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


William Johnson, brutal ne gro
was arrested and lodged in the Or
angeburg Jail on last Friday charged
with 6 most heinous crime. He is
charged With oriminally assaultipg
little eight.year-o white girl, the
daughter Of willow, 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
teing harbored by the negroes in the
c-mm unity where he lived.
| They were fearful Of serious trouble
With the negroes In case they under
took to arrest the brute without a
peace ctii:er being present, and to
avoid trouble, they thought 1t best to
call on Sleriff Dukes, who they knew
was ever ready to respond to the call
of duty. Sheriff Dukes left immedi-
| dltiJ III u'iO oLChC VI CLlS 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 Ho%oll home, where the
outrage was committed before they
met any one who knew anything OF
1t. This was somewhat remarkable
as the crime had been mmitted at
l. ast week before, aud tue negro had
reea 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.
March 8, William johnson and 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 old not see him about the place
after she saw the two negroes who
cana With him leave.
On Saturday, March IL, the little
girl complained of feeling very badly,
aud Mrs. Howell says she told her to
bathe, not suspecting 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.
When the truth was realized all we're
horror stricken.
The little girl then told the pitt.
able story OF how the black brute,
Johnson, had criminally assaulted her
on Thursday, March g. and that she
was afrs i'd to tell about it as johnson
said he would kill her II she did. The
recital OF the brutal story by the lit.
tie child was straightforward and
truthful, and showed what demon
johnson certainly Is.
After hearing the awful story from
the lips Of the little c'lild'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 re6ch the tcene. The
negroes who had the scoundrel In
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 it done legally.
Sheriff Dukes acted With a preat
deal Of dis relion in the matter and
landed his man In jail before any one
scarcely knew of the crime. The
scoundrel will have O. 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 liv.
among honest peo 2le.-Times and
Democrat.