Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-17
NEGRO ASSA|LANT
OF G|RLSLYNCHED
Northumberland Farmers Break
Virginia's l8-Year Record by
Hanging William Page.
WIT SAVES INTENDED VICTIM
Captured by Father, Taken From
Sheriff and Executed in School
Yard Within Four Hours.
WIT SAVES INTENDED VICTIM
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.]

Nirginias unblemished lynchinG record
of eighteen years standing has been
broken.
At Lillian. northumberland County.
within a few miles of Heathsville. Will
liam Page. n colored farm hand re-
Gently accepted for the new national
OF nearly 500 masked and grimly de-
termined farmers. following an at
tempted assault made upon the daugh-
ter and niece of Captain Truitt. one Of
the most prominent farmers on the
Northern Neck
That the assailant of the young
tirely to the presence Of mind dis
played by eighteen year old Miss
Truitt. the object of Pages attack
She it was who sped to her parents
home. after outwitting the negro. and
gave the alarm. Truitt, armed with a
shotgun loaded with buckshot. was on
the trail or the negro within a few
minutes. and captured him In less than
half an hour. Three hours later. the
negro's body was dangling from a tree
within the confines Of a small negro
settlement, and tile farmers who had
meted cut summary justice were dis
persing quietly for their homes.
The attack was made about s o'clock
in the evening and within a stones
throw of the 1ruitt residence Miss
Truitt and her young cousin were re-
turning home, when suddenly they
heard movement in the bushes be-
side the road. ana the burly form OF
negro appeared at their horses head.
AS the horse stepped, the negro slipped
rapidly TO the side of the buggy in
which the girls were driving
NEGRO GRABS GInLs AND
DRAGS THEM TO GROUND
Reaching in. he grabbed Miss Truitt
and her cousin by the arms. The elder
girl was too frightened to offer oppo-
sition for few seconds after the negro
caught hold Of Ler. and the younger
was quite paralyzed with fear~-How-
ever as she felt herself being dragged
| forth. Miss Truitt began to fight. She
hit the negro In the face, scratched
ana poked at his eyes. but. with her
cousin. was dragged forth to the
ground where the younger girl col
lapsed in heap.
with the collapse of the child, Page
turned his attention to Miss Truitt.
80 'biNe oA the HSnt which the young
woman MADE Page hurled her to the
ground. There she was being over
powered by the giant black when her
reaay Wit came to her assistance
pretending to see neichbor an
proaching along the road. she cryinEly
pleaded with him for aid. At first
.he negro did not notice the appeal.
but the girl cried out again for succor
Page heard and looked up. 1t was
while his face was elevated and ba1f-
turned toward her that Miss Truitt
recognized her assaiant as Page no
gro recently employed by her father.
AS the negro hesitated. Miss Tru,tt
once more begged assistance of the
imagined neighbor. insisting that he
hurry and save her. So sharp was her
demand. so true her acting, that Pare
released her and stood up ready tn
| meet assault
Hit him." the girl on the ground
! exclaimed.
With the words, Page gave one
glance around and took to his heels.
running up the road short distance
before plunging into the heavy woods
which bordered 1t.
REv1vES COUSIN AND
HURRIES HOME WITH NEWS
Miss Trutt revived her cousin and
hfted her into the buggy. in which
she drove rapidly the short distance
TO her home.
There the story OF the attempted
assault soon was sobbed out to Cap
tain Truitt. stanch old Virginian.
who places the safety of his women.
foik nrst and the majesty of the Com
monwealth second. and who is one Of
the foremost citizens of the Northern
Neck.
few minutes served to satisfy
Truitt that his daughter and niece were
unharmed. Within ten minutes after
the girls had arrived. he had secured
mis- shotgun, loaded it with buckshot
and. with pocketful of shells, was
on the road In search OF their assailant.
Captain Truitt knew the negroes Of
the neighhorhood aa well as he knew
the locality itself He first searched
assault and then proceeded at once
to the little store that stands just be-
tween the white and negro settlements.
Several farmers were loshng around
the counters as he entered, and It was
the dark figure at the rear His en-
trance had attracted no particular at
tentton. but the bristling command of
Hands up"' that he addressed to Page.
who was half hiding close to the back
OF the store. focused all eyes upon him.
Page with the others In the room.
wheeled toward Truitt. to look into the
muzzle of the double -barreled shotgun.
PAGE ONLY MAN WHO
RAISES ARMS INTO AIR
Slowly Pages arms went toward the
ceiling. The action would have been
self-convicting even II Miss Truitt. had
not Identified him positively to her
father, for all the farmers In the room
were too surprised to move. obeying
Truitt's orders, the negro advanced to
the front Of the store. and there. he
was secured BY others in the room at
the command OF Truitt. who continued
continued on Second Page 7.1.T7