The Washington herald., 1907-08-23
Only Feeling Girls Confessed
Assailant Expresses.
YOUNG BROTHER SAVES HER
scsreS Black Away with Gum Be-
fore He Can Complete Attack.
To Rush Him TO RichmOnd-Gov.
Swanson May Decide Wright Case
To-day-Man Electrocuted Buried.
wAsHINeroN HERALD BuREAU

k4eNA aNANkAel- -'P-f
SO King Street.
Alexandria. Va. Aug. 22.-William Har-
ris. a negro about twenty-five years old,
who confesses that he made an attack
yesterday on Miss Lena Roland. the
eighteen-year-old daughter Of a farmer
living near Chester. Chesterfield County.
Va, will be taken from the station
house here tomorrow morning and con-
veyed to Richmond for safe keeping,
pending his trial Sheriff W. c. GIN and
Jailer Herbert ]. Cogbill, OF Chester
field. and C. T. farrell. chief Of police OF
Swansboro. Va. arrived here this evening
to take the prisoner in custody.
Harris was arrested this morning short
" after 5 o'clock In the Potomac freight
yards by the crew of a train on which
he had beaten his way from Richmond.
The members OF the crew, Conductor w,
A. Hutchinson. Flagman n. c. Lead
beater, and Brakeman J. W. Upser. who
had been Informed CT the crime and noti-
ned 10 look out for the culprit, caught
the negro as he was attempting to get
away from the train. They turned the
man over TO Coastables Pennypacker and
Cornell, who brought him 10 the station
house in this city.
Boy Tries 20 XIII Him.
Harris talked freely 10 the officers con-
cerning the crime. From the FIRST he
made no attempt 10 deny his guilt but
declared that he had done Miss Roland
no injury. apart from frightening her.
He said he had assailed her yesterday
morning while her father was away, and
while there was no one else at the house
except her little brother. The negro de-
clared that the screams Of the young
woman, coupled with the effort OF her
brother 70 shoot him. alarmed him so
that he made of In haste. He said he
went to Cenralla, about a mile away.
where he boarded a freight train for
Richmond, and later hid himself among
some ties on a train, bound north
The negro denied that his act was pre-
meditated but admitted that he had
known OF the departure Of Mr.. Roland
from his home early ttat morning. He
said that his home was in Suffolk, Va,
and that he had been employed by Mr.
.EUAhLU dS n AaA " manu- ne ~tlAQ kAldl
the little brother Of Miss Roland, after
attacking him. had rushed TO the house
and had procured a small rife, Before
the latter had time 20 shoot. the negro
added. he had gotten away.
Does Not Expect to Hang.
The negro, v.ho seems TO be little better
than an imbecile, consoles himself with
the hope that ne will be sent to the pen
itentiary instead OF being hanged. The
only regret he expresses for his crime is
in connection with the fear Of conse-
queLces. He admits. however that he
knew that the crime which he attempted
is punishable oy death in this State
The officers from Chesterfield state that
Intense indignation against the negro is
felt by the people OF that county In
the opinion OF the sheriff and his assist
ans. Harris would be lypChed without
delay should he be taken back 10 the
county jail without a strong guard. The
officers said the citizens would probably
break the iaH down in order TO get at
tie man. They said that he had pre-
viousiy borne a fairly good reputation in
the nelghborho0d where he worked.