Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-25
WOODS SECURED
BY POSSE IN
MAN HUNT
Armed Men Seek Assailant
of Woman Clerk As
saulted Thursday
NEGROES TERRIFIED
penort That Ku-klux-Klan Will In
wade The State Is Taken Seriously
By Colored Population

Over $50 members of the Ku Klux
Klan Of Arlington and Fairfax
ccurties started out at 2:30 a. M,
TODAY TO scour the wooded hills sur
rounding Mclean for the negro who
assaulted Miss Agnes Hawkins
early yesterday, it is reported from
Mclean.
Out of the $50 only about %,
who acted as leaders. wore the white
gowns and masks of the order. The
territory between Mclean and Fair
fax courthouse was covered thor
oughly during the early morning
hours
Mclean. Va, March 25.--Tairfax
County bristled with excitement this
morning. as the search for the negro
VINO brutally assaulted Miss Agnes
NJ. Hawkins, United States govern
ment employc, continued.
Negroes in various parts Of the
county left their homes before mid
night and concealed themselves in
out Of the way places, as the re-
suit OF persistent rumor that the
Ku klux plan would take uD the
search because Of "incompetcrcy" on
the part of county authorities.
Searching parties, numbering in
all upward of 200 persons, searched
the countryside throughout the day
and night, armed with shot guns.
clubs and many other varieties OF
weapons. The early hours of this
morning found the searchers fSt,li
tirelessly pursuing their self chosen
labors.
AS the morning hours grew later,
the rumor of The ride of1the Ku
Klux Khan members bccD1Fn neore
widespread Negroes were in :
state Of frenzy, for the rumor ;n.i-
mated that the klansmen would visit
the home Of every negro in the
section, and wuld subject all to 4
thorouh examination in an effort
to find the characteristics Of the
assailant described by Miss Haw-
kins.
County officials were also alcrtiy
passed over the roads. for they too,
had heard the rumor of the klans-
mems ride, and they were prepared
to urge them to stop because they
believed that they would do more
harm than good BY terrorizing
the colored population.
One suspected negro. according
to county officials. has departed
from the county since the commits
sion Of the fiendish attack, hut his
return in momcntarily expected ''for
certain reasons"
Not satisfied with waiting. Act
ing Commonwealth Attorney Wilson
n. Farr. who throughout the day
had interviewed a number Of sus-
pcctcd persons-all Of whom proved
their innocence. Immediately wired
the police of Washington and Bal
timore to arrest any man answering
the description furnished.
The negro. William Johnson, who
has been missing since the crime.
is not thought To be involved in the
case Officials believe that ne fled
upon learning that warrant h"d
been issued for his arrest for MAX
ing whisky.
Tom FIil, another suspect,
wanted by the officers yesterday,
was interviewed and released by
county authorities.
The man who attacked Miss
Hawkins was described by her as
being niulatto about ) feet G
inches tall. young and not very
strong. He was a stranger. she
said.
Criticism was general among tie
citizcnrv regarding the way in
which the case has been handled by
Sheriff J. r Allison. Charges were
made that he had made no effort TO
stop the culprit from leaving the
comfy. and shat he had not notified
tha authorities of nearby sections.
Sheriff Allison has badly mud
died the case" hotly declared ore
of the men who has headed posse
of scarchcrs since the first report
Of the attack was made public.
yesterday he sat in his automo-
bile for four hours in the heart of
this town. and did not do anythin,r
TO honestly assist in the search. '
Sheriff Allison was interviewed
Yesterday afternoon. at WHICH L!nle
he stated that he had been here
since lunch time. 1t was dark before
he left
I'VE have not used bloodhounds
in this case because we believe that
they will not render any assist
ance," said the sheriff. "lf the
negro is not caught by nigh'fall we
will notify surrounding sections 70
watch outt for him to preTent him
from the l:aving the county"
Commonwealth Attorney Farr
held the opinion last night that
there was no danger Of a lynching
should the negro be caught. "The
people of. this county" he said, "ara
a law abiding people and we do not
(Continued nm Page Three)