Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-09-14
NEGRO ATTEMPTS
ASSAULT UPON
SOMERSET LADY
James BOland Brutally Attacks
Lady Well known In POGO
mOke And Vicinity

The attack of James Rowland, negro
upon Mrs. Mary f. Waddy, in her
home on Wednesday Of last week, is
of special interest and concern to the
people of this community and that in
terest is mixed with more or less re-
sentiment.
Mrs. Waddy, before her marriage,
was we'll known here as Miss Nan
Hayward, daughter of the late Mr.. and
Mrs. John E. Hayward, most highly
respected and beloved family Of Som
erset county, and their near location
to Pocomoke, Identifies them with this
city, perhaps more closely than with
the population across the River.
1t was therefore, greatly regret
ted that Mrs. Waddy was fated to be
singled out as a victim of an attempt
ed assault. Her bravery in resisting
the brute was an evidence of that
strain which will fight to the death
for her honor, which strain was ex-
pected to be manifest in one of her
high class breeding. At this writing,
Mrs. Waddy is experiencing much
discomfort from her struggle with the
negro, but no serious injury was in
flicted other than that to her entire
nervous system.
The account of the assault as given
by the Somerset county papers is as
follows:
James Rowland, SO year old negro
who for the past four or five years
has been employed on the Wady
farm in East Princess Anne, was ar
rested on Wednesday evening and
charged with attempted criminal as
sault upon Mrs. VIM. Waddey, his
employer.
The attempted crime was said to
have been committed around three
o'clock in the afternoon, but so quietly
was the arrest made, and so great
was the secrecy surrounding the hear
ing before a local Magistrate, that
nothing as known of the crime un-
til around nine o'clock Wednesday
night.
According to reports, the negro
made his attempt around three o'clock
in the afternoon, at the Waddy home.
Mrs. Waddy was alone at the time
of the attack. Rowland is alleged to
have entered the kitchen of the home
and without the slightest warning
attempted his nefarious deed. Mrs.
Waddy resisted strenuously, and sue
ceeded in fighting off her assailant
The negro left the house, but remain
ed in the neighborhood, until Mrs.
Waddy's son returned home. 1t was
then Mrs. Waddey told of the at
tempted assault, and the authorities
were notified.
Officers went to the Waddy home
and, locating Rowland, brought him
to Princess Annei He was given a
hearing before a local Magistrate.
and Immediately rushed to Baltimore
for safe-keeping. Deputy Sheriff
Norman Dryden and Vernon Dryden
were in the car that carried the ac-
cused to Baltimore. They left Prin-
cess Anne around 7:30 o'clock and
were we'll on their way to Baltimore
before the attempted crime was gen.
orally known here.
Mrs. Waddy is the widow Of Will
liam Waddy, well-known farmer
of this section. Since her husbands
death over year ago, she has car
ried on farming operations, and re-
sides with her two children on her
East Princess Anne property.
Aside from a few minor bruises,
Mrs. Waddy was unframed. She
of course, is extremely nervous and
suffered from shock and fright, but
was treated by local physician, and
has regained her composure.
The Negro had been employed or
the Waddy farm for about four years
and the utmost confidence was placed
in him.
Rowland denies that he attempted
to commit assault. His story, as Civ.
en- to the officers, is that he was