The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-02
WOMAN CERTAIN
DECRIS WAS MAN
IN FACE OF IDENTIFICATION
JAMES DeCRIS DENIED GUILT OF A
SERIOUS CRIME.

MRS. W. lie StEEOhs however "us
Positive That Accused Was Man
who Held Her Up Near Cattle
Pnrk-TOId story of Attempted As
sauIt TO Recorder Nelson at Pre-
liminary OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF
the "DiamOnd Queen" Declared
He Was Not Even in Vicinity.
Without a moments hesitation, Re-
| corder Nelson of ThunderboIt, after
hearing the evidence in the case yes
terday afternoon bound James DeCris,
brother of 1.-THE Diamond Queen, -
over to the Superior Court to answer
the charge of attempted criminal as
sault.
Mrs. NJ. L. Styron, the woman whom
young DeCris is charged with at
tempting to assault, appeared in court
and gave evidence against the accused.
The defendant denied all knowledge
of the crime and claimed he was not
in the vicinity at the time.
The fact that young DeCris had
been arrested on serious charge was
told in the Morning News. There were
quite a number of persons at the court
room just before the time set for a
hearing but only those who had bust
ness in the court were admitted. Re-
corder Nelson, the defendant, Mrs.
Styron; the marshal and a representa-
tive OF the Morning News were the
only ones at the hearing.
Entered n Denial.
The prisoner was then brought in
The charge was read to DeCris by the
Recorder. and the accused pleaded not
guilty. The prosecutrix was then
sworn. She gave her name as Mrs
NJ. L. Styron and stated she lived at
Cattle Park. Mrs. Styron is a woman
APPARENTLY about IS years of age. She
has dark hair. a rosy complexion and
is good looking.
Il was waiting for the parcel car
near Cattle Park" she testified, when
this fellow came along. He stopped
and asked me how far II was to Isle
Of Hope. said 1 thought it was
about two and a half or three miles.
The witness positively identified De-
Girls and said that he engaged in con-
versation with her. 81 turned and
ram" continued the witness. He fol-
lowed and overlook me, throwing me
down. fell face downward and be-
gan to scream. Nothing but my
screams saved me. An old negro man
heard me and DeCris ran away
DeCris Seen by Negroes.
I'VE were not very far from the
negro shanty and 1 went on there and
told them my trouble. One of the ne
gro women told me Jim Decris had
passed the house just little while
before, going in that direction"
Mrs. Styron boarded a car and went
to Thunderbolt, where she reported the
matter to the authorities. The mar
shall arrested DeCris shortly after
wards
DeCris is a rather slender, peculiar
looking Individual He. denied being
where the crime was said to have TAX
en- place. He was rather i'll at ease
and nervous in court.
II was nowhere out that way at
all, Mr.. Nelson" he said. II was
over back of George Towards house."
Told Conflicting Stories.
The marshal swore that DeCris said
when he was first arrested that he
at all in the afternoon. Later he ad-
mitted leaving the house. but denied
being near Cattle Park. The marshal
said Dolly Cooper, the negro woman
Mrs. Styron had referred to- had also
told him she had seen DeCris in the
neighborhood.
1t was only a minute or two after
Recorder Nelson remanded the boy
that a married sister of the defendant
appeared in court to learn the out
come of the case.
We'll, ma says don't send him in
town until in the morning" she said
The Recorder announced that he
would fix the time without any sug-
gestions. AS the woman left the court
room she mumbled something. She
was recalled and admonished by the
court. Young DeCris is now in the
county jail.