The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-31
BIRMINGHAM RAPIST
MONTGOMERY POLICE CATCH MRS.
 HYDRICk's AssAILANT.
The Pheto.rsph of GeorEs Fireman is ldentiAed by Mrs. Hydrtck
 aS the Right


 George Freeman, the negro who was arrested early Sunday morning by po- lfcemen after a desperate struggle. has been identified as the fiend, who on drick, the wife of the brfdge-keeper at Boyle's Gap, five miles from Birmins- ham. reach Montgomery today to take the negro to Birmingham to answer to the grave charge that hangs over him.
 The identification was made by man Immediately after his arrest. A copy of it had been forwarded to Sher- in Burgin of Jefferson County by the Montgomery police department, think ing that the man they had was prob ably the criminal who was being hunted in every County in Aiabama:
 The photograph was shown Mrs. Fly syineed great nervous afrectien and s1- W claimed. That is the man."
 A telegram was immediately sent the Montgomery police departmsnt by
 "rhe wounded man you have has here for rape. A. M. Bursin; :.
 Freeman was captured early Sunday morning by Mounted sPatrolmen o. C. Roberts and Potter Smith. The man was sleeping in Holts brick yard in North Montgomery and aroused their
 He was awakened and told that he was under arrest.
 and as Patrolman Smith endeavored to put the cuffs on him he struck tho po- 1iceman savagely. Patrolman Roberts rushed forward, but also received q blow from the negro, knocking him to
 The negro attempted to run but as he turned. Patrolman Roberts drew his revolver and fired three times. One .f ha hal 1la in a mo right leg, bringing him to earth. He was brought to the police station. where he received surgical attention. arrest arr r' for vagrancy m w arouse6 the sus- picion of the police officers. They con- ceived the idea that he must be want ed somewhere for some serious offeTse wanted in Jefferson County. The photographs were accordingly taken and one was sent to Birmingham with the result mentioned. The crime whose commission Free man Is charged with. was committed at a:30 o'clock Saturday morning, at the Louisville and Nashville bridge over Five Mile Creek, five miles north of Birmingham.
 The husband of the victim of the negro's fury was in Birmingham at the time.
 Mrs. Hydrick and her husband lived in tent near the bridge. The negro overpowered his victim and succeeded in his fiendish attempt. making on to- ward Birmingham. The husband was notified and with number of friends, heavily armed be- ganea search for the negro. | Sheriff Burgin was also notified and a strong posse was organized. He was notified by Governor Cunningham to take every precaution against a lynching and If necessary call out the National Guard.
 Several negroes were arrested, but when brought before Mrs. Hydrick. she | said positively that they were not the man.
 She was for some time in a serious condition. but Is now improved as to her nervous state. Freeman was seen last night in his cell at the police station. He Is a strapping, black negro. ap- | parently about 30 years old with a light beard and heavy mustache. His face is that of degenerate. A reporter of The Advertiser, &C., companied by Police Captain W. H. | Taylor went to the cell, when the teie- gram was first read to the negro. He was lying on blanket on the floor | of the cell with his lower limbs expos | ed. showing the wound inflicted by Patrolman Roberts. Ills leg is swollen. Captain Taylor watched his face | closely as he read the telegram, turn l ing a police flash light full on him. The negro uttered no word at first, | but his face seemed to show agitation.
 Well. Capn" he said. 'all I wants
 Is fer her to see me and den she'll tell | you, I ain't de man." You were in Birmingham at the time the crime is supposed to have | been committed?'
 l When was dat" Saturday, the day before you were arrested
 q was here fo' days befo' I was ar 1 rested"
 H"where were you stayingY' At de brick kiln | Who saw you" Some boys"
 Do you know these boys?' No, sir"
 The negro now appeared to show no l concern. When the Captain departed. 1 he calmly turned over on his couch
 and resumed his slumbers. | The Montgomery Police Department | were in continuous conversation with | Sheriff Burgin yesterday. Both the | officers at Montgomery and the officers | at Birmingham are confident that they | have the right man. as Freeman was | supposed to have taken a southbound | freight train and Mrs. Hydrick has | always been confident that she would know the man at glance. | ernor Cunningham who is in Birming- | ham has signified his intention of giv- | ing a liberal reward if the negro proves | to be the right man.