The Washington times., 1907-12-23
BEATEN BY NEGRO,
WOMAN RECOUNTS
FIGHT FOR LIFE
'GrappleS With Man in
Kitchen After Being
Cut With Stones.

Beaten about the face and head with
'etones, milk bottles, and bare fists by
negro she had recently discharged. Mrs
Ida Jost, owner of dairy at Langdon,
ID. c.. today lies at her home in an al
most hysterical condition from the hor-
rible experience through which she
passed last night.
The negro who IS believed to have
committed the assault IS confined in
Freedman's Hospital from the effects OF
poison which he Is said 20 have taken a
short time after the affair. presumably
with suicidal intent He has been iden-
tilted by one of Mrs JOst's employees as
The negro whom she says attacked ner.
Back OF the wOman's terrifying ordeal
IS her expressed belief that the negro in
reality planned another crime in addl-
tion 10 the taking Of her life, but aban-
dOned IL during the rough and tumble
struggle which the two had in Mrs.
Josts house. wnere she lives alone.
Woman Tells of Fight.
Mrs. Jost, although in a highly ner-
vous condition, told Of the assault this
morning when seen by a Times reporter,
her story being a most graphic and pitt
ful one.
My aSsailant. John Howard. had
been employed by me recently during
the absence Of another emplOye. A few
days ago 1 discharged him. having no
further use for his services Since that
time he has been back several times to
beg me TO give him further employ
ment. which 1 could not do on account
Of having sufficient help.
last night within two minutes after
MY regular boy had gone, l heard a
knock upon the hack door which 1
answered. 1t was John Howard. He
came In, and while 1 did the usual
kitchen chores he talked about my tax
ing hIm back, saying that ne needed
money for Christmas. After awhile l
sat down on the other SIDE Of the stove.
the boy continuing to talk on q number
of subjects.
Hurls Stones at Woman
Il had almost begun to doze when
1 was startled by something striking
the floor. jumped up, asking the ne
gro what the noise meant. He replied
by hurllng another stone at me, which
caught me on the scalp. cutting q long
cash. I begar 10 scream, and at tins
he advanced across the room, grabbing
milk bottles and cups as he came. all
Of which ne hurled at me.
AS / reached the window he caught
me about the throat and began TO
choke and beat me. The blood was
pouring from my wounds, and I, con-
fdent that death was near, continued
20 scream We struggled against the
window, breaking ont the pane. The
negro all this time was commanding me
10 hush and telling me with every hOr-
rid breath that he had come to XIII me
and intended 20 do It.
Clinches With Negro.
1--WE struggled for minutes-I don't
know how Iong-it seemed years.
shall never forget the horrible look upon
his black face during the entire time.
At last by what seemed superhumaE
strength got to the kitchen door. He
followed me out on the porch and again
began TO choke me and beat me with
his fists. l escaped again and slammed
the door IN his face. boiling it. He
then rushed around the house and tried
10 enter through the dining room win
dow. Finding IL too small for his body
he hurled another milk bottle through
II. which cut q cash in the plastering
across the room.
About this time I rushed out the
back way, screaming for help and as
the neighbors were already coming he
did not follow Inc any further than
the back porch. He then escaped in the
darkness, while l was taken to the home
Of Mrs. Norris. about 200 yards away"
Shows Stones That Cut Her.
Mrs. Jost exhibited one Of the stones
this morning which she says the negro
brought in his pockets. The police have
another which was picked up in the
room. They are both nearly as large as
an ordinary mans fist and rough and
jagged in appearance. a cash on Mrs
JOsts head, about four inches in length
which was dressed by a physician last
night, indicates the force with which
they were hurled
At 2:30 o'clock this morning a negro
known as John Howard was found in n
bathroom at the Madrid apartment
house, suffering from an overdose of
ammonia. Tallying with the woman s
description of her assailant I'm name and
other details he was removed to the
hospital. This morning his cousin,
Shepard Howard employed by the
woman. called at the hospital and identi-
fed him as being the one who had
worked for Mrs JOst.
He Is in a critical condition from the
effects OF the poison, but will be i'm
mediately placed under arrest II he re-
covers.