The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-11-29
NEGRO KNIFER
TAKEN TO JAIL
Frank Thomas Runs knife Into William
Freeman, Negro, at WhitiHgham
Held Without Bail.

Following q hearing in the municipal
court yesterday before Judge Frank
ID. Z. Stowe, Frank Thomas. 81. the Ne
gro who cut another Negro by the name
OF William Freeman in a brawl near
Readsboro early Monday morning pleaded
not guilty to the charge of assault with
dangerous weapon with intent to kill.
lie waived examination, was bound over
10 the county court for trial and held
without bail. He was taken TO Newfane
yesterday afternoon.
Thomas said in court that he was
born IL Los Angeles and that his home is
1t 24S West G2d street. New York city.
In 1918 he was sent to Sing Sing prison
for term of not less than one and not
more than three years as the result of a
shooting affair. Thomas said he met a
man on a stairway and in some manner,
the revolver which was in his pocket WAS
discharged, a bullet striking the man.
After serving one year. Thomas was
parolled from Sing Sing for good be-
haYioF. lie was arrested again in New
York for staying out late at night, but
was let go.
Thomas seemed anxious TO tell the
court everything about himself and did
not hesitate to tell of his former troubles.
Regarding the brawl Monday morning,
Thomas said he was sitting on q trunk
al the boarding house of Charles White
where Thomas has his meals, when VIII
liam Freeman came into the house and
attempted to entice Thomas into q
gambling game. Thomas refused but the
other Negro kept nagging at him, pulling
Thomas's cap down over his face several
times. MT. White, who was sleeping IN
an adjoining room, was awakened by the
noises aud came into the room where the
two Negroes We're and requested that the
noise stop. The troublesome Negro CON
tinued his nagging AT Thomas and finding
that the latter was not 10 be enticed into
a game, be made move as to draw q re
yOlver Thomas then drew q pocket
knife the blade of which snapped open,
and made reach over the Negroes back
stabbing him between the shoulder blades.
The fracas was witnessed by Mr.. White
who will probably be the star witness IN
the case.
After Freeman was stabbed, Thomas
ran out of the house with Il pack of
Negroes after him, but Thomas managed
to keep fan enough ahead Of them White
he ran to Readsboro to get there IN time
to be lodged safely in jail before the mob
caught up with him He told the court
here Tuesday that he voluntarily asked
for police protection and gave. up the
knife and a loaded revolver which he was
CARRYING. Thomas feared that II the
other Negroes captured him, they would
string him up TO tree.
II was learned here Tuesday that the
injured man is not as severely hurt
ms was expected. From what can be
ttGFHeu Ht v d. pAiF ~ tiAt ~AeAt
who had inst come to the camp which
Is about three miles shove Readsbnro on
the railroad track He is in the Mason
Hangar camp threatened with pneumo-
MIA.
In explaining his case to the court,
Thomas said he had no education and
could not read nor write. He said he
never hurt anybody and that he didn't
have even sense enough to steal.
Sheriff Frank A. Wellfnan went TO
y Il. ers.E 8H,ra
prisoner 10 Brattleboro where be spent
the night in the iail On Elliot street.
Attorney Frank II. Barber was ap-
pointed counsel for Thomas.