The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1920-11-13
NEGRO SAVED FROM Crowd BY
SHERIFF..

Arlington, Texas, Nov. 11.-Quick
and determined action on the part Of
Sheriff Clark of Tarrant county saved
Robert Pitts, Negro. from death
or injury at the hands of a crowd
which surrounded the town calaboose
last Tuesday afternoon. The Negro
had been arrested on suspicion of
criminally assaulting 10 year-old
Aleitia Shipper Monday night. He
had confessed to the crime while
undergoing the third degree" but
afterwards denied his guilt A mob
surrounded the Jail and debated the
question of taking the man out and
hanging him.
Sheriff Clark after the crowd had
refused to dispense suddenly drove
an automobile through the mob.
placed the Negro in the car and
speeded away while officers fired
shots to scatter the crowd. TIE Ne
gro is no in the Fort Worth Jail and
the grand jury is investigating the
case with a view Of returning in
Jictments
Little Girl Attacked.
The near lynching came as the
result Of a brutal attack on Letha
Shipper, 10-year-old daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. G.. c. Shipper. highly re-
spected residents living in the north
eastern edge of Arlington. The little
girl was attacked Monday evening
within stones throw of her home
and for 20 minutes the black brute
kept the child in some high weeds
near pile of crossties along the
railroad right-of-way. She was drag
ged into the weeds as she was re-
turning from nearby grocery and
was almost within a stones throw
Of her home when attacked.
Pitt was first investigated Monday
night a short time after the attack
ON the girl became known. He was
found at his home about three blocks
from the scene of the crime and
denied all connection with the affair
He was permitted to remain at his
home but the house was watched
and kept under surveillance until
about noon the he was again taken
into custody. 1t was stated that the
Negro was taken into the woods by
a number of men and officers where
it was claimed that he made con-
fession and admitted attacking the
girl However, when he was taken
before the girl she stated that he
was not the person who had attacked
her. 1t was this statement that saved
the Negro, as he would have no
doubt been lynched had the child
identified him positively.
He was then taken to Arlington
and locked up in the calaboose, a
sheet iron affair about eight feet
square and which could have been
broken open in 10 minutes time.
In the meantime Sheriff Clark and
other officers from Ft. Worth reach
ed the scene and the battle to save
the life of the black was on. The
Jail is located right. in the heart
Of Arlington in the rear Of several
business houses and in a short time
4 mob of several hundred men and
boys had gathered around the place.
Several of the leading residents of
Arlington addressed the mob. They
detailed the circumstances and each
md every speaker stressed the point
hat they were willing and anxious
% see the Negro dealt with in a
summary manner IL they were sat
SIZED beyond any doubt of his guilt.
each speaker, however. pointed OUT
hat there was some doubt as to
he guilt of the Negro. They wanted,
however, to keep the Negro in the
,alaboose at Arlington until further
could be gathered.
Sheriff Clark announced that he
vas not satisfied that the Negro held
vas guilty and pleaded that he be
to take the black to Fort
Worth where he could be questioned
BY the district attorney and other
officials. II promise you that If he
.urns out to be the guilty person |
the grand jury will work all night
I necessary to investigate the case
and he will be given an immediate
rial, said the sheriff
"If he Is guilty you know he will
,e given the death penalty and his
life will pay the penalty You can
10 no more than take his life here.
The little girl has failed to identity
he man being held and the descrip-
ion she gives does not tally with
his man. 1t is a serious thing to
AXE mans life and / want you men
o think twice before doing anything |
ash"
Judge Makes Plea.
Judge Hosey followed Sheriff Clark
ind spoke along the same line. The
mob demurred to letting the black
,e removed. In the meantime the
sheriff disappeared He showed up
lgain in a few minutes driving
,ig automobile with a number of
deputies. Before the mob seemed to
grasp what being done the door of
the little calaboose had been un-
ocked and the Negro was hustled
INTO the automobile and the sheriff |
started of with the prisoner. A
little fight occurred at the calaboose |
ioor and the mob started to follow |
The sheriff's car when an officer
irew his pistol and fired into the
ground. The mob paused Just long |
enough to give the shefiff chance
10 get good start and he was soon
On the way to Fort Worth.