The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-02-25
OTTUMWA is AGAIN
Scene OF ASSAULT
MRS. c. M. JOHNSON VICTIM or
FIERCE NEGRO FIEND.
HER BODY BADLY MUTIIATED
Woman Was Sick in Bed When Beaten
Into Submission With Curtain
Pole--Fifth Recent 5ru-
tai Crime.

0ttu.nwa, Feb. 22.-Another unmen.
tionable crime has been added to the
list of atrocities that have been per-
petrated in Ottumwa within a period
of a few weeks. The city, quieter
today, has since early Sunday morning
been at the mercy OF mob of lnfur-
lated men who sought Tor hours for a
victim upon whom to visit wrath and
vengeance. The situation during the
greater part of Sunday was Of so
grave a character that the local mill.
tary company was called out and
stood ready at command to resist mob
violence. The situation was strained
and the slightest incident might have
precipitated a bloody demonstration
against the colored people of the place.
All negroes were warned from the
streets and during aAe day kept In
hiding. Although the crowds on the
streets today are less in NUMBER and
not so turbulent as Sunday, strong
and dangerous undercurrent exists
The fire is only smouldering and may
break forth at any moment with re,
newed fury Business is at stand
still and the only topic of conversation
is the recent assaults made upon OF,
tumwa women. =
Assaulted Sick Woman.
The cause of the outbreak and the
mob demonstration was the fiendish
assault made by an unknown colored
man upon Mrs. C. M. Johnson, the
wife of well-known travelling man,
residing at 1873 Park avenue. Mrs.
johnson was alone in her home at the
time excepting for the presence of her
seven-year-old daughter. The bed
chamber of the lady was entered by
means of window which had been
forced Mrs. Johnson was awakened
about three o'clock Sunday morning,
when she was seized about the throat
so she could not scream, and found
herself in the embrace of a great
burly brute. She has been confined
to her bed for several weeks being
convelescent from a recent ailment
and surgical operation and was in a
greatly weak aned condition. The
horror Of the thing however gave
strength to the frenzied woman and
she tore away from the fiend several
times only to be sliced again and
crushed into submission. The fierce
struggle and the night on the bed al
most Immediately awakened the
seven year old girl who was sleeping
with her mother. The child vas fran
tic with fright and ran about the
house screaming for help. The color
ed man. either frightened by the cries
of the little girl or having vented his
rage upon the body of his vie'in, fed
from the place and made his escape
from the neighborhood. " ..
The screaming of the child soon
awakened neighbors living at dis.
lance from tbs Johnson nome. Tn y
fastened to the place to inquire the
cause of the continued screaming.
The child was too terrified to make
reply and search OF the house re-
vealed the unconscious form Of the
woman, her night clothing drenched
and the place spattered with her own
blood. The mistreatment administered
by the inhuman fiend is beyond COM
prehension. He had picked up a
round curtain pole that was lying by
the window and used this upon his
victim In mutilating the body. The
stick was found in the room by the
rescue party,
Mob Rule Was Feared.
The neighborhood was almost in
stantly aroused, police officers were
notified and in short time the entire
town of Ottumwa was in the streets.
AT daylight practically the entire male
population of the place was in motion
and a mob was gathered about the
Jail clamoring for vengeance. Officers
were securing the country and several
arrests of suspects made. In the
meantime the attitude of the mob was
growing threatening. Vengeance was
demanded and the feeling was so in
tense that the mob would have made
short work of any victim it could have
possessed, innocent or guilty. De.
mand was made for the body OF John
Junkin, colored I How held for the
brutal murder OF Clara Rosen, twol
weeks ago. The county officers fear
ing inability to cope with an organized |
force of wrathful people, quietly slip
ped Junkin out OF jail early in the
morning and took him away in an
automobile. The colored man is now
securely behind the bars of the Abba
jail. The danger of violence to pris-
oners was not past however. AS the
suspects were brought in the mob
made alarming demonstrations and
the necessity Of calling out the militia
Company was seen. With the troops
in readiness the spirit OF inc mob
seemed quelled for the time being
Five suspects were brought IN during
the day but none of these are thought
to be the guilty one.
Mrs. Johnson after pro'ractedl
period OF Inconsistencies raliied suf-
ficiently to give a good description OF
her assailantIand ito relate a part of