The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-07-19
NEGRO ASSAULTS WOMAN

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NORTHERN WOMAN THOUGHT NEGRO
PERFECT GENTLEMAN"
Brute Makes His Escape-posss Of Aiken Ne
are Searching Surrounding Country for
Eiim-No Lynchins Expected.
AIKEN, July 11-News of horribl
crime that was perpetrated about fv'
miles from Aiken reached here yesterda,
afternoon, but a coherent account coult
not be obtained until this morning.
On Monday morning about 2 O'Clock
Mrs. L. s. Chaplin was assaulted in he
home by negro man named Isaa'
Knight. The fact that Mrs. Chaplin is al
old lady, at least IS years of age, make
the crime all the more revolving. Th'
negro who assaulted her had been in he,
employ for over three years. Mrs. Chapir
lived in the house with no white person
The negro man, who lived in a room Al
the side of the house next to the kitchen
and a negro family living in the yard
were the only ones who stayed near her
Isaac Knight had been off ali day Sun
day and did not come back to Mrs. Chap
ms home until early Monday morning
Hearing a knock at the entrance of the
house, Mrs. Chaplin went to the door to
see who it was. She opened the door
and found it was Knight. She went into
the dining room and was fixing the
negro some supper when he committed
the assault. The negro left the commuu:
ity and has not been seen since.
Mrs. Chaplin has no near white neigh
bors, so she could not report the case at
once. When the sheriff learned of it
yesterday morning, he went to the com.
munity at once and tried to capture the
negro, but he could find no traces of him.
The crime had not become generally
known in Aiken until late yesterday af-
ternoon, when posse of about so men
under the leadership of the sheriff organ
lied for the purpose of catching the
negro.
NO LYNcH1NG.
1t was distinctly understood before
they left here that there would be no
lynching, but that they would do every
thing possible to catch the negro and
have him placed in Jail. They left here
last evening and searched the country
thoroughly, but they could find no traces
of him. Further search will be made fol-
him.
Mrs. Chaplin wanted the case dropped,
as she did not wish to appear in court in
such case, but, Of course, the sheriff and
the people Of the community will not al
low the negro to go unpunished if it is
possible to capture him. Every effort
will be made to bring the scoundrel to
justice, but the people have agreed that
there will be no lynching. The posse
went armed last night so as to be prepar.
ed to meet any opposition, for it was ru-
mored that the negroes in the community
intended to give some trouble.
DID NOT KNOW NEGRO NATURE.
Mrs. Chapin is Northern lady, and be-
fore her misfortune did not understand
the nature of the negro. She had put ev-
cry trust in Knight and had even consid'
cred him the equal of the average white
man. She had treated him as we'll as she
could have treated any white person,
thinking that he was gentleman. She
even declared on one occasion that he
was perfect gentleman. Knight was al
ways respectful to Mrs. Chaplin, but it
could be seen by his actions among other
ne groes that the treatment that he was
receiving was giving him false idea OF
his Importance. On Monday morning the
nature of the negro asserted itself; it could
be held in check no longer.
SHE HAD BEEN WARNED.
Mrs. Chaplin was originally from Man
chester, Vermont, but she has made her
home near Aiken for a number Of years.
White people have warned her several
times that she should not stay alone with
no one near her except negroes, but she
would pay no attention to them, thinking
that the negro was worthy of trust. She
came South with the New Englander's
usual idea of negro character, and no
argument that was put forth could shake
the negro from the pedestal on which she
placed him. While the white people OF
the community are not in sympathy with
Mrs. Chapin's treatment Of the negro,
they are determined that he shall be
brought to justice. A white lady has
been insulted-tEat is enough, punish
ment must follow.
When the posse collected last night,
there were no signs of mob violence.
They were quiet determined body Of
men bent upon the capture of the scoun-
drel who had dared to insult lady. Al
though they did not succeed in capturing