The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-07
NEGRO ASSAULTED
 COUPLE IN WOODS
J. ?. Warren is Fatally Wound
 ed by Blow on Head.
WoMAN'S ARM IS BROKEN
She Claims to be Warren's Wife But His Parents Say Not = Mystery Connected With the Affair-Her
 Name Mary Harrison.

J. F. Warren, a young white man, who lives at the West End crossing, was fatally wounded last night about 8 o'clock by blow on the back of the head from a stick in the hands of an unknown assailant. His skull was frac- tured and he is lying at St. Vincents hospital in an unconscious condition, ex- pected to die at any minute.
 woman who claims to be his wife. and who is otherwise known as Mary Harrison, was with him at the time and her arm was broken by blow from the same stick. There seems to have been desperate struggle where the trouble occurred In the woods near Thirteenth avenue and Twenty-fifth street. north.
 The man and woman were both carried to St. Vincent's hospital in Lige Loy's ambulance shortly after the trouble oc- cured. and the police are Investigating the case. It has some peculiar features and as yet the police have not reached a conclusion.
 Sa,s She is His Wife.
 The woman states that she is the wife of the young man. who is said to be em- ploycd at the rolling mills. and that they were sitting together near where the po- lice found them when q negro slipped up behind and struck Warren terrible blow over the head, breaking his skull and knocking him senseless on the ground. She claims to have grappled with the negro, who struck her on the arm with the stick. She has furnished the poies with 2. description of the ne- gro, who she claims attacked Warren and herself.
 Policemen Baker, Disheroon and Detec- tives Bodeker and Hamilton are at work on the case. When the two former reached the place last night they found Warren lying on the ground about fifty yards from the street fin the woods. On the ground near him was lying his coat. which was bloody and he was lying near a pool of blood. His hat was also near. The woman had been to the street and notified the police of the trouble. Her arm was broken and she was suffering great pain. On the ground near the mans coat were found some of her rib bons and her hat.
 She told the police that she and War ren had been sitting on the pavement, and that fde negro struck them, then ufagged both into the woods to hide his crime. She does not know what the motive of the assault was, but does not think that it was robbery, as Warren only had 25 cents with him
 Know of No Marriage.
 The police have visited the home of Warren. who lives with his aged parents in West End, and they state most posi- lively that their son has not married and that this woman Is not his wife If there has been a marriage they do not know of it and it was secret. They did not know of the trouble until informed of it by the police. and they went to police headquarters and then to the hospital last night.
 At the rolling mill it was stated last night by the night superintendent that no such man as J. P. Warren was on their pay rolls and that he was unknown there.
 At the Hospital.
 At St. Vincent's hospital at ? o'clock this morning it was stated that the man had no chaucs whatever to live. although the physician had operated on him and removed the pressure of the skull from the brain The wound is in the back of the head just above the base of the skull. which was fractured for several inches. The blow must have been terrible one. and delivered by a strong arm yielding heavy instrument
 The woman had just come from under the effects of opiates which were admin istered while her arm was being reset. She sticks to the statement that she IS married to the man. Some sensational de- velopments are expected when the police investigate the case, and they believe that they will catch the man who assaulted the couple.
 The place where the assault occurred is more than 100 yards from the North Bir- mingham car line and Is very secluded. The woods are thick in that neighborhood and man could easily slip up on any one without being seen. 1t was impossible to see the place where the man and woman were found from any of the streets sur rounding it.