The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-11-23

northwest of Pensacola, where he
was employed. The negro lived in
shack near the home of J. NJ. Snow
den. Late in the night, about four
months ago, a negro entered the
home of Mr.. Snowden and the room
of the daughter, Miss Della Snowden,
thirteen years of age. He approach
ed the bed and grabbing the young
girls neck attempted to throttle her
cries for help. But proving stronger
than her assailant suspected. Miss
| Snowden succeeded in wrenching her
self free from the fiends grasp and
rolling to the floor. Her father was
awakened and came to her rescue.
The negro made his escape from
the room over Mr.. Snowden. In
| later search of the premises. Mat
| thews was found in his shack, just re-
| firing, and suspicion Immediately fell
upon him. While he was held pris
| oner, measurements of the tracks of
| the negro entering the house were
| made and compared with the feet of
| Matthews. They conceded. But af-
| ter claiming his innocence and stat
| ing that he had just returned from a
| colored social, some distance away.
| thus explaining the reason for his be-
| MS dN dhC a. tltC tlluCs TIC liCSoio
managed to make his escape and
| then was instituted notable man
hunt. 1t lasted several days and
through Escambia county. Santa
Rosa. Walton and Escambia county
| Alabama. Finally the negro was
overtaken and shot, but he managed
to drag himself into the swamps and
| here the search was given up, the
| possemen drawing off from the hunt.
Sheriff Van Pelt directed this
search.
| FIRST ARREST.
The report got abroad that the ne
| gro was dead and the search was
given up. But Sheriff Collins, hear
| ing Of negro answering the descrip-
| ton of Matthews, again instituted
search for him and was successful.
The negro admitted his identity. He
was committed to the Milton Jail and
Sheriff Van Pelt notified.
On the first night of his presence
in the Santa Rosa county Jail mob
stormed that bastile and it was with
| great difficulty that the negro was
| spirited away from the Jail and Sc
creted in an ice box in the town. Tn
der the orders of Sheriff Van Palt
he was the next day taken to De.
Funiak and there placed in Jail and
| there he had remained since then.
Unusual efforts have been made by
the authorities to prevent just what
did happen yesterday. Precautions
were taken and Sheriff Van Pelt ar.
ranged for the return of the negro
under the orders Of the court
cORONER'S INQUEST
The body of the negro reached the
city in Sheriff Van Pelts automobile
at 2 o'clock. Immediately Judge
Nickelsen convened coroner's jury.
for corOner's inquisition into the
causes of death of the negro. Form
ing this body he selected c. H. Con
zalez, foreman: f. P. Preston. J. E.
Maura, II. F. DeBrlrx, S. A. Johnson
and s. Suarez.
The inqusition was opened in the
morgue beside the neSro's body
was made. 1t then adjourned to
Judge Nickelsen's Office to take evil
Gence. The following witnesses were
examined: Sheriffs Collins and Van
Pelt, Deputy Bowman. Conductor Eg.
CART. Flagman Corners of the train
crew, and Sim Otis. passenger and
eyewitness. They testified to the
facts as set out in the foregoing and
all stated that none of the mob were
recognized or identified The inquest
was then adjourned, for lack of the
evidence of two additional witnesses,
who could not be located. The hear
ing will be resumed at 10 o'clock this
morning, when verdict is expected
to be rendered.
DOUBT OF GUILT.
The negro is said to have at all
times admitted his Identity freely,
but had always maintained his limo
cense of the charge of entering the
young girls room and attempting
criminal assault. Circumstances, he
had always held out, pointed the
finger of suspicion at him and he had
been held responsible for an attempt.
ed crime that he did not commit
SHERIFF VAN PELT TALKS.
Sheriff Van Pelt regrets yesterday
lynching very much. He has made
every effort to protect the negro and
to bring him to a fair trial and right
when this seemed assured the mob
got in its work. The sheriff directed
} and assisted in the handling Of the
negro after his first arrest without
; any serious trouble and he had hoped
! by ruse to bring him to the city
} and place him before the court for a
trial before his presence could be
; known here.
The sheriff stated yesterday after
! noon that every effort would be made
by his office to ascertain the identity
of yesterdays mob, which it is as
, sured, was comprised of Escambia
4 county residents, and run them tc
cover and arrest. He admitted, how
1 ever, that the officers have but little
. RI in