Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-27
NEGRO IS BROUGHT HERE
]. TO PREVENT LYNCH|NG
William II. Burgess Is Charged
With Attempted Assault on Two =
"a Women in Fairfax County.
GOVERNOR ACTS PROMPTLY
Gives Direction for Accused Man to
BE Held at Henrico Jail Pending
His Trial-Negro Is Said to Have
81 Confessed.

William II. Burgess. thirty-two years
old. of Halls Hill. Fairfax County. a
ing rather vicious face, breathed
4 deep sigh of evident relief last night
when the heavy doors of the Henrico
County Jail shut him in from the out
side world. The prisoners left hand
was heavily bandaged, and he was suf-
fering from n shot through the palm,
inflicted by officers from Sheriff AL
lison's Office in Fairfax County before
they effected his arrest on Saturday.
Burgess is said to have confessed to
an attempt to attack Mrs. Mildred Mil
Ter and Miss Mary Davis in Alexandria
County on Friday.
Burgess was brought to Richmond
for safekeeping on the order OF Cover
nor Stuart, when the Governor was
told over the long distance wires by
Sheriff Allison. Of Fairfax, and Sheriff
Fields, of Alexandria County, that there
was danger of the negro being lynched.
There will be no lynching i'll Nir-
Einia in this instance" said the Cover
nor. and ordered the prisoner sent to
Richmond at once. Sheriff Allison ar
rived with him on the $50 train last
night.
ESCORTED TO TRAIN ~
GUARD OF FIFTY SOLDIERS
It was admitted by the officer who
escorted the negro to Richmond shat
tho people of Fairfax and Alexandria
Coupties were greatly wrought up by
the alleged attempts Of the prisoner,
and SO intent was Sheriff Allison in
carrying out the stric: provisions of
Governor Stuart's demands TO safe
guard the prisoner. that the negro was
escorted TO the train between a squad
of fifty soldiers.
Richmond citizens had not been APP
prised of the grave crimes attempted
by the negro. and no excitement was
caused at Elba Station. when Sheriff
Sydnor and Chief OF Police T. Wilson
Seay. of Henrico County, met the Fair
fax sheriff and the prisoner there, and
transferred the negro to the Henrico
County Sherif's automobile. Heavily
handcuffed. the negro was soon at the
Jail. When asked several questions
by reporter for The Times Dispatch.
the prisoner made no reply and stared
at the floor. Sheriff Sydnor explained
that he had been told not to talk by
the officers.
MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER
BURGESS TO DE INSANE
1t was learned that many people in
County consider Burgess insane. 1t
was stated that he recently had been
released from Jail after waiting several
weeks for trial On charge of COM
hitting statutory crime. Sheriff AL
lson, while declaring that he wished
TO allay all danger of a lynching in
Virginia, admitted that Burgess had
confessed to him his attempt TO attack
both of the women. The confession
was said TO have been made by the
negro while the sheriff was taking him
from Clifton, where he was caught to
Fort Myer Heights.
1t was said that the first alleged at
tack of the negro occurred ut the home
OF Mrs. Miller, in Alexandria County,
Friday afternoon. She was alone and
she fought valiantly. Wrenching her
self free from the negro. she called for
help. and he is said TO have fed pre-
cipitatcly when he saw vehicle ap-
preaching. The search for BurEcss he
gan Immediately. Bloodhounds were
brought from Occoquan workhouse.
They picked up the negroes trail and
followed IL 10 his hiding place. When
he was driven from cover he ran, and
was shot in the hand.
1t appears, the sheriff said, that the
attempted attack on Miss Davis was
made by the negro while he was run
ming away from the Miller home. Mrs
Miller was struck in the mouth by the
negro when she fought him. and two OF
her teeth. We're Knocked out. Her lip
was lacefat6d by the blow. Miss Davis
was not struck. II seems but the sheriff
said she was still unconscious from the
shock OF the attack.
DROUGHT HERE ny DIRECTION
OF GOVERNOR STUART
Burgess has a wife and two children
at Halls Hill. He is said to have gone
10 work for the Southern Railway
near Fairfax on last Wednesday. He
stayed just two days and left without
asking for his pay. The attack on Mrs
Miller IL said to have occurred soon
after he had left his job.
Governor Stuart took charge OF the
case early yesterday. so far as direc.
tons went, and in every instance the
Governor told the law officers tina,
there was TO be no lynching.
II have saved the lives of severa
men and guaranteed to them the con
stitutional privilege OF trial by jury
said the Governor last night, and added
II have told Sheriff Sydnor and his as
sistants that they must take care O.
the prisoner intrusted TO their care
and the sheriff will have the entire ait
of the Governor in tho promises"
The death of william Page who wa
lynched at Lillian. Va. near IIeaths
VILE. on August II, WAS the first cas-
of lynching in Virginia in eighteen
years. The last lynching prior 10 tn
Page case was during the administra
ton OF Governor J. Hoge Tyler, when
negro was lynchcd near tho town o
Emporia.