The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-07-19
THREE HELDFOR
ATTACK ONWoMAN

L. L. Williams, TT McGurt and
Miss "Bobbie" Niece 5were arrested
early yesterday morning pending all
investigation of the attAck Monday af-
ternoon on Mrs. AletHia Norman of
2121 College street, Chief Strick-
land and Detectives Kehy and ]. p.
Broom spent a busy tday yesterday
working on the case aid some devel-
opments are expected The three un-
der arrest stoutly deny any knowledge
ofthe crime.
Mrs. Norman was suffering yester-
day from the effects ii brutal treat
ment at the hands of two unknown
men. She was attacked in her home
late Monday afternoon and yesterday
her body was covered With black and
blue spots.
Chitf Strickland hasIseveral letters
in his Office that Mrs. Norman turned
over to the police after fhe attack had
been reported Mond}y afternoon.
Each letter is written.3n lead pencil
and contains the vilest sort. of Ian
guage and threats. The words kill
and beat to death are oH almost every
line and Mrs. Normans lis ordered to
"keep her mouth shut In several
parts of the letters. Each letter is
headed woman" and al are unsign-
ed. Officers said yesterday that the
contents of some Of the communica-
tions led to the arrest of Williams,
McGurt and Miss NeecS and they are
being held until thorongh investiga-
ton has been made. oficers say they
believe those under ARREST can give
some valuable information if they viii!
talk.
Mrs. Norman was the victim of a
brutal attack at her home while her
husband and three ehildren were
away. The home is located at 212l
College street and another dwelling is
located within IL feet,E Yesterday it
was said male occupsnt of the ad-
joining house was in hsaring distance
of the blows, but the assailants used
precaution to muffie the sounds and
thereby made getaway unnoticed by
neighbors.
Two white men enterSd the Norman
home and rap onstha door brought
Mrs. Norman to the rear Of her house
where she was grabbed gagged and
beaten. Mrs. Nornasa a ofi1ters that
her head and mouth were covered with
cloth and that one man beat her with
a stick and switch while the othe,
stood guard at the door. The woman
said her assailant landed hard blows
on her limbs. She said her clothing
was lifted and the stick was applied
to all parts of her body. Mrs. Nor.
man said the assailant applied hot
pepper to her bruised body and that
she fell in faint. The beating tool
place in the bath room.
City detectives made quick re
sponse to the alarm that was giver
some time after the assailants hat
left the Norman home. The officer:
located small stick on a bed and {
switch was picked up on the floor. Tn,
size of the bruised spots on Mrs. Nor
man pointed to the free use of tn,
stick. Officers made careful exam
ination of the premises and concluded
that the two men approached tn,
house from vacant lot unobserved b,
occupants of the dwelling at 2123 Col
lege street and that they left in tn
same direction.
Yesterday afternoon Chief Strick
land and Detectives Kelly and Broom
took McGurt and Williams to the Nor
man home, where they were pu
through a drill. The two men wer
brought back to the city prison to b.
held until the investigation is com
pleted McGurt and Williams name
do not appear in the last city direc
tory, but they are said to be elec
tricians.
Vengeance seemed to be the motiv
behind the brutal attack on Mrs. Nor
man, according to officers. The beat
ing followed a series of letters tina
appeared to mark the woman as tn
victim of an assault. The writer O
the letters expressed no fear of tn
police or law, and the daytime attac
is without a parallel in the history o
the police department.
The attack has stirred the Columbi
police force and every effort will b