The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-09-24
Knoxville Suspect Re.
leased by Grand Jury.

Knoxville, Tenn, Sept 22.-Franl1
Martin. young Negro man who was
arrested on Thursday morning, August
49,. and charged with an attempted
assault on Miss Jessie Parker. young
white woman. a teacher of the school
of Inskip, was given his release last
Thursday morning at 1880 o'clock
following a session of the Knox coun-
ty grand jury before which Miss
Parker appeared.
than an hour. The corridor of
the courthouse was filled with inter
ested spectators of both races, anxious
to know of the outcome of the hear
ing II was known that Martin would
be held for trial in criminal court
should the young white woman con-
tend that he was the person who as
saulted her on the morning in August
and should she change her former
statement that he was the man. his
release would be Immediately order
cd.
The door of the grand jury. room
opened and every eye. was directed
toward Foreman Robert Hood and at
each Of the jurors 'as they filed out
and from the expressions on their
faces one could not determine as to
the decision they had reached. The
room where Judge Nelson occupied
his bench. After turning over the
papers which contained a record of
their findings Judge Nelson stated
Gentlemen of the jury congratu-
late you upon your decision. After a
careful investigation of the facts In
the case you saw fit to exonerate the
unfortunate young Negro Of the se-
rious charges against him. The gull
ty person remains at large. ! now dis
miss each of you indefinitely The
clerk will order the sheriff to release
Martin"
News Editor Delivers Release Order.
From the very beginning Editor
that Martin was Innocent of the
charges against him: especially after
hearing the statement of the young
man shortly after mis- arrest. He was
among the spectators in the court
room Thursday morning. at the time
the grand jury returned q no ttrue
bill. Clerk D. B Walker, Of the Grim
inai court. had noticed the interest
The News had manifested in Martins
behalf and it was then that he Inn
mediately issued an order to Sheriff
w. t. Cate telling of the findings OF
the grand jury and ordering that Mar
tin be released. This order YVES plac..
ed in the hands of Editor Porter and
he imln ediately went to the county
iail and found Martin anxiously await
ting some words as to his fate.
"All right Frank. let's go" said
large iron cage where Martin together
with many other prisoners were con.
fined Must 1 bring my clothesY
was Martins query. Surely, unless
YOU want to make this your home"
vas the answer With a smile that
could only come from the. face OF
one that had been assured of his haV-
ing been freed of the serious charge
against him, Martin emerged into day
light and as he reached out his hand
to Austin Cate. thanking them for
their Kindness to him, his voice duiv-
cred and his eyes became tear dim
Think Sheriff For Kindness.
where is Sheriff Cater" queried
Martin. "I want to thank him. not
only for saving my life, but for the
Kindness that he and the rest of the
men at the jail have shown me during
fhe time have been in the jail
was very sorry to have been in the
predicnment which I was. but l
am grateful to Sheriff Cate because
believe he saved my life"
Many Contribute Money.
Martin walked from the county
iail to the Vine street section and
stopped at the office Of The Nows.
The report coon gained circulation
that ne was free man and had been
exonerated of the charges against
him and a large crowd filled the space
in front OF the office in an effort to
get a glimpse of the man Many