Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-07-07
RUNNING DOWN
NEGRO FIENDS
Two Who Assaulted Mrs. Biddle Near
Burlington, N. j., Arrested.
OFFICERS FEAR A LYNCHING

Philadelphia, July Two of the
three or four negroes implicated in the
assault and robbery of Mrs. Elsie T.
Biddle, wife of Charles Biddle, a farmer
living on the Rancocas road. near Bur-
lington, N. J., are now under arrest,
and the authorities of this city and
Burlington county, N j. hope to have
the others within a few hours. William
Jones, one of the two negroes arrested
in Burlington, was identified by Mrs.
Biddle as one of the assailants. He
protests he is innocent The second ar
rest was made by Philadelphia detec-
tiyes last night. This prisoner is Will
liam Austin. He confessed to his part
in the outrage, and claims there were
four men in the affair. Mrs. Biddle
says there were only three. Aaron
Timbers, of 3 Burlington, the leader of
the gang, is still at large. 1t is feared
that an attempt to lynch him will be
made when he is captured.
The excitement following the outrage
has not yet subsidized in Burlington, and
the county officials are on the alert to
nip an attempt at violence. Hundreds
of men and boys continued all day to
search the woods surrounding Burling-
ton for Timbers, but no trace Of him
was found
Mrs. Biddle came to Burlington and
had no difficulty in Identifying Jones
A large crowd was assembled outside
the lookup, and cries OF Lynch him"
were heard when it was announced
that Jones had been identified. Later
in the day he was rushed out of the
building and taken to the Burlington
county Jail, at Mt. Holly, on special
trolley car.
Mrs Biddles brother was with her
when she identified Jones, and he made
a rush at the negro. The police, how
ever, were on the lookout for just such
a move and prevented the brother from
reaching Jones'
The action of the police in quickly
taking Jones to Mt. Holly was prompt
ed by the information that 200 farmers
had been invited to assemble in the
city park, Burlington, for the purpose
of taking some action. In the crowd
that gathered about the lookup was
one farmer who carried a 60-foot new
manila rope. He was warned away
and quickly disappeared.
Joseph G. Rowen, sheriff of Burling-
ton county, and Joseph Tallman, father
of Mrs. Biddle, have each offered $500
reward for the capture and conviction
of Mrs. Biddle's assailants. Three
prominent citizens appeared before
justice of the peace and signed blank
bail bonds for the release of any per-
son Or persons who might kill Timbers
in endeavoring to capture him.
Austin, who was arrested in this
city, said that after they left the Bid
die farm they stayed in the woods all
day and lay in ditch all night He in
sists that there were four men in the
party-Timbers Jones, another negro
named Sims and himself Timbers,
Sims and himself, he SAID came to
Philadelphia early in the morning. He
did not know what became of Jones.
Austin told the police the haunts of
Timbers and Sims, and a force of de-
tectives and policemen are out looking
for them. The authorities of this city
do not believe there were four men in
the party. They believe that Austin is
trying to shield himself. because he
claims he did nothing He says the
other three We're the active men in
the party.
Mrs Biddle was washing the break
fast dishes when she heard knock at
the door. Responding to the call she
was confronted by three masked ne
groes, one of whom she is sure is
Timbers. This man held revolver to
her head and demanded her money.
She protested she had nothing, to
which Timbers, who had been en-
ployed on the farm and knew the
family. replied that she lied and that
money was on the second floor. Leav-
ing one man on guard the other two
secure the money. Under cover of the
revolver she produced S13. The ne
groes found a watch which they re-
turned on her plea that it was given
to her by her mother. The negro who
was on guard was called up stairs and
Mrs. Biddles hands we're tied behind
her and two handkerchiefs stuffed in
her mouth. With a revolver pointed
at her head Mrs. Biddle was assaulted
by each of the negroes They then
4 left the place.
Mrs Biddle managed to leave the
house and crossing the fields met a
neighbor She told her story, and
within half an hour small posse was
in pursuit. Word was sent to all the
farms in the neighborhood and to Burl-
ington Dozens Of small parties, arm
ed with guns. revolvers and clubs also
joined in the chase.
PRESIDENTS QUIET FOURTH