Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-25
PROMPT RESCUE
SAVES LYNCH|NG
NlNE-YEAR-0LD GIRL IS VICTIM
OF NEGRO
Perpetrator of Vile Deed Captured by
Member of His Own Race,
Who Saves Him from
Angry Mob

Only the prompt interference of the
police saved C. Burnett, a negro, from
being lynched by an angry mob yes
terday afternoon. AS it is the negro is
safely locked in Jail, and if the story
told by Mrs. S. AkerS and her little
9-year-old daughter prove true, Burnett
will spend long term of years in the
penitentiary.
The prompt capture of Burnett was
due entirely to the sprinting and mus
cular powers of A. Curtis, another ne
gro. After Burnett had accomplished
his purpose on little Laura, he tried to
run away, but the girls mother, who
had been notified by another young
daughter of what had occurred, gave
chase and seeing the pursuit Of the
negro by the woman, Curtis, who was
standing near and had heard enough of
the angry mothers conversation to
guess what had happened, joined the
race.
Curtis chased the fleeing negro for
two miles along the river bed and
finally captured him at Boyle and Ver-
non avenues, outside the city limits.
Fights Pursuer
Exhausted and unable to run further,
Burnett turned, and like a wild beast
at bay, engaged his pursuer in fierce
fight. But Curtis arms were equal to
his legs and ne soon bested his antago-
mist, but not until he had received a
black eye and several teeth had been
knocked out. When Burnett was thor
oughly subdued, Curtis pressed a white
man, who had seen the combat, into
service. and the two started to take
Burnett to Jail.
The assault of the little girl had
spread like wil6fre and an angry mob
began to collect. Efforts were made to
take the prisoner from Curtis and
muttered threats plainly told that the
negro would soon have been strung
up to the nearest telegraph pole had
there been q leader to take the ini-
tiative. But Curtis faced the mob as
bravely as he had his single antagonist
and with his white companion fastened
his prisoner in the direction of the
Jail.
Rescued by Police
The crowd grew larger and more in
sistent and the three had gone but a
short distance when they were sur
rounded. Suddenly the honk of an
automobile was heard and Sergeant f
L. Benedict, with several police officers,
broke through and dispersed the
crowd.
Burnett was locked up and Sergeant
Benedict, with Pollce surgeon BonynSe,
went in search of the injured girl and
her mother. They found them in a
tent at the intersection of Edwin street
and the Santa Fe tracks.
The little girl told simple story to
the officers and DR.. Bonynge confirmed
her gravest charge.
She sale that about noon her mother
had. sent herself and sister Clara across
the river bed to pick green's. There the
negro met them. He was friendly ano
played with the two little girls for
while. Clara, although very young, be-
came convinced that all was not right
and ran to call her mother. Mrs. Akers
was some distance away and did not
Immediately heed Clara's call. When
she realized what had occurred she ran
to where the negro had taken little
Laura. The negro had just started to
go away.
1.-THE little gir, isn't feeling very well
but she'll be al! right in minute" he
called over his shoulder and quickened
his ste...
mo, you don't get away that easy,
shrieked the infuriated and heart
broken mother. The negro's quick pace
broke into a run, with the mother close
after, and Curtis took up the chase that
ended in capturing the black fiend.
The mother and her two daughters
will tell their story in court this morn
ing.