The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-03-26
ALLEGED ASSAULT IN AIKEN.
Grover C. Brown Escapes Fury OF
WarrenVilIe MOb-RuShed to
Augusta.

Vile, this county, young HdIIIeu
man Of one of Aiken's prominent fam
lilies, was arrested, charged with as
sault with intent to ravish a young
married woman of Warrenville, the
warrant for his arrest having been
sworn out at I o'clock tonight by the
woman in question. This is the latest
turn in a series of events that have
occurred since last night when, by
quick move on the part of Magistrate
Eldridge Craig, young Brown was
rushed off to Augusta to avoid the
fury of a quickly gathered mob, who
stormed the depot at WarrenyilIe in
search of the supposed offender. Ar
rived in Augusta, Brown communicate
ed with the Aiken authorities and was
brought back to this city today and
lodged in Jail, where he remained for
but a short while, being released af-
ter brief investigation of the situa-
ton at Warrenville He was re-arrest-
ed tonight on warrant taken out
before Magistrate Craig
Browns Version of Affair.
1t seems that upon the arrival at
Warrenville of the night train from
Columbia, bound for Augusta, a young
matron, carrying in her arms con-
siderable number of bundles, alighted
from the train. Mr.. Brown, it is stat
ed, secured, her arm ana endeavored
to assist her across the adjacent troll
lev track, whereupon she began to
scream, crying that he was insulting
her. Mr.. Brown released her, return
ing to his Office.
With inconceivable rapidity the
news went through the little village
that Brown had most dagrantly insult
ed the young woman, and a mob OF
armed men gathered and marched to
the depot. But when they arrived
Magistrate Craig had secured the
young man, and both had boarded the
train passing from Branchville to Au-
susta. Thus was the mob eluded.
Brought to Aiken.
Rural Policeman Holley was in
formed of the affair through tele-
: phone message from Augusta, and he,
accompanied by Sheriff Raborn and
Rural Policemen Busbee and Samuels,
met the 7.30 a. M train at Langley and
from there escorted the young man to
the Aiken county jail, Magistrate Craig
leaving the train at Warrenyille.
However, Mr.. Brown was confined
to the jail for only about two hours.
An investigation was evidently gone
into at Warrenville, for an order was
received about 9 o'clock, requesting
his release; that there was nothing
to the affair.
Immediately after his release an in
terview was obtained with Mr.. Brown
by the News and Courier correspond
ent, at which time the former gave the
following account of the affair:
Statement by Brown.
Upon the arrival Wednesday night
of Second No. Z, from Columbia, a
lady alighted and requested that
packages, which she carried, be al
lowed to remain temporarily in the
Office; that is, the Warrenville office.
Brown was busy at the key for the
moment and the woman was seated.
At the expiration of possibly three
minutes Mr.. Brown became disengag-
ed, turned to the woman and inquired
of her what service he could render,
whereupon she, reiterated her desire to
have her packages remain in the care
of the Office, and to this the agent ac-
: quiesced.
Leaving his key open and authoriz-
ing Operator j. NJ. Rush to take his
chair, he escorted the lady from the
ofice-which is temporarily a car box,
since the recent destruction by fire of
the depot building-across the railroad
track. Owing to the late confagration
at the station the yard is dark and
Brown deemed it incumbent upon him
self to further assist her across the
adjacent trolley track, which is some
fifty years distant from the Office. And
it was here that she screamed, crying
that he had insulted her by securing
her arm in the dark.