The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1905-01-14
LETTER FROM MISS OWENS
This Well Known and Respected Lady
Gives Her Version of the Escape
From Conviction of Napoleon
Jackson

Editor Star-wOuld you like to know
the cause Of lynchings? a gentleman
friend answers: 1T is because the i'm
preston prevails that a majority Of the
jurors are purchasable town men,
whose pocketbooks need replenishing,
and whose wives. sisters and daughters
are under the supposed protection of
military companies. therefore it seems
impossible for any country woman to
obtain justice; i'm fact, there is appar-
emily no justice in law"
An instance: The writer takes this
method of prOclaiming her experience
and readers can form an opinion as to
a white woman obtaining justice and
protection, at least IN this case. from
the criminal court of this common
wealth, recently in Ocala, Marion
county Florida.
Attempted Highway Robbery, at Least
Being the only living member of one
of the best and most highly respected
families in the South, and having a
large estate of $500 acres Of land left
on her hands to rent and sell. ii neces-
states brief journeys TO accomplish
business transactions. On the End of
August. 1904. while driving home from
Ocala, a mulatto man-Napoleon Jack
son-leaped out from behind a pine
tree, surrounded by tall bushes. and
grabbed at the bride. Her horse, 60
ing in a fOx-trot, SHE'D. The negro sue
ceeded in clutching the halter, which,
fortunately was not attached to the
bit as usual, or what would have been
the consequence? Being alone, the
lady let the whip descend on the horse,
and to the stroke he responded nobly,
thereby saving her from the clutches
Of a pumpkin olored negro, whose yell
low hands passed over the entire length
of the animal in endeavoring to stop
him, but being thrust aside by the
shaft, he then had the boldness to
reach over into the buggy in an effort
to secure her feet or the package on
which they rested. By this time the
buggy was moving rapidly and the lady
had her revolver pointed directly at the
negro's head. Luckily for him, an iron
rod or seat guard struck his arm off.
therefore she refrained from shedding
human blood unless absolutely neces-
sary. AS Miss Owens had not seen
the negro's face, on account of an old
black, wide brimmed SLOUGH felt hat
that hung all around his head, but be-
looked through a glass in the back of
the buggy and saw his face distinctly.
He was then standing in the middle of
the road. gesticulating and yelling, and
again she looked and had a distinct
view Of his face. also of his figure. He
continued to beckon and call loudly.
Passing through Anthony Miss owens
called Mr.. Bishop out of his store and
told him Of the occurrence. knowing
Judge Wilder, who rented land from
her. was usually on his vegetable farm,
two miles north, at that time of day,
r1..I IN Vnfa n
Anthony early the following morning
and reported the affair to the justice
Of the peace. judge Wilder. telling Of
the mans height and of the old felt
hat. with wide slouched brim. OF
course the whole thing had been re-
lated to relatives and friends at her
home as soon as she arrived there.
Now for the Identification that was
not fully established" according to the
verdict Of the six white jurors.
Positive Identification Of the Criminal
Napoleon Jackson was one OF the
five men brought for Identification.
Miss owens was buying in the back of
"a store. Upon turning she saw Mar
shall Leitner up near the front entrance
and a man leaning against the counter.
his face completely hidden by an old
Hopping wide-brimmed felt hat. Being
at a distance. she inquired: rs that
the man.; Of a ainty.'-meaning
for Identification. The marshal inclin-
ed his head. The lady advanced to the
front. when the hat was turned up, to
get a full view of his face, and then
asserted positively: That is the very
mani"
Judge Wilder and Marshal Leitner
were so convinced by her assurances
that he was the right man that both
offered 10 be witnesses to the 'identif-
cation q Napoleon Jackson" when he
would be tried before the criminal
court in Ocala. Mr.. James Howell was
to be witness that he arrested him
in the woods, cutting cord wood. The