Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-07-01
Horrible Crime.
Guilty Negro Captured Here and
Positively identified by His
Victim.

The most revolving crime that has
occurred in this section in years WI as
committed by a negro brute at
Peachers' Mill, on the line OF the b.
& o. just this side of Harpers Ferry
on Monday afternoon about o clock.
Tie victim OF negro brute's beast
ly passions was Miss Laura Kanode
daughter of Mr.. Alfred Kanode, of
Molers Cross Roads, about FIVE miles
west OF Harpers Ferry. The young
lady in appearance is a most charm
ing girl, about S feet inches in
height and will weigh perhaps I4o
pounds and has a handsome figure
and pretty face. She is a school
teacher and was making arrangements
for going to the Worlds Fair. After
noon or soon thereafter she
drove by herself to Harpers Fer
ry to arrange for her ticket and as she
passed down the road she saw the
negro sitting on rock by the road
side near the old tunnel and as he
looked at her pretty hard he attrac ted
her attention and she noted wei, his
appearance. AS she was returning
she looked for the negro at the same
place but he was gone. About hun
dred yards farther on he stepped from
behind bush and grabbed the horse
by the bride.
He had cloth tied over his face
but she at once recognized him as the
same negro she saw as she went down
He struck her blow with club and
knocked her from the buggy and then
grabbing her dragged her off about a
hundred yards from the road where he
accomplished his purposes. He held
her mouth shut and her face and
mouth were scratched up badly by the
fin ger nails of the man. Her mouth
especially on the inside of her lips
were lacerated.
He left her evidently in an uncon-
scious condition for some time after
she was found by some one passing
apparently in dazed condition and
did not know where she was.
She was at once taken to a house
where she was cared tor and. her family
notified, The alarm was given and a
search was at once made but 10 nc
effect. The rascal had good start.
Sheriff J. d. Billmyer was notified and
had his blood hound taken to the
spot. He stated here that the dogs
took up the trail circled around and
came back to the railroad at the bridge
evidently where the negro had taken
the train. News was sent out and
especially this way to keep a watch
out and giving description of him.
Our officers were on the lookout from
that moment and officer Hollis and
Blake were at the depot with B. & 0.
detective Hardy when a special
freight pulled into the yard the officers
saw negro hiding and they at once
went after him.
He stated that he was looking for
the fellow who had committee the
crime but they took him in and mott
fed Sheriff Billmyer who come at once
aud after seeing him was sufficiently
convinced of his identity that he re-
turned for the young lady and arrived
here with her about o'clock Tuesday
afternoon.
In the meantime there had been two
other suspects carted in. The first
negro taken IN was glib of tongue and
talked freely ackno wledged to those
about the cell door at the city lookup
that he was at the point where the
crime was committed for three hours
covering the time the crime was cou-
mitted but showed note signed R.
Hunter and stating that she had exon
Grated him. This story he stuck to
AMI repeated to the editor of the
Statesman few moments before the
arrival of Miss Kanode and when he
knew that she would he here in a
short while. He stated that he was
from Pittsburg, that he was from Bal
tinore and that he had beer with
wild west show for some time. He
was great liar but not smart enough
to avoid being caught. He was tall,
about IS years of age, smooth face.