Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-02-04
A Terrible Crime in Roanoke.

handsome young married woman anc
her little daughter were the victims
Last Saturday at noon George j
Shields, popular young business man
went home to his dinner. AS he
opened the door he was Mortified tc
see the unconscious form of his little
daughter, Mildred, three years old
lying upon the floor. Blood was
everywhere. Almost crazed at the
sight, Mr.. Shields snstched up bis
little one and discovered gaping
wound in her head The baby va.
still alive, however
Placing the child hurriedly on the
lounge, the distracted husband rushed
ND stairs in search of his wife, Blood
stained the stairs and led him to a
room at the back, wherein was a
small closet. The door was slightly
aiar, and set against it was a chair
Throwing the door open, Mr. Shields
discovered the form OF his wife, prop
ned up against the wall in an uncon-
sclous condition A bloody razor lay
lust outside the door, while inside lay
a Ratchet, also red with blood Clasp.
ing his wife in lis arms, Mr. Shields
LAID her on the bed of the apartment
Then it was that the terrible nature
of her wounds was revealed A cash
from razor extended around the
unfortunate lady throat, while her
skull had been fractured by mn'-
derous blow of the Ratchet found IN
the closet, and other wounds upon her
head were also found A baby two
months old, asleep III It's CRIB, was uu-
burt. An alarm was at once gwen,
and physicians were soon working
with the injured ones, while great
crowd gathered around the house
Mr.. Shields, on attempting to get
some story OF the terrible affair from
his wife, found her unable to repeat
anythll except, "a big black negro
came to the door Gradually, as
the doctors applied restoratives and
dressed the gaping wounds, she raj
lied little by little. and after some
time was able to tell in partial mo-
ments of consciousness the reason for
her terrible condition. As brought
out by one of the physicians In at
tendance it was to the effect that dur
ing the morning, while alone III the
house with the children, she went IN
to the kitchen. There stood a tall,
black negro, who at once struck her
on the head with Ratchet, and
threatened to kill her if she made any
cutlery. At this point little Mildred.
who was with her mother, began to
cry, whereupon the negro struck at
her with the Ratchet, knocking her to
the floor, and kicked the child across
the dining-room floor, almost under
the stove. He then dragged her mp
the steps and into the room above,
repeating his threats to kill her if she
refused to yield to him. She fought
him with all her strength, which was
fast growing weaker, but at this point
the negro seized a razor which he
found in the room, and drew it across
her throat, making a terrible wound.
Then it was that she lost conscious
ness, and the fend in human form ac-
complished his purpose.
The details of the hideous crime, as
revealed by the poor woman to her
husband and the physicians, are al
most beyond belief. The most unholy
liberties were taken with her person,
and she was again and again subjected
to outrages unprintable. The brute
demanded of Mrs. Shields money and
valuables. .Feigning death, as she
well-nlgh was, she made no reply.
Damn you," he said, I'll make you
tell. Then heating a poker at the
stove, the black fend tore the clothes
from the little child lying on the floor
and applied the hot iron to her ten
der flesh. Unconscious though she
was, the little one writhed in agony,
and the mother, unable to endure
such a scene, told him where to find
some money and jewelry.
The news of the terrible crime
quickly spread over the city and
great excitement prevailed. If the
criminal had been caught nothing
could have saved him from the fury
of the people. 1t was rumOred that
the guilty one bad been arrested, and a
mob at once besleged the Jail. 1t was
false report, and the crowd dis
persed. Troops were held in readi-
ness to quell any riot.
Mrs. Shields, the victim of the
black brute, was formerly Miss Alice
Highbarger, of Hagerstown, and wa;
beautiful and highly respected LADY
She has been living In Roanoke fol-
about FIVE years. At last account:
there was hope that she and her
little daughter would recover from
their injuries.
A reward vf$l 200 has been offered
for the arrest of the criminal, and
as detectives and officers are hunting
for him in every direction it is prob
able that he will be apprehended be.
fore long. The negro carried away
with him two gold watches and q
suit of clothes when he left the Shield.
home.
News from Roanoke today states
that the widest excitement prevails
there and a race war is imminent
The slightest ofense upon the part Of
negroes may precipitate bloody riot
Last night negro Baptist preacher
was reported to have made offensive