Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-25
YOUNG WOMAN IS
ASSAULTEDBYN NEGRO
Miss Maggie McDermott Was At
tackled While Returning Home
and Dragged Into Bushes-SeV-
eral Negroes Arrested.

about dark Wednesday evening, on Davis
street, near the power plant of the Geor-
gia Railway and Electric company.
The third arrest made in connection
with the assault brought the first ray of
hope of the police regarding the capture
of Miss McDermott's assailant. This was
a tall, dark colored negro, named Roger
Merritt, and when he was taken before
the young lady at her home on Simpson
street, Thursday morning, she stated that
he looked something like the man, but
she was not sure. She stated also that
shethought sue would know the right man
Immediately.
The police are holding Merritt for fur
Their investigation.
Miss McDermott was returning from
the city, where she had been shopping,
when she was set upon by the negro just
as she passed a high fence bounding the
power plants property, about quarter OF
a mile from her home. She was choked
into insensibility by the use of a red BAN
danna handkerchief and dragged into the
bushes. There she was kept for an hour
by the negro, the young lady says, and
when she finally got her freedom she hur-
ried as fast as she could. in her faint and
historical condition, to the residence of
Mrs Baker, who lives on Simpson street,
short distance from her own home. The
police were notified and Call Omcers
Bentley and Barfield and Sergeant Luck
and Officers Posey and Roberts answered
the call. Dr. r. n Weaver, of 70 Jones
avenue, was summoned.
The handkerchief used by the negro in
choking the young lady was found by the
IF he
The negro is described as being about
30 years old, of medium height, with
slight mustache and dressed in a dark suit
of clothes.
Deputy Sheriff Dunagan put a blood
hound on the trail of the assailant about
10 O'clock and a persistent search has
been made since the crime became
known.
ANOTHER SUSPECT IS CAUGHT.
Henry Terry, negro who fits in gem
eral way the description given by Miss
McDermott of her assaiIant. was arrested
Thursday and will be held at police head
quarters until afternoon.
Terry was caught by ]. n. Steele, a
special officer of the Seaboard Air Line,
in the Seaboard yards at Howelfs Thurs
day morning. He was pointed out to the
officer by Albert Thomas, a car inspector,
who noticed him lettering in the yards,
with the intention, evidently, of stealing
a ride.
Terry was brought to the Office of the
county police, and after being closely
questioned, he was sent down to head
quarters Terry has blood on his shirt
and dirt on the back of his coat.
He denies that he is the man wanted.
He told the police that he lives at Ninety
Six, S. c., and came here about week
ago. His quarters, he said, were at the
rear of 121 East Cain street, where he
says he was Wednesday night from 7:3O
o'clock until about IL o'clock. The blood
on his shirt he says, came from cut
he got Sunday while shaving.
He told Chief Rowan that he had never
been in the changing, although his leg
at the ankle showed scars. He said he
guessed he got the scars in an acct
dent.
Terry is about thirty years old, slender.
and wears dark blue serge suit. He is
very black.
1t was reported to the county police
Thursday that a negro had been found
asleep in the vicinity of the McDermott
home, and had fed when seen. County
officer B. X. Shockley and his dogs went
to the scene.
Negro is Lynchehd in Talbot Co.
TALBoTTON. Ga. June A.-WlI
Caneker, the negro at whose home Mr..
William Leonard was found dead Sun
day morning, was taken from the Talbot
ton jail Tuesday night about midnight
and lynched His body was found dang
ling from tree early Wednesday morn
ing.
The work was quietly done, and few of
the inhabitants were disturbed in their
peaceful slumber.
The jail at Taibotton is remote from
the center of the town, and no one heard
of the lynching until all was over and
the body found in a forest in the western
part Of town early Wednesday morning.
A negro preacher from Atlanta came
into that portion of the county near the
Leonard home and seemed to have COM
pletely hypnotized all the negroes in that
section.
1t is claimed he stirred up strife be-
tween the races, and sometimes told the
negroes not to work for white folks at
ALL II WINS with great difficulty that
farmers in that section could keep their
hands at work when this preacher was
around
A number of men went Saturday night
to whip him and drive him off. He was
at Will Canekers house. Mr.. Leonard, it
is said remained to keep back the ne
groes, while the other men drove off the
preacher. Caneker saw him and shot him
dead. For this he was lynched.
ANOTHER NEGRO FOUND DEAD.
The body of the negro preacher who
was said to be the cause of the killing
of Mr. Leonard by VIII Carreker a ne
gro. who was subsequently lynched, was
found this morning in a creek near the
town. The superstition is that the preach
er slipped off the log into the creek.
An inquest was held over Carreker's
body.
Posse at Cuthbert Seeks Assailant
Especial Dispatch to The JournalN
CUTHBERT, Ca. June 24.-Yesterday
a negro man named Albert Reeves made