Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-08
MOB FEARED,
NEGRO MOVED
DEFENDANT IN ATTEMTED
CRIMINAL ASSAULT WAS
TAKEN TO ELDoN WEDNESDAY
NIGHT
RUMoRs OF LYNcH1NG
Fearing That Demonstration Might
be Made Against Sherman Phillips
He Was Taken Out Of ottumwa for
Safe keepine-case Being Heard.


Safe keepine-case Being Heard.
From Thursdays Daily.
Fearing demonstration against
Sherman Phillips, the negro who is
charged with having attempted to
criminally assault Mrs. Blanche Nc
Bride, the prisoner was taken to Ell
don by Sheriff Jackson and kept there
all night, in order to foretsal any ~
tempt on the part of citizens to take
any drastic action into their own
hands. AS a matter of fact, there was
considerable excitement on the street
and rumors of lynching were started,
no one knows where, but the fact that
the police station was called up sever
al times and inquiry made as to
whether there was any demonstration
looking toward lynching, showed
conclusively that there was some talk
in the city along that line.
Change Of Venue Granted.
The case was called UP this morn
ing by Judge Kirby in the police
court and the attorneys for the de-
Tense asked change of venue, which
was granted and the case was trans
ferred to Justice Ayres court. The
hearing Of testimony consumed the
entire forenoon and Is still In pro-
gress this afternoon. The prosecution
is being conducted by County Attor-
ney Cornell and his assistant, E. R.
Mitchell. Attorneys g. G. Moon and
NJ g. Gilmore are defending the pris-
oner. Six OF eight witnesses were
called for each side. The defense is
basing their fight on the contention
that the women is mistaken in her
identity of the man who assaulted
her.
Mrs. Mcbride First Witness.
The first witness called by the prose-
cution was Mrs. Mcbride, the victim
of the attack, which is charged against
Phillips. She told her story simply
and briefly, stating that she could
identify the prisoner positively as the
man who assaulted her and again re-
lated the facts of the assault. She
stated that it was about 1880 O'Clock
when the assault occurred and that
she dared not scream for her assail-
and threatened to shoot her If she did
so. She told of her fierce fight with
the man, who continued to. hold her
with knife pressed against her
Throat She also testified that the
man who assaulted her threatened
to cut her throat if she refused to do
his bidding. Her testimony as to the
identity of the man was somewhat
conflicting as she stated at times that
she could not see the man to recog-
pize his features and that she recog-
nized him from feeling his hair and
face She was quite positive. how
ever, that the prisoner was the man
who assaulted her. A number of neigh
bors were plced on the stand and tes-
titled that Mrs Mcbride had called
them after the assault and told them
the story exactly as it had been stat
ed on the witness stand.
Mat Mier Testlfies.
Night Captain Mat Mier, who, in
company with several other officers,
went after Phillips. was placed on the
stand and told of the arrest Of the
man after the matter had been re-
ported to the police station by Mrs
Mcbride. He stated that when the
police visited the Phillips home and
called the prisoner to the door he ap
peared to be excited, but that he was
returned to the station and Phillips
also came to the police station of his
own accord, where he was later point
ed out by Mrs Mcbride as the man
who had assaulted her. At noon the
case was adjourned until 1:30 O'Clock
this afternoon when the taking of ties
timony was again taken up by the
prosecution. followed by the calling Of
the witnesses for the defense, imme
diately after the prosecution had ex
amined the last of its witnesses.
Crowds at Police ~tation.
When the case was called this morn
ing at the police station, the court
room was full and large crowd gath
cred outside of the city hail. extending
half way across the street. Wher
the case was transferred to Justice
Ayres' court, only limited number
We're admitted into the room but 6
large number remained outside or
the sidewalk and on the street To
ward noon, however. the greater par
of the crowd had dispersed and the
excitement had subsidized to large ex
tent.
Ia q pocit;op IN tho erouorp ~,