The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-10
NEGRO ATTEMPTS
THE usual. CRIME RI. {.
Hid iii House Of Mrs. MINIS
Spencer and Threw Blanket
Over Her Head.
FOUGHT LIKE TIGER.
Drove Fiend Away-Posse Has
Captured Two Negroes, Who
Are Held for Identification.

tspecinlto The Times Dispatch.l
1toSEcRoFT'. MD, April 9.--Sus-
pected OF being the negro who at
tempted assault on Mrs. Minnie Spcn
rim her home at Rosecroft, Md. last
evening, VIII Proctor. accompanied by
Deputy Sheriff Vincent, Is going to the
places o-day whore no says he was
last evening to convince the officials
and an enrnged community thnt his
calm to an albi Isl the truth.
IL he fails to convince them Of his
Innocence, and IL Mrs. Spencer this
afternoon Identifies him as her assail
mt. It will require hard and strategic
work by officers of the law to keep him
& fiom harm at the hands of the people,.
according to the signs to-day.
"Freckled Mulatto.'
Mrs. Spencer. who was attacked as
shc stepped into her home last even
ing, ana who escaped only by lighting
desperately with the negro while she
screamed for help, gave this descrlp-
ton OF her assallant:
.Iie was short. bright mulatto,
with q freckled face and very c,hrly,
black hair. lie wore q dark serge
euit"
Proctor. whose appearance fits the
description perfectly. was arrested at
midnight last night by Deputy Sheriff
Vincent after the ncigkborhood had
been secured by posse OF cnraged
citizens of Rosecroft
Couldn't Identify Negro.
He was taken before Mrs. Spencer.
hut, owing TO her hysterical condition.
She WAS not able to say definitely
whether or not he was the man who
had attempted to assault her.
When he returns with the sheriff
from his Journey in an attempt to
prove his abb. he will be taken again
before Mrs. Spencer. AT the same time
another negro, who Will be arrested
Very soon by the sheriff. will go be-
fore her for her Identification 1t Is
believed that one OF these two men
will prove TO be the guilty party.
Covered With Blood.
The first the people Of Rosccroft
knew of the attempted assault was
when Mrs. Spencer. weeping hysteri-
cally. with blood pouring down her
face and arms, staggered from the hall
OF her home to the street and stood
IN the twilight, n picture OF pitiful
suffering. crying for aid.
pr. r. 4. Simpson and his wife were
the first people to hear her cries.
They, followed by others. went II her
assistance. While the men formed in
posse to hunt for the negro who
Ead fed from the house. the women
End DIR. Simpson dressed Mrs Spen-
rer's wounds. TO DR.. Simpson and tc
her husband, later in the evening. she
so'd the story Of the attempted as
vault.
Wrapped in Horse-Blanket.
She had left the house unlocked 10
s go to Il washerwoman's house short
distance away. She returned half an
hour later. AS she stepped into her
& hallway a negro threw horse-blanket
about her face and arms. She fought
vigorously and hnaily freed her face
from the folds OF the heavy blanket
While she fought with the strength OF
desperation she screamed for help.
Frightened by her cries. the negro
finally fled through the back door
Mrs. Spencer then staggered to the
street, crying for help.
She is pronounced to be doing well
to-day. Last night she suffered from
Violent nervousness and hysterla