Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-22
FUGITIVE CONFESSES'' CRIME
TELLS OF HIS ATTACK ON VIE
GINA GIRL.
Was Frightened Away by Little Boy,
Held at Alexandria for
Chester Auth critics.

ALEAAN DRtA, va, august q, l3U.
Deliberate confession of his attempted
assault yesterday morning on Miss Lena
Roland of Chester, Chesterfield county, Va,
was made at Alexandria police headquar-
ored. who is held for the authorities Of
that place.
Chester officials were notified this morn
ing of the arrest of Harris and it is ex-
pected that he will be taken away tonight.
Miss Roland is the eighteen-year-old
daughter of farmer living near Chester.
thirteen miles south of Richmond Harris
told a reporter of The Star this morning
in the presence of Chef Goods that yes
terday morning he accosted Miss Roland
when he was on the farm near the house.
The young lady. he said. asked him what
he wanted, and he asserted that without
giving her any explanation he threw her to
the ground. At this point of the proceed
ings, he says, the girl made an outcry. In
order to prevent her cries being heard, he
declares that he choked her.
Frightened Away by Boy.
Her young brother. who is about thirteen
years of age, was, Harris says. attracted
by his sisters cries and went to her as
sistance. Harris says that before the ar
rival of the boy he left Miss Harris and
ran away. The brother, upon learning
Harris purpose. at once ran back to the
house. which was but short distance, and
got small rife. Harris says thatthe lad
did not fire at him. although he says he
believes the boy intended to kill him.
Harris declares that after leaving Miss
Roland on the ground he went to Centralia.
about a mile away. Then, he says he took
a street car to Manchester and from that
point to Richmond, where he boarded
freight train going north. He got aboard
a car loaded with railroad ties. where he
could not be easily seen, and stayed there
until 1t reached the Potomac railroad yards
north of this city.
AS he was leaving the train at Potomac
yards he was seen by several of the trains
crew and was arrested.
The train was in charge of Conductor w.
A. Hutchinson and F1agman H. G. Lead
beater. with J. W. Uoser as brakeman.
Harris. when taken into custody, told the
trainmen that he was not the man wanted
for the crime. The crew of the train had
already heard of the crime and also had
a description Of the man, and for this rea
son he was arrested. The train. which
was known extra No. %. left Richmond,
Va. at 1880 o'clock last night and reached
the freight yards at about 5:15 o'clock this
morning. The members of the train crew at
first informed Harris that they wanted to
take him to an office. although Sc says he at
once suspected that he was wanted for the
crime. Later Harris was turned over to
Constables Pennypacker and Cornell of
Alexandria county. and about 6 o'clock this
morning he was brought to the police head
quarters in this city
Punishable With Death.
Harris is twenty-five years of age and has
been employed on the Roland farm for the
past six months. He says that yesterday
morning Mr.. Roland had left the farm to
go to a store. and about 9 o'clock he at
tempted to commit the crime. At that hour.
he says. there was no one at the Roland
home but Miss Roland and the young broth
er. The girls mother is dead.
When asked what is usually done in such
cases Harris replied that people charged
with such offenses are usually hanged. He
expressed hope of working it out" evil
IDENTIFY meaning a sentence in the peniten-
tary. :.
The crime with which Harris is charged
Is punishable in Virginia with death.
Harris is of Il very low order of intelli-
grrce and "un"aTs to hn hut li>t1a Concerned
over the gravity of his offense He says
t!-at ii's iIoiii~ III ouHoih, va, ..Houe n
he has been at different places in the south
and most of the time has been employed as
farm hand. He secured employment he
says, at the Roland farm through the rail-
road agent at Centralia. who told him that
they needed man at that place.
Little Brothers Bravery.
According to a dispatch received here
from Chester. Va, today. Miss Roland
went into the garden and the negro was
hiding in the grass awaiting her approach.
He jumped from the grass and attacked
her. She screamed and her little brother
ran to her rescue and gave Harris a blow
the boy away from him Harris let Miss
Roland go. 1t was. however. but for a
very few moments. as the man again seized
her.
Miss Roland then called to her little
brother to go to the house and get gun
and shoot her assailant. It was at this
ran as hard as he could. He scaled fence
before the little fellow could get shot at
him. It is said that Miss Roland was I'M
bruise over the left eye.
vigorous search was at once made for
Harris. and Hurricane Branch and his
Owing to the intense feeling against Har-
ris at Chester it is more than probable
that he will be taken to Richmond and con-
+ fined n, in the jan thers awaiting his pre-
Thomas Case Decision Soon.
Gov. Swanson said today at Richmond
that he would tomorrow or Saturday de-
eide the application Of Thomas. alias
Wright, now in Jail at Alexandria under
sentence Of death for alleged criminal as
sault
II have seen and heard nothing so far
which justifies me in setting aside the YER
dict of jury, the decision of the judge of
the trial court and the refusal of the SUI
preme court to interfere in the case" said
the governor. Lawyer Clements is to come
here this evening or tomorrow to make a
final appeal
Funeral Services.
Funeral services over the remains of
John Turner. who died from injuries sus-
tanned by coming in contact with a live
wire Saturday last. were held this after
noon at Wheatley's undertaking establish
ment. Rev. Father L. F. Kelly. assistant
pastor Of st. Mary's Catholic Church, off,
ciated. The body was placed temporarily
in the vault in st. Mary's cemetery
The funeral Of Mrs HARRIET F. Padgett.
whose death occurred yesterday morning.
will occur at s o'clock tomorrow afternoon
at the residence Of her son-in-law. Mr..
Robert M. Prettyman. 116 South Alfred
street. Rev. e. " Register. presiding elder
of the Washington district of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South. will OH
ciate. Burial will be in St. PauIs Gene
terry.
Mrs. Mamie v. Woods funeral will oc-
cur from her late home. 204 South Pitt
street. at II o'clock tomorrow morning.
u w U Ut