Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-13
ROCK HILL AND VICINITY.
Almost a Lynehine-New Pastor of
White Memorial Chapel-Fiftieth
Anpiyarearv HaIahrafion.
Correspondence Of the YorkviIIe Enquirer.


Correspondence Of the Yorkville Enquirer.
Rock HILL, March PA brutal as
sault was attempted by a negro named
Will Crosby Saturday afternoon, Oh
the thirteen-year- old daughter of w.
L. SWEET, of the Arcade Mill village.
The affair was kept very quiet and
only a few people outside of the offi-
cials knew OF II until after the brute
was on his way to Jail under strong
guard.
The deed was not generally known
until Sunday morning, and the con-
sensus Of opinion Is that the. prompt
and decided action of the police pre-
vented any act of retribltion on the
part Of friends Of the girls family.
The attempt was made while the lit
tie girl, in company with three others
about her age or younger, were on the
way to a farmers house, about half a
mile below the mill, to purchase milk.
In a thick underground by the branch
near the outlet Of the Winthrop sewer,
the negro jumped out and seized the
girl. She screamed and fought des-
perately and the younger ones fled
| to a little distance, all Of them scream
ing.
Under the terrible excitement fol-
| lowing her escape the child's story
was incoherent, but she says that the
negro drew out his knife and threat
ened to kill her II she did not submit
to him. She says she promised to
meet him after night and that alone
made him desist. 1t Is probable that the
continued screaming and the near
ness of habitation caused him to
leave her and run, after tearing her
clothing to shreds.
The girls ran home and told the
parents and the police were at once
notified The negro, Will Crosby,
had been working at odd jobs around
! the village for several days, and that
afternoon was choppfng wood on the
hill nearby and the description fitted
him. Suspicion consequently fell
upon him, and he was found an
hour or two later in a store near the
railway. Chief Partlow. without
waiting for any discussion and conse-
seauent excitement, hurried the sus-
picious character to the girls home,
where she and her companions posi-
lively identified him. He was imme-
diately sent to Yorkville and he Is
now in Jail.
There was considerable talk
among men of the village who were
just hearing of it, but when this was
| going on the negro had already been
| found and identified, and was then
far on his way to Jail. The girl was
not injured except by fright.
The Rev. Knox Colt, who Is at
present in New York, has accepted
the pastorate of the white Memo
rial" and Jennings chapel Presby-
terian churches and will arrive In a
short time. He is an old friend of
the Rev. w. L. Lingle of the First
Presbyterian church, having been
reared in the same county and it was
through Mr.. Lingle's influence that
he was called here. He Is peculiar
ly fitted for this work having made II
his special study. He is single man
and will room at the home of Mr..
]. A. Robbins in White street.
The. Methodists of this city are
making preparations for the celebra-
ton of the fiftieth anniversary of the
founding of Methodism in Rock Hill.
This will occur April 18th and
| through the 18th and a number of
prominent men and speakers will be
invited to attend. Among them are:
Bishop w. w. Duncan, Profs ]. c.
| ClInkscales Of Wofford. Rev Plato
Durham of Charlotte, Rev. DR.. j. w.
Daniel Rev. DR.. John o. Wilson OF
Lander college, Rev. DR.. s. A. Web
er. Pro siding Elder r. E. Stackhouse
and others.