By the Associated Press
Carthage, N.C., April 22—Search was continued here today for a negro alleged to have attacked a young girl near here Monday afternoon. Though thee was considerable interest in the case, the excitement which prevailed yesterday afternoon when it was believed the negro was surrounded in a patch of woods outside the city limits had, for the most part, subsided. Mob violence was no longer feared, it was stated, in the event of the negro’s capture.
Nine negroes were taken before the girl this morning after they had been arrested as suspects. She was unable to identify any of them. Among the men who were subsequently released was Dock Roberts, who was believed to have been the man wanted.
Posses continued their search through the country today, it was stated in the office of Sheriff Fry.
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Carthage, April 21—Despite the fact that armed posses have scoured the countryside in all directions last night and today, the unknown negro who attempted criminal assault upon the 16-year-old white school girl yesterday evening in broad daylight and in a short distance from a number of houses is still at large tonight. Excitement is still at white heat and the same precautions to prevent the escape of the assailant will be taken tonight.
Rumors of a strange negro bearing the description of the fugitive have come in from many sections of the county but the only one that apparently tended to give any trace of the fleeing negro is from Parkwood, this county.
It seems to be a certainty that a young yellow negro about 18 or 20 years old, of heavy build, which corresponds with the description given by the girl of her assailant, spent the night last night at the home of Ira Marly, a colored man. This man and his wife were very reticent about giving information to the officers and both were taken into custody and lodged in jail. Later the woman and several other suspects who had been arrested but proved to be not the man wanted were released. Marley is still in custody and was given an examination by Solicitor Don Phillips of Rockingham, who arrived on the scene this evening to direct the man hunt. Gordon Smith, assistant adjutant general, also is here assisting in the matter.
The crime is one of the boldest ever attempted in this section, according to the authorities. The young girl was on her way to her home, which is about a mile from town, from school. Her home is some distance from the highway and after she had left the roadway going along a path leading to her home, a negro sprang out of a small building as she passed, threw a strap around her neck, choking her so she could not cry out, and dragged her into a nearby woods. However, she put up a terrific fight and the noise made attracted the attention of two colored women nearby and they started to the scene, which caused the man to flee before he accomplished his purpose, leaving his cap in his hurry.
The women on being questioned claimed not to have seen him. They carried the young girl to her home, she being well-nigh unconscious, her clothing nearly torn off and her neck showing evidence of her terrible ordeal.
She is resting comfortably today and the physician called in states that she apparently will suffer no permanent ill effect.
Bloodhounds from Raeford were sent for and put upon the trial about 6 o’clock yesterday but they were unable to track the hunted man.
Officers of all nearby towns and counties have been furnished with a description of the wanted man and instructed to take all strange negroes answering the description into custody and notify Sheriff R.G. Fry, who will bring them in for identification. The arrest of the right man is expected hourly.
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Raleigh, April 21—According to a report received here late tonight from Carthage, the negro assailant of a young school girl was still at large with a continuing search of the surrounding country for him but fear of mob violence in the event of his capture has been diminished.
National guard companies at Asheboro, Raeford and Raleigh stood in readiness to proceed on immediate notice to Moore county should the situation demand their presence. Governor McLean and Adjutant General J. Van B. Metts were in constant communications with Carthage, the county seat, through the afternoon and evening, while Solicitor Donald Phillips of Rockingham and Assistant Adjutant General Gordon Smith were on the scene as representatives of the governor.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, April 22, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1925-04-22/ed-1/seq-1/#words=APRIL+22%2C+1925
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