The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-13
Supposed That II at 1 rs 4 Intended
Criminal Assault But Was
Scared of. sa
THREATENED TO KILL HER
IF SHE CALLED FOR HELP
But the Child, Onl!ysEleven Years
I Old Screamed Loud and.sL,,oc'nllg@.
and Many Came to Her
Assistance Ne
gro Fled Through
the Streets. #

] 3.I
Tho piercing shrieks OF a little white
Eiri in the grasp OF 9 big, bury negro
last night, startled tho dim quiet streets
OF Church Hlliin!to an anilnaSio the like
OF which they have not known for many
long day. "a
in a stones throw OF open stores sand
lighted houses, the black man seized the
child and with one dirty hand half COT
cring her face. ~ threatened 10 4 kill her;
II sho screamed for help: Butstrcani sl,s
did nevertheless loud and long and with
the strength OF desperation, DOORS srpang
open and into the streets ran men and
women. including the mother Of the girl.
none knowing the cause for tho tur-i
motl but all prepared to give. ready aa-}
.is,ance where assistance was needed:
With q bound tho negro released his In,
tended prey and fled up The street,
around the first corner and thereafter
as hard as no could tear In any dlrec-l
ton that came next. a gathering crowd
20 4 men !. and boys followed in his rear.
toiling. yelling and rn.lttering threats.
TIE police a,go coon Joined IN The chase.
and the eighborhood was thoroughly
secured. But no trace of7the fleeing Grim.
attial could DO discovered. after he dlsap-
peared over a fence In Church Hill Ave
nue.. The excitement gradually Gained
down, and before midnight everything
WIS quiet again.
How It Happened.
The little girl is Myrtle, tho youngest
daughter of Mrs. Nj. F. Luffscy. a widow,
who occupies the lower half OF No. 212o
East Marshall Street. The child Is
eleven years old, and bright and lively
little thing.
. About twenty-five minutes after eight
o'clock last night Mrs. Luffsey discovered
that there were no matches in the, house,
and. she gave little Myrtle five cents and
sent her to q store on Broad Street
about two squares distant to get some.
On her way. the child stopped at her
grandmothcr's, then went to the store.
got tho matches and started back to Join
her mother, who was getting ready to
leave the house for another store to make
the breakfast marketing.
J When she reached Twcnty-Erst Street
and Marshall, Myrtle saw a negro stand
ing on I nc COTuel1 anu lOLCcQ IllllI kullle
cently to remember that he was tall
and black and wore a fur cap. He had
Jumps on his face and scar over one
eye. The fellow watched tho lonely little
girl and then followed her UP the street,
Within ten steps Of her house he seized
her. Tho spot is the darkest on the
square, just at tho rear end Of the resi-
dence OF DR.. Stiff.
\ Tho negro slapped his hand over the
girls mouth and Threatened to kill her II
she called for help Terrified beyond ex-
preston. the child paid no heed to his
threats, aud while struggling 10 release
herself from the rough grasp shrielcd
loud and long-at first weakly on account
OF tho black hnnd. but then stronger.
a white man from nearby corner DASH
ed toward tho place and many people
rushed out OF the houses. Mrs Luffsey
was among tho number and came out in
time to receive Myrtlcs incoherent att
tempts at explanation. Tho mother had
heard the screams and at first thought