The Washington herald., 1917-08-27
TROOPS CALLED
0GUARD negro
Assaulter of Woman Hur-
ried from Alexandra
to Richmond.
Special to The washington Herald.

Special 10 The Washington Herald.
Alexandra, Va. Aug. 2s.-Fearing
mob violence at the hands OF
the wrought-up citizens Of Fairfax
County. Va. William H. Burgess,
colored, % years old. head for at
tempted criminal assaults on two
white women of that county, was
early tonight removed from the
Alexandria County Jail, on Fort Myer
Heights, and, under strong military
guard, placed abroad passenger
train in Alexandria and conveyed to
Richmond.
This action was taken by Gov.
Stuart who feared that Burgess might
be lynched by the citizens OF Fairfax
County. Gov. Stuart communicated
with the War Department and had the
members of Company G, First Nir:
ginia Regiment, this city, called out
to escort the negro TO 4 place Of
safety. At 4:30 O'Clock in the after
noon fI;ty-thrCe members of this COM
pany. commanded by Capt johnson
anG Lieut. Louis y. Duffy, boarded
special electric car and went TO the
jail al Fort Myer and the prisoner
was turned over to them. They re-
turned TO Alexandria on the car
shortly before o'clock and detTained
at the head of King street. near the
station.
Crowd Gathers ut Station.
The members OF this company car.
ried the prisoner to the Union Rail-
way Station with his hands cuffed in
front OF him. and by the time of their
arrival At the station a crowd
estimated at between 100 and go per-
sons, among whom were many women
and Sunday afternoon strollers. had
gathered
The crowd was pushed back by th'
military fifty feet on either side anc
the negro stood in the center Of tht
station platform. He appeared tht
least unconcerned of the crowd as
sembled and did not seem to be a BIZ
nervous.
After waiting about ten minutes tht
Richmond train pulled into the sta
tion at 7:02 o'clock and the prisoner
under a guard OF nine members OF the
local militia. and commanded by
Capt. Johnson. was quickly hustled
aboard the rear coach of the train
Accompanying the guard OF militia
were Sheriff Allison and Messrs
Wiley and Cross, Of Fairfax County
The Alexandra Guard went only s'
far as Fredericksburg with theil
quarry and then turned him over e
Sheriff Allison and his deputies. who
made the journey from Fredcricks.
burg TO Richmond without any trou
bic.
The Alexandria Guardsmcn returned
to the armory tonight
Expect speedy Trial.
It is expected that a special grand
jury will soon be called by lodge =
L. T. Thornton. OF the Circuit Court
Of Fairfax County. for the purpose
Of indicting Burgess. The indication,
are that the prisoner will be given g
speedy trial.
Burgess is charged with attempted
assault on two white women OF FAIR
fax County. The first was ATTEMPTED
on Mrs. Mildred Miller. Of Fairfax.
and the next on Miss Mary Davis. Il
years old. OF Clifton. Fairfax Count.
The attempted assault on Mrs. Mi
Ter took place Friday afternoon ard
Burgess fed on the approach % a
vehicle after a struggle with Mrs
Miller. The negro also fed after 4
tussel with Miss Davis.
Burgess, however. struck Mrs Mil
Ter in the mouth. breaking two teeth
and cutting her lip. He did not
strike Miss Davis
Burgess was employed as a laborer
and had a wife and two children liv-
ing st Halls Hill. Fairfax County
Last Wednesday he went TO work for
the Southern Railway Company as a
laborcr. being employed near Fair
fax.
The negro was taken in custody
Saturday night by a posse at Clifton
and was shot in the right wrist be-
fore he surrendered.