The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-03-24
AN AWFUL CRIME.
A Plaok Brute Arrested for Aaaault-
ing a Little Girl.
Tho Victim, Who Is Only Eight
Years OF age. Told All About
the Assault.


William johnson, brutal ne gro
was arrested and lodged in the Or
angehnrg Jail cn last Friday charged
with q most heinous crime. He IA
charged with criminally assaulting a
little eight.year.old white girl, the
daughter Of q widow, Mrs. Howell,
who lives in Cow Castle Towship, a
few miles from the town Of Bowman,
On Friday morning, about FIVE
o'clock, two white men from the
neighborhood where the dastardly
crime was committed, went to Sheriff
Dukes house on the outskirts Of this
city, and woke him and asked him to
go with them and help arrest the
scoundrel, who. they Thought. was
being harbored by the negroes in the
c.mn unity where he lived.
They we're fearful of serious trouble
with the negroes In case they unGtr-
took to arrest the brute without
peace Ctfi:e being present, and to
avoid trouble, they thought 1t best to
call on Sheriff Dukes, who they knew
was ever ready to respond to the call
of duty. Sheriff Dukes left immedi-
ately for the scene Of the outrage,
accompanied only by his son, Frank.
Much to the surprise OF the Sheriff
and his son they went to within two
miles OF the Howell home, where the
outrage was committed, before they
met any one who knew anything or
it. This was somewhat remarkable
as the crime had been mmitted at
l. ast week before, aud the negro had
neea chased and shot in the leg.
When Sheriff Dukes arrived at the
Howell home, Mrs. Howell told him
all about the outrage that had been
perpetrated on her little daughter by
the black brute. William Johnson
Mrs. Howell told a straightforward
story, which is amply corroborated
by the sad condition OF the innocent
little girl, who was the victim of the
scoundrel's lust.
|. Mrs. Howell said that on Thursday,
March 8, William johnson aud two
other negroes came to her home to get
some oil and other articles. She saw
two OF the negroes leave, and she
thought that Johnson had gone also.
as She did not see him about the place
after she saw the two negroes who
cams with him leave.
On Saturday, March IL, the little
girl complained of feeling very badly,
and Mrs. Howell says she told her to
bathe, not suspectng for moment,
what the real trouble with her little
daughter was. The child continued
to complain and Mrs Howell not
knowing what to do to relieve her sent
for DR.. earn, her family physician.
| II
horror stricken.
The little girl then told the pitt.
able story OF how the black brute,
Johnson, had criminally assaulted her
on Thursday, March 8, and that she
was afrs Id to tell about it as Johnson
said he would kill her If she did. The
recital OF the brutal story by the lit
tie child was straightforward and
truthful, and showed what a demon
johnson certainly Is.
After hearing the awful story from
the lips OF the little c1ild's mother,
Sheriff Dukes went out In quest O.
the brute, who he found in the Gus.
tody OF three other negroes, WHO
claimed to be holding him until Sheriff
Dukes could reach the tcene. The
negroes who had the scOundrel Ia
Gu. tody said they had no idea Of aid.
ing or abetting him. but was simply
holding hlm for the officers of the
law.
1t seems that johnson attempted
to escape and had been shot through
the leg, but by whom we did not
learn. The brute, of course, d; nies
the crime, and claims that one of the
men who came for Sheriff Dukes shot
him. He bears bad name in the
community In which he lives and the
general opinion is that he is guilty OF
the crime charged against him, and
that he ought to be swung up, but
they want 1t done legally.
Sheriff Dukes acted with a great
deal of dis 'retion in the matter and
landed his man In jail before any one
} scarcely knew Of the crime. The
) scoundrel will have speedy trial, and,
il the things charged against him are
proven, he will stretch hemp as sure
~ TWO and two are four Such brutal
} Williams should Lot be allowed to live
among honest peo ole.-Tlmes and
Democrat.