The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-29
Mrs. Perry, IS Years Old.
Brutality Assaulted ii,
Heirloom L asst Night.
WILD STRLJ GGLE
WITH OFFl GER
Man Clubbed Almost Into Inc
sensibility Before He Submitted.
Prompt Action Of Mr.. Duke
Probably Saved Lie
Of Aged Wo-
man. I.

Of Aged Wo-
man.
Brutaily assaulted in her room by . &
negro. who was overcome by of1cersa
and neighbors only after a Wild and
desperate struggle. Mrs. Perry, eighty
five year old, and an invalid ltes N
a critical condition with face and head
badly bruised In her home, No. 5000
East Broad Street where the attack
took place. u. 4
But for. the Timely intervention of
MIR. A. w. Duke. neighbor. who hap
pened to be passing the house at the
time, and who was joined by Police
man Goodman, the aged woman .woulu
undoubtedly have been murdered. w he'll
assistance reached her the negro.
against whom a charge Of lunacy mas
been entered, was pounding her lhiu lihiu
hand held her throat with grip that
has left its vivid marks 1t was only
by the quick action OF the police that
!! the ne gro escaped from the netghpor-9
hood alive, and should he by any
chance return there can be no doupt
that personal violence would result.
Heard Breaking Glass.
1t was shortly after 10 o'cioc.. iass is.s'
night when Mr. Duke, who lives ut NO
sa101 East Broad. a block further up
the hill, passed tho residence of Mrs.
Perry. on his way home. The house
is Kept by Mrs. ". a. Smith. who.
with her married daughter and several
small children, was in the house at
the time Mrs. Perry, q protegc OF
the Hoge Memorial Church, was board.
ing with Mrs.. Smith. She occupied
the rear room on the ground floor. -
her age does not permit her to 90
up and down steps. and, In fact, has
recently kept her almost bedridden-
AS Mr.. Duke passed the house ehe
heard a. crashing sound sas OF breaking
| glass orscrockery. Running to the door,
| hea was met by Mrs. Smith. wl,os
| thought tho noise came from the back
building iii the yard j, occupied by =
negro, Junius Booker and his wife.
"A passer.by summobed Polcemar
Goodman With Air. Duke. the officer
entered the back yard to go to the
negro's house, when he noticed that
Mrs Smiths residence had been smash
ed in. An AZ was laying on the
ground beside the house and the negro
Booker. in his underclothes, was in the
room OF Mrs. Perry. The old woman
had been dragged from her bed onto
the floor, and was being held by tho
negro in desperate grip.
Smashed Lamp. n
Officer Goodman called out, What
are you doing there whereupon the
negro reached up. and with Ills fist
smashed the lamp. putting the room
in darkness. Goodman and DuFs, went
through the front room, securing ail-
other lamp, and Goodman at once
closed with the man in a desperato.
fight. using his club to terrible adj.
vantage over the negro's head.
Booker fought like q iiond,; seemitl.
hardly to feel the blood -dra inEsblowa
which rained on his head. and hold
Ing Goodman In e tight enlbrase.s
as up pa and Tas took sarasaE .ns ps9s s
from his pocket hut In the encounter
was unable to get a shot at the man
without danger to the officer. Booker
puks SneG III x Soa put Mhsn ySs
the leveled pistol, calnled down, and
was dragged by,t officer TO the front
room. where he was tied hands and
Duke turned his attention to MIS-
Perry, who seemed unconscious. but
revived on being lifted, muttsrins;
He has nearly silled me. Put me
later: II e would have killed mo il you
hadn't come in.'
People Aroused.
| When the patrol wagon arrived
Booker a gain strug gled desperately.
and vas With difflcuIty got into the
Sna
summary justice without the fnteryen-
tlon OF the authorities.
The city ambulance in charge OF Or.
found Mrs. Perry in a nervous scondi-
| 9tion but bearing up bravely. consid-
Eierins her age and the ordeal through
which she had passed. After being.
We're con nsiderably bruised, and taking
some quietinsa medicine, Mrs. Perry
was able to see q isreporte and gave
u clear I aesountof the attack.
although plainly showing the strain
she had undergone. and told of the
events of the evening; corrob boratlng
Mr puks in every n detail and and p0nsslns
Perry's room. where the struggle took
place. and where broken furniture and
crockery showed the desperate char
aeterof the hight, but also y. the fam; !;
marks soiled the table cloth and car
' Booker, Mrs, smith said, had rented
the small house on TIL o rsar of her lot,
aud had lived there about twelve
! months, Ile was a driver for q coal
company. and so TAR as she y new q
regular worker, III g had epeatc;dly Ia q
/ trouble With his Wife, Who was re-
gnrded as a hardwor King and decent
colored woman, ana only that evening
Mary. Rooker's wife. had come to Mrs.
! Smith. telling how. her husband had
| lthreataned and abused her.
May BE Insane.
AT the First Police Station Booker
continued to sins and pray. by turns.
DR.. Woodson, OF the. city ambulance
! force, sowetl up his head, which was
\ badly cut by the officers club, and on
ling TO his condition at tle. time, =
4 charge Of lunacy was entered, and ne
Ipr. Woodson expressed doubt An
4 to the Insanity Of the%y negro. ~ lao sap !.
4 peared quiet enough after MS wounds
I We've treated, but who! sui llenl y rel used
| either 10 the police or to the doctor.
| DR.. Wood son said that he had not ssenl
4 the negro while the Speli was on HIM,