Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-11-11
negro ADMITS Then
HE Denies Charge
Clarence Moss Is Not Man
Who Attacked Her, Says
Mrs. Minnie O'Neal
HE Is IN JAIL HERE
Tells Graphic Representative That He
Is Guilty, But Displays I'm
eaSiness.
HE Is IN JAIL HERE

Admitting that he had attempted
an assault upon Mrs. Minnie O'Neal,
80 years old, wife OF Jesse O'Neal,
one and one-half miles north of
Humphrey, this county, Tuesday, two
weeks ago, about $3.50 O'Clock in the
afternoon, Clarence Moss, whose
name on the warrant was given as
Clarence Fitzpatrick, was brought to
Pine Bluff Sunday and placed in jail
He will be given preliminary hear
ing Wednesday. Moss or Fitzpatrick,
is heavy built, tall negro who says
he is but 16 years old, but who has
the appearance of being 10 or 20
Later Moss denied the charge.
While the negro admits that he
grabbed her by the arm, there has
been some doubt as to whether he
is the guilty party. There have been
some who claim that the youth was
seen picking cotton on the day the
assault is alleged to have been COM
mitted. After seeing Moss in Jail
at Dewitt, Mrs O'Neal herself de-
clared that Fitzpatrick or Moss is not
her assailant, that he has the right
color, but is not of the same size DIS
the man who made an attack upon
her.
Fitzpatrick had been confined in
Jail at Dewitt for about week 1t
is said that the reward Of 500 is
Offered for the capture of Mrs.
O'NeArs assailhnt, led to strenuous
efforts to make the negro confess
and that he was threatened with
hanging unless he did confess.
Fitzpatrick was arrested at SCOTS,
near Dewitt, by Deputy Constable
Jim Acklin, who brought him to Pine
Bluff.
That Mrs. ONeal escaped rought
treatment at the hands of her as
sailant is due doubtless to her cool
ness and the fact that she employed
a clever ruse to throw him off and
force him to flee When she was
seized by the arm, she says she call
ed out as if her husband was near
and this frightened the negro away.
Fitzpatrick talked to represen-
tative of the Graphic yesterday af-
ternoon and stated plainly that. he
had grabbed Mrs. O'Neal by the arm.
This statement was made in the Of
flee of Magistrate Gabe Meyer, where
he had been brought by Deputy Con-
stable D. w. Stewart. He appeared
rather much confused as to details,
apparently was more or less nervous
and started visably when someone
in the office in a joking manner said
something about shooting. The re-
mark was not made in reference to
Fitzpatrick, but he seemingly thought
the remark was made concerning
him.
! II had, been out hunting in the
woods near Humphrey and did not
know just exactly where was at the
time" he said. II saw woman COM
ing and at first thought that It was
a colored woman. grabbed her by
the arm. but that Is all did. She
screamed and then l let 60 and went
away from there quick. l was ar
rested a few days later and was In
Jail at Dewitt about a week before
was brought here"
Later in talking to Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney E. W. Brock
man. Fitzpatrick said that he set his
gun aside and that following the
attempted assault he made wide
detour to come back and get it.
At the time the assault is alleged
to have been committed Mrs. O'Neal
had q bucket on her arm and was on
her way to get some milk.
Fitzpatrick will be given hearing
before Magistrate Meyer Wednesday.
In tn meantime he will be kept in
Jail at Pine Bluff, The specific
charge is assault with attempt to
commit rape. q