Griffey, Clarksville (TN) Leaf Chronicle, October 2, 1894

Willis Griffey Captured by Officers Near Madisonville.

Taken to Princeton, Ky., and Lodged in Jail There to Prevent Lynching.

The LEAF-CHRONICLE contained an article Saturday about the search in this vicinity for Willis Griffey, colored, who had committed an outrage on a white girl near Lafayette. The New Era of Monday says:

“Saturday morning Messrs. Wm. Braeme and W. H. Merritt, of this city arrested four miles north of Madisonville, Willis Griffey, a negro who is charged with having committed an outrage upon the person of Lena Berry, an adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Davie, who live down on the Boddie farm–about three miles from Lafayette. The negro was brought to Hopkinsville at 5:18 Saturday afternoon and placed in the county jail, but as the local officers feared that an attempt wold be made to mob him, he was taken from the jail yesterday afternoon and carried over the O. V. to Princeton, where he is now in jail to await the action of the grand jury which is now in session.

“The crime was committed about a week ago, but the matter had been kept as quiet as possible in order that the criminal might be more easily captured. The girl, who is eighteen years of age, is an orphan who had been adopted and raised by Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Davie, an aged couple. The negro who committed the brutal deed lived with his wife on the same farm on which the girl and her foster parents lived. Last Sunday as she was returning from church, while passing through a patch of woods, reading a book as she rode, the negro seized her, dragged her from her horse, and after carrying her into the woods, committed an outrage upon her person.

“The girl says that after a severe struggle with the brute she fainted, and that she did not recover conciousness for several hours afterwards, and that as soon as she did, she informed the people at home of the negro’s deed. The negro at once left the community and was not seen again until captured near Madisonville, where he had gone to work on a farm.

“The negro, as a matter of course, denies his guilt, yet, strange to say, he knew as soon as he saw Merritt and Braeme what they wanted with him. For several days search was made in the Lafayette neighborhood for him, but it was found that he had taken his departure. It was known that he had relatives near Madisonville, so Merritt and Braeme went down there Friday night and had no difficulty in locating him. They waited until dinner time and then went to the house where he was staying and captured him. The arrest was made without any difficulty, on resistance being offered.

“All of the facts in the case will not be known until the girl appears before the grand jury. This, we understand, she will not be able to do for several days, as she is now confined to her bed, suffering from nervous prostration.

“The citizens of the Lafayette neighborhood are very much wrought up over the affair and the negro would undoubtedly have been lynched if he had fallen into their hands.

“As soon as the grand jury returns the indictment the negro will be brought back here and tried–if the law is not anticipated.”