The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-03-23
80 - 81
D[FENDSBO|0KERT....
Seth Low Stands by Noted.
Educator.
NEGRO WAS SEVERELY BEATEN
fuskegee Head Was Badly Handled
by Husband of White Wo.
man Who Made Ac-
cusaticns.
NEGRO WAS SEVERELY BEATEN

New York. March 2l.-Seth Low
former mayor of this city. Issued a
statement defending Or. Booker T
Washington, who is confined to his
rooms after being severely beaten by
Albert Ulrich, u white man. in West
Sixty.third street. where he went to
look for a friend.
Ia answer to inquiries at the hotel
DR. Washington handed out the fol
loving statement. signed by Seth Low
in which the latter expresses his con
fidence in the noted educator and
promises him the support of the trus
tees of Tuskegee institute:
As president Of the board OF trus
tees Of the Tuskegee institute. | was
shocked to read Of the assault that
had been made upon Dr. Washington.
Was Seeking Auditor.
"The facts are these: DR. Washing
ton reached New York on Saturday
no. ming from Washington. On Sunday
morning he spoke at the Mount Olivet
Baptist church, and in the afternoon
at the Church OF the Pilgrims. In
Brooklyn. In the evening about nine
o'clock he started out to find Mr.
Smith. a certified public accountant,
who is the auditor of the Tuskegee
institute, a white gentleman. whom
he expected was staying with friends
at liz west Sixty-third street This
is an apartment house Of the type oc-
cupied by different families on differ
ent floors. whose names appear in the
bells on the inside below.
When Dr. Washington first reached
the house he entered the vestibule,
but could get no reply to the bell he
rang. SO he moved up and down the
street and along the neighboring block
where the New theater stands on and
returned TO the house twice, each
time entering the vestibule. but not
the house.
Trying to Find Name.
ION his third visit he entered the
vestibule and was leaning over and
trying to find the name he was look
ing for when suddenly a man rushed
in from the street and began to as.
sault him. He defended himself and
got out into the street, when second
man with a stick struck him. Then he
tried to escape, when both he and the
first one Of his assailants were taken
to the station house by policeman
who met them.
From the time DR.. Washington
left the hotel until he was assaulted
he spoke to no one, neither man nor
woman.
The trustees Of the Tuskegee in
stltute have absolute confidence In
DR.. Washington, and they will give 10
him whatever support or aid he
needs"
The document was signed by Seth
Low as president OF the board Of trus-
tees Of the Tuskegee ir-'itute.
AssailantS statement.
Albert Ulrich, who is under $500
bail for assaulting DR.. Washington.
says:
About nine o'clock Sunday night
my wife took one of our dogs into the
street. We live on the ground floor OF
the house, liz West Sixty-thiri
street. When she returned she said
that she had seen a colored man In
the hall and that he spoke to her.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ravette and Mrs.
Knowles. friends of ours. were in the
house at the time. | went out and
saw a man in the hall. The man went
out of the vestbule door ahead OF
me when | came out"
Ulrich said he saw the man re-
enter the hallway and later saw him
bending down at my door peering
through the keyhole." Ulrich said
that the colored man swung blow at
his jaw when he asked him what he
was doing and that then he went after
the man, who fell twice in HIS efforts
TO escape.