Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-10-21
Clarence Woodwork Accused Of
crIm|naIIy Assau|ting Mrs.
Francis FoFet|ch.
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN NORTH EMO
Enraged Crowd is Said to Be Deter
mined to Administer Speedy Justice
IT AssaiIant is captured--Woman
Was Sleeping With Her Children
When Attacked.

Accused of crime unspeakably
horrible, Clarence Woodworth, a
white man employed as a copper.
smiths helper at the shipyard,
/; IS supposed to be hiding in the
woods north of the city. A score
of men, armed with pistols, rifles
and shotguns, and Police Ser
seant Gray and Officers Fisher
and Messick are now securing
the woods In search of the fuei-
tive. It seems a foreeone conclu-
sion that there will be Iynching
if the man is captured.
A telephone message from the
police station at a o'clock this
morning, states that the crowd
has traced Woodworth to the
Chesapeake G. Ohio test plant
at Flfty.seventh street, and from
there into the woods.
Clarence Woodwork IS charged
with having criminally assaulted Mr..
Rosa Foretich, wife of Francis Fore
itch, who lives at 800 Forty.second
street, this morning about 2 o'clock
After the alleged assault Woodwork
escaped from the house and is said
to have made his way to the woods.
Mrs. Foretich keeps boarding
house and her assailant had been 1iv-
ing at her home for about week.
Sleeping With Children.
Sleeping in the room with Mrs.
Foretich last night were her four
children. ranging from four to ten
years of age. The two smaller chill
dren were In bed with their mother.
Tho husband and father occupied 4
room adjoining.
According to the woman's story.
she was awakened about 2 o'clock by
some one entering her room. Think.
hight was her husband, she was not
disturbed. The light was lowered
and man fully dressed got into
bed with the woman and her chill.
dfen.
Mrs Foretich screamed for help
and succeeded in arousing the house
hold. The man sprang from the
bed. but she chung to him and waa
holding him when Foretich reached
the door. Just as the husband en-
tered the room the intruder broke
away and rushed into the hall.
Foretich is said to have made no
attempt to stop the man, fearing that
he would be KNITTED"
Many neighbors had been awakenel
by the screams and large crowd
gathered around the house within d
few minutes. There seemed to be no
doubt but that tn man VINO had com
mltted the assault was Wordsworth
and 1t was said that he made OH
down Forty-second street In the df.
rection of the woods.
Screams Aroused Household.
About twenty men living In the
neighborhood armed themselves and.
headed by Joseph Hagan. brother of
Mrs. Foret!ch, started out to look for
the fugitive. The men are terribly
excited >and it is said that they are
determined to give the fugitive
short shift II he is found.
The police station has been mott.
fed of the affair and Sergeant Gray.
by officers Fisher and
Messick have started out to join In
the pursuit.
Mrs. Foretich, who has been In .
delicate state of health for several
is in critical condition as
the result of the assault. Doctor
Butts has been called to attend her.
WoodWorth came here several
months ago from Chester, Pa. He
Is unmarried and Is said to be about
80 years of age.