The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-02
rcGRO WILL GO TO MOBILE Black Man Captured in
 Mississippi. IS ACCUSED OF ASSAULT Eli Johnson Suspected of Seizing
 Woman. whisticr People wroasht Up over Second Attempt Upon Homes of White People and Trou-
 bIe is Expected.
 

Mobile, Oct. 1.-(Spscial. .)-Eli John son a negro arrested at Quitman. Miss. late last night in response to re- quest to the authorities there by Sher- if Cazalas, who believes that Johnson is the negro who attacked Mrs. Ram doiph Johnson in Whistler last night has agreed to return to Alabama with- out a requisition and he will probably be brought back immediately, although no definite steps shaye been taken in that direction.
 It was thought most probable that Johnson would refuse to return to tho State but he showed no hesitation in saying that he would come back with out requfsition.
 Sheriff Cazalas left tonight for ouit- man. Miss, to bring back the negro.
 As soon as the report of the arrest of the negro was received by the Wfis- tier people, some of the searchers went back to their homes. but large num- Der were not content to lay down their guns so quickly, and they were ap- parently not satisfied with the report that a negro had been arrested. They searched all night--searched every where--and did not quit until day broke today.
 Indescrfbable Excitement.
 The excitment in whistler last night Is indescrfbabie. Just recovering from high state of excitement over the lynching of the negro. Nose Dossett. for an attempted assault on a white woman of Whistler. the little town was again thrown into a panic when it's men folks were aroused by courfers telling that another assault had been attempted on Mrs. Ralph Johnson. wife of a highly respected citizen of the town and to prepare themselves for trouble.
 ! Soon after the assault wild rumors reached Mobile to the effect that a white woman had been choked to death by q negro and that the militia had been called out to stop q race riot that was fast approaching
 Telephone cemmunicatton with Whist Ter denied that any murder had oc- cured A short time after . rumor was circuiated down town that troepa were to be sent to the scene and | company of local militia appeared on the streets. This added to the excite ment and nearly every car was crowd ed with citizens going to the little town. many of whom were forced to walk back to the city as the cars stop running at 12 o'clock.
 investigation developed that last night was the regular muster night TUT tnG oVA4iCA6 anu t44Gy WSAC VuL Ohl the streets only for drilling and many of the company commanders had heard nothing of the trouble.
 Knots of men were gathered on the street corners, until the early morning hours awaiting confirmation or denial of the rumors from Whistler and 1t was not until a late hour that information was received that a negro has as- saulted a white woman and had made his escape. On being told that the Whistler citizens were out well armed men dispersed.
 The Attempted AssauIt.
 When the attempted assault oc- cured, Mrs. Johnson had walked out on her back gallery to get some drinking water. Her residence is situated in front of Mrs. Ellen Kel- ley's home Without warning, and without a sound. the negro grabbed her, his hands clutching her throat. A negro girl in the house called to Mir. Roberts, a neighbor. He ran out with a shot gun just as the negro re- leased Mrs. Johnson, and started oyer the rear fence toward the branch be- low the house. MT. Roberts shot sev- eraI times, but the gun was loaded with bird shot, and he does not know if he hit the fleeing negro.
 Sensational reports quickly spread over the town to the guards on duty. and from the guards to the white men in their home, and the whole town was aroused. The excitement reached a negro settlement in the southeastern part of the town, and many negroes congregated and talked and moved about in the dark around their huts. All indications pointed to very dis turbed condition--a bitter feeling be- tween the races. Armed white men. began securing the town for the criminal.
 Sheriff Frank Casalas got report of the trouble at his home. and went to Whistler with Deputies James Crane. Charles Cherry Sidney Gill and Thomas Murray, and three bloOdhounds. and soon arrived at the Johnson home.
 Pursuit of Brute.
 The dogs were put on the trail of the negro and started Tn not pursuit, followed by the county's officers and the white citizens. The dogs led oft in the direction which the negro took. They made several circles toward the shop wards and at a point near the depot. hecame confused by the large amount of travel there at that hour. and the white men were convinced that the negro had caught the e'zo CLOCK north- bound train.
 station Agent Lamb said two suspi- cious looking negroes were seen around inc depot about train time. One of them-the one answering the descript- ion of the assailant-bought a ticket to Enterprise, Miss, and afterwards wanted to exchange this ticket for ticket to Meridian.
 Telegraph reports were sent up the roa.i ahead ot ths passenger train, ani different station men were advised 70 keen a lookout for the negroes.
 Tbe news reached Whistler shortly aY.er midnight that negro answering the description of the negro who in- suited Mrs. Johnson had been caught at Ouitman, Miss, Q town just b low Meridian. by sherin Carter, The negro ,.ras described as a light colored. tall roan caring a light shirt, overalls and a black cap; With him. Ia.s was . Sron, inc description as the one who was seen at the depot with the wanted Johnson, Johnson was discharged from the shops yesterday. The smaller ne- gro, Jeff Reel. is a stranger to the Whistler people.
 Randolph Johnson Is an employe of