The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-09-11
HELD ON GRAVE CHARGE.
An Alleged Attempt Of Criminal AS
sault Conflicting Stat
ments.
The State.

ton was created here on the streets
this morning by report to the effect
that white man had been arrested
at the Molair house last night and
lodged in Jail. He is charged with an
alleged attempt at criminal assault up
on married white woman near Dun
barton, this county, yesterday after
noon.
Upon investigation your correspon-
dent found that Mr.. w. w. Prathcr,
a contractor from Augusta, had been
arrested by Sheriff Creech on the
foregoing charge. Of course there are
two sides to the story, and as near
as they could be gathered, they are
as follows:
According to Mr.. Whitman Round
tree and Mr.. Burckhalter, who came
here and swore out the warrant,
Prather was on his way to Mr.. Green s
who lives a short distance beyond
Roundtree s, and that Prather stop
ped at Roundtree's house to ask the
way. He is said to have remarked to
his negro driver at the time that Mrs.
Roundtrce was the prettiest woman he
ever saw. He drove on and when he
had passed Mr.. Burckhaltcr' place,
who lives next to Roundtree. he got
out of buggy, hid bottle of whiskey
his buggy and hid bottle of whiskey
in a cane patch, saying that he did
not care to take It to Mr.. Green s
with him. He stayed at Mr.. Green s
a short while and came back to
Roundtrec' s and got out Of the buggy,
asking for a drink of water. lie at the
same time sent the negro off, telling
him to go back and get the package
he had left by the road, and that while
the negro was away he made improper
advances to Mrs. Roundtree, and when
she refused he grabbed her, carrying
her to one Of the rooms. Mrs. Round
tree then screamed and called for help,
this frightened Prather and causing
him to desist in his attempt. 1t is
claimed that Prather then went to
the front door, presumably to look for
his buggy and driver, and that as soon
as the negro came up he got in the
buggy and drove off, stating to the
negro at the time that he had come
back too soon.
Mrs. Roundtree, as soon as she got
away from Prather, left the house and
when Prather got in the buggy she
went through field to the house or
her neighbor, Mr.. Burckhalter Pra-
ther, it is claimed. offered Mrs.
Roundtree IS to kiss him, pulling out
a roll of money, which she refused.
Mr.. Roundtrce was at work III his
field some distance away, busy weigh
ing cotton and settlin" with some ne
groes, and did not hear her screams.
When he came home his wife told him
of her experience and he, with Burck-
halter, came to Barnwell and had the
warrant sworn out.
Your correspondent called at the
iail and interviewed Prather. lie
seems to be an intelligent man, talks
freely and seems to be in no DISPOSE
ton to hide anything. He says he is
married and has one child four years
old who, with his wife, lives in Angus
ia. He is a contractor by trade and IS
doing extensive work at Springfield.
He has worked here, recently, having
been employed on the new Baptist
parsonage, which was completed a
short time ago.
Prather's story Of the affair corro-
boratcd that Of Mrs. Roundtree, in all
exccpt that he denies emphatically
he made any attempt to criminally as
saul. her. He says that he came here
frcm Springfield yesterday afternoon,
and that he got a team from Il. S Cave
& Co.. drove cut to Mr.. Green's whom
he wished to see on business. That in
ooinq his driver lost the road and they
sloppcd at the house Of Roundtree to
inouire if they we're in tlc right road.
He then drove on and went to GrecN 8.
On his return, when they reached tn
bouse Of Roundtree, hc saw Mrs.
Roundtree standing in the door and
that she called him. III 'Hiver stop
nod the horse ,,nr &c. 1.Ned II ne