Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-08-25
WOMAN
Husband of Victim Appears and is
Attacked By Fiend .Assailant
Captured

county, Md, Witfiam Thomas, buils
negro, was arrested a. 2 o'clock yes.
terday afternoon by Constable ROLAND
J. Carpenter, altl was lodged safely
in the Jail here. He is charged with
having brutally assaulted Mrs. Samu-
el Boswell, wife of a farmer near In
dian Head, and also with assau!sng
Boswell.
Carpenter found the negro in hiding
in the woods about ten miles from
where the assault took place, and af-
ter covering him with revolver,
handcuffed him and spirited him
away to a waiting automobile, IN
which the dash to Ua Plata, county
seat of Chares county, WAS made.
Thomas is farmland aad was en-
ployed in the Pomonkey nelghbor'hood.
Early Saturday night he went TO the
home of Samuel Boswell, it is said,
sind after seeing that the farmer was
not at home; entered the house and
attempted no assault Mrs. Boswell,
who is a bcau'iful woman about 20
wears Of age. Boswell was at Irsiian
Head attending TO some personal bus
mess. As to,d to her hsuband End
neighhors, Mrs. Boswell was in her
home leaning over a table when the
negro walked up behind her. She was
alone in the room. and, with q sound
hat she desci'ibei as sounding like a
snall, the husky man seized her. and
bending her arms behir8l her, at
tempted to assault her.
She resisted with utmost force, and
attempted TO make an ouicry, hut the
infuratG& negro claspei his hand
over her mouth. Noise OF The scufllc
which followed attracted tNle small
Of the Boswell to- the room,
bur they were TOO vnrng I'D Tnas4 =.
even attempt to ilelp tire-r mother.
They only wcpt. Again and agaIin
the woman is said to have beaten off
the attacks Of the c0lored man. She
tried TO s:ezc something with which
she could strike him. bat he wrenchcd
and turne&5 her arms so that after Il
few minutes She was hardly able to
raise them.
The scuiTe continued for fully 20
minurs, when Boswell entered his
hcme and saw the negro as he was
almost about to accomplish his pur-
pose. Mrs. BosweIPs strength had
given away and she was practically
helpless in the ncgro's hands. Boswell
him and Mrs Boswell fell to
the floor in a swoon
More infuriated. the negro rushe"
at Mr.. Boswell The farmer grappled
with the burly brute and the flgrF,
VIII ch lasted for another 20 minutes,
was begun. The men grappled and
rolled on the floor and fortunately for
Mr.. Boswell his asssailant was un-
armed. The scene in the living room
of the modest little country home was
one that perhaps was never oefore
cnac ed in that section Of MA:yland.
Both men attacked one another, broke
loose and reattarked, fully determined
to kill if possible. While this was go
ing on Mrs. Boswell lay unconscious
on the floor and the three little chill
Gren looked on and wept with fright.
The negro gradually wore out the
&streng. h of the farmer and when he
was practically powerless, the half
crazed man insofently declared he
would carry out the intention of his
visit to the home. while the husband
looked on. This seemed to lnstiFl a
now life in the weakened husband,
and he made his way from the room
and, obtaining e heavy carving knife,
reattacked ..I1e coiored man.
When Thomas saw that his adver-
sary was armed, ne first started to
attack him and then ran from tnt
house. He was followed for short
distance by Boswell, but his strength
did not las, and Boswell could onl!
sound an alarm thai brought score:
of his neighbors and associates, as
we'll as medical :ld for the uncon
scious woman.
! News of the attempted assault or
the woman, who is highly esteemed II
that section, where she as known II
all, soon spread, ard it was not man.
,Infnutes before several posses Wer'
formed and started out 10 search th
woods and surrounding country 10
the man. Before leaving the Boswell
home they obtained rope, pltcn1ork
and guns, and declared they woul'
swing the negro on the tree neares