side. She was now In the yard, gS
and was making up the hill to the neigh
bors' houses as fast as possible. scr'sa N.
Ing with all the breath she had left rord
running. OF course, the negro was
watching her, and sought something td Y
throw He found a iarsa rock on tha
thres hold, used for keeping the dooi
aim was true. The blow came between
the shoulders and knocked her down.
Already people on the hill had heard and
w.re coming. The negro fled, Sorra II
minutes after William Shore. white, .
driver. saw II man answering the descrip.
tlon coming through the valley towards Sss
richmond. little later he was seen AZ
by william Covington, colored, climbing VI
the hill into this city. Here the trail was
lost.
Towns Are Excited,
Several ladies came at once To the
Parsons home. and Mr., DsMilhau. who
happened to be at home, got pistol and
went in search OF the fleeing negro Hs
saw him, hut did not get in shooting
distance.
REV, Christian Kuyk and his wife were
among the first to arrive. Mr.. kuyk
had tha presence of mind to notify the
county and city police at once and soon
four or five officers of the county forca
were ON the scene gathering up all clues
Dr.. r. W. Miller. of Barton Heighlsf
was called to see Mrs. Parsons. Ha
found her injuries to be sltght, but shS
was suffering considerably from ths
shock.
Barton Heights and Chestnut HiH ara
much disturbed over the incident MAYOR
starritt. OF the former place. promptly
offered a reward OF 400 for the arresa
,,z .anytotiop ~ ,be negro. This fellow