The Wilmington morning star., 1947-05-27

nome from a nearby DaTDecu'
make a purchase.
The little white woman.
mother of eight children, described
in detail how she was accosted by
the Negro, Bill Simmons, %, as
she took a shortcut through some
woods leading from the barbecue
stand to hel home.
Mrs. Wise said that he had
known Simmons, and a companion
of Simmons, who were standing be-
side the road as she approached
them. She said she held no fear
of the Negroes, because she did
know them.
Sac said that Simmons grabbed
her around the throa' as she left
the Wilmington highway, about n
mile from Clinton. She said that
he yanked off her shoes and start
ed dragging her across the field.
Her screams for help to the
Brewington Negro went unheeded,
she said. She asked BreWington to
call her husband, she continued
but he paid her no attention.
Brewington later said that ne was
afraid Of the Simmons Negro and
thought it best not to interfere.
Meanwhile, after a hearing
early Monday morning, Simmons
was spirited away to the state
penitentiary at Raleigh for safe
keeping. However, there W a S nc
threat OF mob violence, officers
said. He is being held without
bond for the August term OF Su-
perior Court here.
Exhibits Bruises
Mrs. Wise exhibited large purple
bruises on her throat and body
she said she received at the hands
of the Negro during the three-hour
night = marish experience he held
her prisoner.
She also had deep scratches on
her face, hands and back. She
said she fought and struggled with
him during the three hours as he
dragged her first to a tobacco
barn and then to a shed near his
fathers home.
Although the alleged attack oc-
curried in a thickly populated
area, Mrs. Wise's attempted
screams were muffled because of
the constant pressure on her
throat, she said.
She said she escaped from Sim
mons about midnight Sunday
night when voices we're heard in
the distance. She said she told the
Negro, "Yonder comes the law
AS he released her momentarlly,
she related, she screamed as best
she could, and she was heard by
Hosie Brewington's wife who re-
sides nearby. She made her way
to BreWington's home as Simmons
fled
She said that Simmons ccom
plished his purpose only once,
shortly before she finally was able
to get away. She notified her hus-
band who called the officers.
DR.. ]. H. Kendall, who examin-
ed Mrs. Wise, said she was near
col, apse from fright and eXhaus-
ton and that positive evidence of
the attack was found.
Negro Arrested
The Negro was arrested about
100 o'clock Monday morning at
the home of his father, Moses
Simmons, on the Wilmington high
way.
Simmons was given a prelimi-
nary hearing at 2 o'clock Monday
morning before Carlisle Jackson,
justice of the peace. Officers
quoted Simmons as acknowledge
ing the charge.
Jackson said that Simmons ap-
peared to be under the influence
of intoxicants and that his shirt
was torn to shreds.
Simmons had been living in
Washington. D. c., and other
northern points for the past six
years, his mother said, and had
returned home only last March.
She added that he was subject to
spells" at times.
Officers making the arrest in
Guided Sheriff Perry Lockeman.
Deputy Sheriff E. Weeks. Ernest
L. Cherry, Clinton police chief,
Braxton Packer and w R. Thorn
ton, also of the local police force.
and State Highway Patrolmen N.
H. Parrish and H. w. Petty.