The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-09-06
LITTLE GIRL ASSAULTED
BY BURLY NEGRO
WHO IS TAKEN TO LEBANON TO
AVOID A LVNcHlNo-To &c
TRIED AT SPECIAL COURT

The entire community was greatly
shocked and enraged when news
came Saturday about noon Of the ~.
tempt made by the negro. Shay Pell
man 10 orlmiually assault, little Nan.
cy Rankin, the li-yearold daughter
OF Mr. and Mrs Lee Rankin, one OF
the most prominent and popular fam.
illes In the northeastern section Of
Lincoln county. So extreme was the
Indignation against the negro thot Il
Is believed an attempt would have un.
doubtedly have been made 10 lynch
him had not sheriff McCarty taken
him TO the jail at Lebanon late Satur.
day night for safe keeping Ills ex-
aiming trail was fixed Tor Monday.
but 50 large was the crowd In town
then and so intense the feeling ex.
pressed against the black man. that
County Judge J. r. Bailey telephoned
90 the officers at Lebanon not to
bring him here but to keep him untn
they should be notified otherwise.
Judge Lewis l.. Walker. the newly
appointed circuit Judge Of this dis
triot. vas here Monday morning and
called a special term OF circuit court
to begin here Sept. 2sth To try Pell-
man. lie gave instructions not to
have the negro brought back here un.
al that time. for II was easy to see
the temper Of the people regarding
him.
The crime OF the rellman Negro
was most veyolting In It's details. and
the plight Of the little girl as she told
the horrible story TO her mother be-
tween sobs was pitiabie indeed She
had gone with Fellman TO the spring
house whelP the milk Is kept during
the hot simmer months to fix the
mornings milking. The spring house
Is some distance from the home. 50
that Il would be hard for muffed
screams 10 be heard once inside
the spring house. the burly black man
seized the child and threw her TO the
ground She screamed and made
such feeble resistance as she was
capable Of. but was a mere plsything
in his hands. Her story Of the AFFAIR
IL revolving and shows the cool Destial
ity OF the man. It's purpose accom-
plished he todd the child. that be
would certainly kill her II she ever
told anyone OF What had taken place;
50, stun suffering and terror-stricken
By the man and his dire threats. she
fastened to the house
alier mother was coming from the
house and met her. and quickly sens
ing that something was wrong. asked
the cause OF her torn and disordered
clothes and the blood on her gar
ments. Then II vas that the little
girl broke down completely aud cry.
ing bitterly told her mother OF what
had occurred.
Horrorstricken as she was. Mrs.
Rankin did not lose her self.pesses-
sion. She Is woman OF very level
head and realized the consequences
of an untowhrd move. She feared the
Negro might escape. II general
alarm we're given, so she quietly plae-
ed small boy ON horse and had
him ride hard TO the homes OF Thomas
ana Jop Rankin, brothers OF her hus-
band. They responded Immediately
together with other neighbors. The,
came armed with shot guns and re-
volyers. and went at once to the barn
where the Negro was working, UNI
conscious that his fearful deed was
known. He seemed TO believe that
his threat to Kill the little girl II she
told. would secure his safety.
Seeing the determined men with
guns, he knew II was all up. how
ever. Before a word was said by
them, he threw up his hands and got
on the ground begging for his life and
declaring that he had done nothing.
He said that he had simply sent the
little girl to the house. admonishing
her that she would get her clothes
wet in the spring house.
The Messrs Rankin would have
shot the negro upon the slightest
sign Of fight or flight. but did not
care to take his life in such a cold
blood and being lawabiding citizens
and realizing that Il were best Cor all
that the law be allowed 70 take Its
course. desisted from violence oil any
sort, and simply told him TO accom-
pany them TO town. II was with some
trouble. however that some OF the
hotter heads were restrained from
shooting the Negro at once, but rea'
son prevailed and they started for