The Cairo bulletin., 1912-12-12
brutal ATTACK
ON YOUNG GIRL
BY CAIRO YOUTH
Pretty Bertha Maiden, Victim Of
Painters Fiepdish
Passion.
HAS FLED FROM THE CITY
State Warrant Issued and Placed
In Sheriff Fraser's
Hands.

peithd MdZuen, pretty ana petite,
humiliated IN spirit, bruised In body,
suffering physically and mentally for
two long days, confronted by CHASTITY
evidence, yielded at last Monday
evening and confessed to her parents
that she had been made the victim
sunday morning of criminal assault
upon her person by Charles Mahaffee.
In the presence of Judge H. A.
tiannon, Bertha told how she had
been sent to Sunday school at 900
O'clock by her parents with instruc-
tions to return home Immediately
following the school session and as
sist in getting ready the noon day
meal. She told how she had met
MahaIfee mt the corner of Eighteenth
street and Washington avenue and
yielding to his opportunities accom-
panied him for a walk, which led ont
Sixteenth street to lumber yard.
Immediately upon entering the
yard Mahaifee clutched her by the
throat and sitting her cries with
handkerchief jamn1ed into her mouth,
threw her to the ground and commit
tied criminal assault upon her per-
son.
Mahaffee, showing Bertha pistol.
warned her Il she told any one OF his
attack that he would not only kill
her, but also take the life of her
aged father.
II was not only the deep mortif-
cation. but tho fear of death to her
self and the aged father whom she
loved, but disobeyed in maintaining
olandestIne correspondence and fire.
..Quent meetings with Mahaffee, that
mpelled Bertha. when she returned
home at 1880 in the afternoon, to
falsely account to her parents for the
delay in returning home.
The story was not told straight
and the fathers worst suspicious
we're aroused He Immediately
sought Judge Harmon and requested
his aid This was forthcoming with
the result that after full and thor
ough investigation, which satisfied
the parents and Judge Harmon be-
yond reasonable doubt, state war
rant charging the grave offense was
issued and placed in Sheriff Fraser's
hands for service Monday evening.
During the interim, Mahaffee,
whose conscience prieked him, not
because of any moral sense of the
terrible wrong he had inflicted on
the girl, but the fear of the conse-
quences that would result to him,
fed from Cairo to avoid arrest, with
present whereabouts unknown.
The victim of this assault is a
young girl aged fifteen in March,
1913. She came to Cairo with her
parents some three or four months
ago from Montezuma, Georgia. The
father Is a painter by trade. an in
dustrious Woodworking man with
large family of children, two OF
whom are older than Bertha. The
Maiden family reside on Eighteenth
street, between Washington avenue
and Walnut street, 1t was while
working at his trade as painter on
the elevator below The Halliday
with Mahaffee. short time ago,
that the latter became acquainted
with Bertha, who brought to her
father every day his midday meal,
The girl became enamoured Of
| Mahaffee. This was observed by the
elder Maiden, who Immediately en-
tered objection and ordered his
daughter not to entertain any
thoughts Of Mahaffee, he having.
during his brief residence in Cairo,
learned of the young mans unsavory
reputation.
These parental objections merely
served to add fame to the girls ad-
miratiun for the young reprohate and
she maintained clandestine cores
pondence with the object of her
childish affections also meeting and
| taking walks with him.
Mahsffee. aged about 90, is about
five feet, ten ihches in height, weighs
about t65 pounds, has dark hair.
smooth face and stoops slightly In
A-
leoucludcd on Page Two,l
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