The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-22
NEGRO CUTS LADY'S THROAT.
FIEND ESCAPES, But is PUR-
SUED By DETERMINED MEN.

SUED By DETERMINED MEN.
Wit Probably Be Lynched If Caught
Bob Davis, a Negro Brute of the
Worst Order, Attempts Criminal
Assault On Miss Jennie Brooks, the
Daughter OF Prominent Farmer.
Greenwood, Aug. 14.-One Of the
most diabolical attempts at criminal
assault possible was made today upon
the person of Miss Jennie Brooks, the
20-year-old daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
J. P. Brooks, Of the Mount Moriah
section of the. county, by a negro
named Bob Davis. The fend did not
accomplish his purpose, but he came
near numbering Miss Brooks, who is
not yet out Of danger.
Mr.. Brooks is a prosperous farmer,
who lives between Greenwood and
Mount .Moriah Church, about four
and a half miles from town. In con-
nection with his farm he runs store.
The store building is about fifty yards
or less from the house. It is a very
public place, and it seems incredible
that the fend should have been so
bold as to attempt such a crime in
such public place and in broad
open daylight.
Today Mr.. and Mrs. Brooks had
gone to attend protracted meeting
at Rehoboth. They left their Oldest
daughters, Misses Jennie and Nola,
and their grandmother, Mrs. Herlong,
at home. Miss Jennie was called to
the store by some negro customers
and while they were there the negro,
Bob Davis came in. He waited until
the others had gone out Of the store,
then he asked to see some shoes. He
selected pair and then bought a
pair of pants. Then he told her he
wanted some bacon. She told him
she was out Of bacon. He pointed to
some that suited him in the box and
she came from behind the counter to
get it.
AS she did so he grabbed up the
meat knife in the box and came to-
wards, her, saying "You are what l
want Miss Brooks, who was per-
fectly cool, when relating her awful
experience, says she saw an iron bar
before her and attempted to get it to
defend herself The negro made a
nnurderous onslaught with the knife
and she threw up her hands involun-
tarily to her face. The blow almost
severed two Of her fingers. AS soon
as she dropped her hands he again
struck at her with the knife this time
making a gastly wound in the throat.
This wound is about four inches long
and missed the carotid arteries by the
mere fraction Of an inch. With her
blood squirting from the wound in her
throat and disabled in her right arm
by the other wound, Miss Brooks sue
cessfully fought off her assailant,
finally in some way securing the knife
though she says she does not know
how she got it. The thing that saved
her was a passer-by.
Mr.. John Tolbert, cning to town in
his buggy, passed the store. His pass
ing frightened the negro He fed and
Miss Brooks caLce to the door and
had strength enough left TO call to
Mr.. Tolbert Mr. Tolbert had heard,
he said, peculiar noise in the store
as he passed, but he did not stop.
Upon being called he came at once
and took her to the gate, where he
was met by her sister, who said she
would take her in and for him to ~
for help to catch the negro. Mr.. Tol-
,ert did so and in a short time men
were leaving town in droves. DR.. G.
P. Neel went to the wounded girl at
once in an automobile, Mr. Tolbert
having caught him by phone from
the nearest phone to the Brooks
home, DR.. Neel thinks she will re-
cover.
Determined bands are securing the
country. The l4egro has been traced
to the Hard Labor Creek swamp. ON
the way he made an old negro, Watt
Rackett, give him hat, having drop
ped his own in the Brooks store. He
had the shoes under his arm, Hack
EFT said.
A striking thing in connection with
the, crime that this negro's brother,