Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-30
SEARCH PROVES Vain
Alexandria County Officers
After Negro Man.
GRAVE CRIME CHARGED
SAID TO HAVE ASSAULTED TWO
YOUNG LADIES LAST NIGHT.
Victims in Bad Shape Today-Threats
of Lynching Heard
The Details.
/ Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. December 80, 1904
Sheriff Palmer and posse of citizens of
Alexandria county have been securing the
vicinity of Arlington Junction and the sur
rounding country today for the negro who
attempted to commit criminal assault on
Miss Esther. Peverll and Miss Beulah
Ebaugh between 10 and IL o'clock last
night. few hundred yards from Arlington
Junction. All the negro settlements in that
part of the county were visited and
searched, but the fugitive had not been dis
covered up to the time this report closed
this afternoon.
Miss Ebaugh escaped from the encounter
withfa few bruises, but Miss Peverill was
thrown to the ground, choked and beaten,
and only saved from worse fate by the
timely arrival of rescuers.
Miss Peverill is the daughter of Lewis
Peverill. who lives on large farm just
north of Alexandria, and Miss Ebaugh is
daughter of William E. Ebaugh brick
manufacturer, whose home is near Addi-
son Heights. Both the young women are
about eighteen years of age Miss Peyerill
spent the night in a state of nervous
shock, but her condition was not consid-
cred Immediately alarming by the attend
ing physician, Dr. A. A. Rittenour of Alex
andria.
The news of the brutal attack upon the
two girls spread rapidly, and by midnight
parties of citizens had gathered to search
for the assailant. The recital of the har-
rowing circumstances produced such burn:
ing indignation that there were not want.
ing those who swore that the common
wealth should never have the trouble of
prosecuting the negro.
1t was evident that he would have been
speedily lynched had he been apprehended
before morning. In fact, the probability
of such thing in the event of capture was
nd CI,a~i d.,
was determined to attempt to secure the
man from violence if possible.
The negro was described as being about
twenty-five years of age, very black, and
about six feet tall. He wore a black suit,
besmeared with mud, and slouch hat.
This description was sent to the police
headquarters In Washington and Alexan-t
dria, in both of which cities a vigilant
watch has been kept today for the fugitive.
'-.-- Near Arlington Junction.
The attempted assault occurred only
short distance from Arlington Junction, on
the Washington, Alexandria and Mount
Vernon electric line. Miss Peverill and her
friend, Miss Ebaugh, had accompanied
party of young people from nearby
church, where a Christmas entertainment
was held to the junction, where their
friends took the electric cars for Washing
ton. Miss Peverill and Miss Ebaugh wait
ed at the station a few minutes for some
one OF their acquaintances, who was eX-
peCteO 10 meet tnem tnere and escort them
nome. Becoming impatient, however at
the delay, and suspecting no danger in the
short distance between there and the home
of Miss Ebaugh the two girls decided to
go by themselves. The way to their in
tended destination led over uneven ground
and through section where several brick
yards are located. A railroad track had
to be crossed before the path which led up
through a field to the house was reached.
Apart from the running of an occasional
electric train the location at that hour of
the night is extremely quiet.
Miss Peverill and Miss Ebaugh had pro-
ceeded a short distance from the station
perhaps half of the way to the home of
the latter, when they were suddenly ac-
costed by a tall negro with a bag on his
back He made lunge at Miss Ebaugh,
who he struck on the head, attempting at
the same time to sieze her, but by a quick
movement she escaped his clutches. Miss
Peverill however, was not fortunate
She was almost paralyzed with fright and
was caught violently by the negro. but,
summoning all her strength, she fought
him fiercey. Meanwhile Miss Ebaugh was
speeding toward her fathers house, which
she reached in remarkably short time,
and gave the alarm.
Found Girl Unconscious.
The men who responded with all possible
dispatch found the unfortunate girl lying
unconscious on the ground. The negro was
nowhere to be seen. The time which had
IDENTIFY been frightened away by .the sound
of the approach of the rescuers. Miss
PeverilFs condition was pitiful. Her
clothes were torn and covered with mud
and her neck was bruised and swollen
She was with difficulty aroused from her
unconscious condition and her faculties
were at first SO distracted that she was
unable to recall what had happened. She
believed that she had been struck by an
electric train, but gradually the terrible
experiences through which she had passed
required to her mind.
DR.. A. A. Rittenour of this city was tele-
phoned for and reached the scene within a
short time after the occurrence. Miss Pew
erilPs condition soon improved slightly, but
she continued in a state of nervous shock
bordering on collapse throughout the night
From the physicians examination it ap-
peared that, despite the bodily injuries the
young woman had suffered, her resistance
to the negro had been effectual.
Miss Peverill was conveyed to the home
of Mr.. Ebaugh, while her father was noti-
fled at his home, near st. Asaph, by police
officers from this city.
Both Miss Peverill and Miss Ebaugh are
well known and popular in the vicinity in
which they reside. Their fathers are
prominent citizens of the county,