The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-10-05
RIO Nd, va Special

Suspected OF being the asSailant of
Miss Ella Miller, of Matthews county.
a swarthy, ragged tramp, who calls
himself Joe Priddy, and who says he
lives in Spartanburg, s. c., was ar
sestea on Eleventh Street by Officer
J. "a Harris at : O'Clock yesterday
evening. The man was at once hur-
ried the First Ponce Station, where
he sl mt the night in a cell.
The sheriff OF Mathews has been
notified OF the arrest, and is expected
here tn. orrow. Priddy appeared be-
fore Justice Crutchfeld this morning.
He heard the charSc which was made
against him. He remained silent. He
was exceedingly nervous. In order to
give the Mathews authorities ample
time to bring about the mans identt-
fication, Justice Crutchfeld continued
the Gaze until October eth.
Priddy tried to break away from
Officer Harris when arrested, but the
policeman overpowered him and took
him to the station house. There the
man when he saw he was 10 be i'm
prisoned nearly broke down with
fright, and cried:
I'm not the man you want 1
didn't do it, 1 never saw her. God
knows 1 didn't do II. 1 was never in
Mathews in my life"
He was locked up.
Wore Pink Scarf.
The police were told that the man
who attacked Miss Miller wore pink
scarf or fascinator around his neck,
and they have been on the lookout for
a man so arrayed. Priddy had on just
such a scarf. When the officer placed
him under arrest, the man tore il off
and stealthily put ii in his pocket; but
Officer Harris was watching him.
When the two arrived at the First
Police Station the officer called for
the scarf.
The tramp denied that he had ever
worn a scarf. He was about to be
searched when he gave it up. He
aTembled violently. according TO the
STORY told by those who were at the
police station at the time, and asked
the officer in charge what was want
ed with the scarf.
When questioned this morning the
tramp said he was a weaver by trade
and was born and raised in Hanover
county. Within the last two months
he has been in Spartanburg, s. c., he
said. where he has a wife and two
children. He declared he was on his
way to South Carolina when he was
arrested. He told the police last night
that he was not going anywhere, and
named several localities. among them
the Southside. before he finally said
that his home was at Spartanburg.
Priddy-or whatever the mans
name isis apparently about thirty
five years old. He says he does not
tween thirty-two and thirty-eight
years old. He has long, greasy black
hair. has a complexion as swarthy as
that Of a Mexican, and is about feet
inches tall. weighing perhaps in
the neighborhood OF 100 pounds.
His Clothing Much Torn.
The mans clothes are torn TO rags
and covered with mud. His shoes are
so dilapidated that his feet are prac-
tically on the ground. He admits that
a has hpar mining declares
that he has never been In the neigh
borhood Of Mathews county in his
life He says he doesn't even know
where Mathews county is.
Asked if he had come from Wes
Point he answered in the negative
Except for knowing that West POM
is on the Southern Railway, the mar
S denied all knowledge OF the place.
= Priddy says he has a sister Twins
here, but refuses to give her name. IL
says she lives somewhere on Churcl
Hill. He admitted this morning tina
he did not know where she was liV
ing, and had not seen her for some
time. He would not tell the name o
the man she married, however, an'
finally refused to discuss the question
at all.
Became Historical.
When Justice Crutchfeld ordered
him held for the sheriff of Mathew
county, the man received the sentenc
sullenly, but as he was being led bacl
to the cage he became hysterical AM
repeated over and over again:
I'm not the man. / didn't do il
I want to get out of town"
When he was locked up again tn
man was suffering with such eXtrem
nervousness that he was hardly abb
TO control his feelings. He laughe,
and sobbed, and finally staggeret
across to a bench and threw himsel
across il, where he remained for tel
or fifteen minutes, laughing and cry
ing, and declaring that he was ''th
wrong man." and that he didn't d
st."
The sheriff of Mathews county i
now on his way to Gloucester count
TO look at a suspect being held there
A long-distance message from him i
to the effect that ne will leave 70
Richmond this evening, and will b
prepared to take Priddy back t
Mathews county tomorrow for identi
1ication.