Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1919-04-25


Fountain left the Baltimore city jail
for Easton he asked for and was given
permission to shave his mustacbe. and
that he had changed his clothes after
leaving Easton.
In her account Of the attack Bertha
Simpson said she had left school on
April at $3.50 o'clock in the afternoon,
and after going to the postofice and
paying a visit to her aunt. took her
way up the Trappe road toward her
home.
As she was walking along. she as
serted the buggy driven by the negro
came up and Fountain jumped out.
The negro told her. she said, to get in
and ride with him or he would shoot
her.
She got in. according to her story,
and was driven along a road which
turned into the woods. Some distance
from the main road she said. the negro
stopped the horse and got out. At the
same time, she said, she jumped from
the buggy and started TO run.
After few steps, however, the
negro caught her, she said. and threw
her to the ground. She continued to
fight him. she stated, and did not lose
consciousness.
As soon as the negro released her.
according to her story, she got up and
started to run. As to what happened
after that her memory seems to be a
blank. She did recall. she said. going
to the house OF Harriet Freeman, col.
ored, who once did washing for her
grandmother, and asked to be taken
home.
Eugene oDunne. attorney for the
negro, attempted to break down the
testimony of the girl. but was unsuc-
cessful While cross-duestioning the
child, Mr.. O'Dunne showed her every
consideration.
Tillman Slaughter. colored, OF
Trappe Station, was the next witness
OF Importance. and said he was haul
ing hay from Trappe to Easton on
the afternoon Of the alleged crime,
and that about a mile and quarter
from the scene Of the alleged assault
he saw Fountain driving along with
horse and buggy. He said there was
no mistake about the mans identity.
as he had known Fountain from the
time he was born. Other negroes told
Of seeing Fountain In the neighbor-
hood about the same time.
The State contended that Fountain
was driving a horse with shoe of
the left hind foot and that the buggy
had a broken tire on the left rear
wheel A blacksmith named Mullilxin
testified that he put shoe on the left
hind foot of horse for Fountain and
testimony was produced to show thai
horse with three shoes on and
wheel with a broken tire was at the
scene of the alleged crime. The wheel
with the broken tire. said to have
been on Fountains buggy, was ex-
hibited in court.
Dr. Ross testified that he was sent
for Immediately after the attack is
said to have occurred. and that the
girl had been criminally assaulted.
The jury was selected from 81
talesmen in hours and 10 minutes,
remarkably quick time.
The negro, upon being brought into
court, appeared very nervous and ex,
hibited some fear of the crowd which
packed the room. He kept close to
Sergeant Frank Parr. who brought
him in. and seemed to draw away
from the crowd. The father OF the
girl who was assaulted, Robert simp-
son, came with his wife's parents.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Diffenderfer, they
being among the first to arrive.
Despite the force OF deputy sheriffs.
which has been augmented by squad
of eight patrolmen under the command
of two sergeants from Baltimore. there
have been repeated threats of lynch.
ing.
Long before daylight the crowds be
gan to gather around the Courthouse
and jail. clamoring for admission to
the courtroom The uniformed police
men VIZ oeoOu 6uaAd all uibul Ou tue
outside of the buildings had their time
well occupied in keeping the men at a
safe distance. Knowing the feeling
that exists among the white people OF
the county the police were prepared
for any eventuality, and it was with
some relief that the authorities saw
the sun rise as they felt better able
to handle the situation in daylight.
The crowd wanted to get into the
Courthouse and find front seats. They
we're aware of the fact that only sew
eral hundred could be accommodated
in the courtroom and many thought
they could obtain the best places by
coming early, but they were met by
the bluecoats and turned back. No
one was allowed in the building until
$50 o'clock, when court convened.