The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-01
WILL IDENTIFY
HER ASSAILANT
MISS BoUYER COMES TO-DAY.
WILL COME WITH BROTHER TO
IDENTIFY JEFFERSON.

Deputy Sheriff Britt Says There Is
no Doubt of the Identity of the
Negro as He Made n Confession
When 1t Was Mentioned He Would
Be Taken to Augusta for Identifi-
catfon-JeRersOn still StrenuOusIy
Denies His Guilt.
Miss Zadie Bouyer, accompanied by
her brother, is expected in Savannah
to-day to identify Charles Jefferson, the
negro who was brought to Savannah
from Augusta Tuesday for safe keep
ing. Miss Bouyer was expected yes
terday.
Jefferson strenuously denies he is the
man wanted, but officer Britt, who
brought him to Savannah says he is
the man. When seen by a Morning
News reporter yesterday Jefferson
made statement which was confus-
ing. He talked at random, referring
to the crime with which he is accused
as little as possible. He said he was
at a brick yard near the young lady's
home when he was arrested and had
been there some time. He said he
could. prove this by several witnesses.
According to Deputy Britt's story
when Jefferson was arrested by Coun-
ty Policeman Belden his first question
was what he was wanted for. The
officer told him he would find out pref
ty soon. When Deputy Britt started
to the jail with the man to have him
identified by Miss Bouyer he confess
ed he was the man and begged not
be carried to the city, it is alleged.
After a hasty consultation over the
telephone with Judge Eve the prisoner
was driven to Mclean, small station
on the Central of Georgia Railway,
and brought to Savannah.
Was Alone in House.
According to Deputy Britt's state
ment, Miss Bouyer was alone in the
house at the time. The door was
standing open at the side entrance and
she was near it. Jefferson came to
the door and asked if she had any
wood to cut. She replied in the Mega
tive.
The negro still stood about, and Miss
Bouyer attempted to close the door,
Jefferson spralg forward, grabbed Miss
Bouyer and endeavored to close the
door. The young lady, very much
frightened, struggled to free herself
from the negro's grasp, and almost at
the same time began to scream.
The negro made a desperate effort to
cut off her screams by choking her. AL
though leaving his finger prints on her
neck, he was evidently unsuccessful in
securing the proper hold on her. He
also tried TO gag her by forcing his
hand into her mouth. Miss Bower
continued to scream and tried to bite
his hand.
How Negro Escaped.
Failing to stop her screams, and
knowing help would soon lie on the
scene, Jefferson pushed her to the
floor and dashed out of the house. lie
was met on the sidewalk Wy several
men, who asked him what the trouble
was; and he replied that some one was
beating his wife.
The men were thrown off by this
statement and hurried on to the house,
letting the negro go. Jefferson ran to
Greene street and disappeared. When
the men heard the true story he YVES
out of sight. The alarm was quicKIy
given and a. crowd gathered
Mr.. Bouyer was notified and inne-
diately went to his sister. The excite
ment was intense for some time. Miss
Bouyer suffered from nervous shock
She was in a pitiable condition even
later in the day when at the Jail,
where she remained to identity JEFF
ferson. She was confident she would
be able to Identify him, as she had
often seen him in the neighborhood.
Jefferson appears very nervous, has
shifty eyes and a crafty look While
talking he shuts his eyes rapidly AMI
shutters slightly, repeating his sem
fences. Although he talked for TWEEN
ty minutes yesterday he wandered so
in his statement that the whole could
be summed up as but general denial
that he was the man wanted.