Armon Morrow-1920

HOOVER, BUSING, MORROW, SCHRADOR, TANKERSLEY

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 1/29/2020 at 17:24:09

Evening times-Republican, Monday, Oct 11, 1920, Marshalltown, IA, Page: 7

NEGRO HELD ON
SERIOUS CHARGE
~
ARMON MORROW ALLEGED TO
HAVE ATTEMPTED ASSAULT
ON WHITE GIRL
~
ACCUSED DENIES GUILT;
HELD NDER $5,000 BOND
~
Said to Have Entered Home
of Neighbor and Attempted
Criminal Assault on 18 Year
Old Martha Schrader-County Attorney Will
Insist on Positive Identification
~
Armon Morrow, a Negro, rooming at 309 South Sixth Avenue, was arrested at 9 o’clock Saturday night by Officer Maurice Cummings on a warrant charging assault, information having been filed by Mrs. Martha Busing, 307 South Sixth Avenue, for her daughter, Miss Martha Schrador, aged 18 years. The arrest of Morrow was made largely on suspicion and County Attorney A. B. Hoover will insist on positive identification by Mrs. Busing and her two daughters.

Morrow denies his guilt, declaring he was in his room at the time the assault is alleged to have been committed, between 11 and 12 o’clock Friday night. Mrs. Busing complained to Judge B. O. Tankersley Saturday afternoon, declaring she hesitated to file a charge because of the insistence of her daughter that the matter be kept quiet to protect her from the publicity attached to the case should an arrest be made.

The case was referred to the county attorney and Morrow was ordered taken into custody. He was found at his room Saturday night. In municipal court today he entered a plea of not guilty thru his attorney and hearing was set for 9 o’clock Wednesday morning. Morrow is in jail under bond of $5,000.

Sister Tells Story

Bernice Schrador, aged 13, sister of the alleged victim of the assault, told the police her story. She said she had remained up late getting her arithmetic lesson and that her mother and sister, Martha, had gone to bed. She went upstairs to her room, forgetting to put out the light in the sitting room. Her sister, who had gone to bed a half hour before, was asleep.

The girl had been probably a half hour and had just fallen asleep when she was awakened by some one near the bed. The intruder was described as Morrow. He was said to carry a revolver and told the girl if she made any noise he would shoot her.

The girl said she made no outcry. She then attempted to pinch her sister to awaken her.

Negro Assaults Sister

The Negro went to the opposite side of the bed and told the older sister to remain quiet or he would shoot her. The younger girl pulled the bed clothing over her head.

The Negro had gained entrance. She thought, thru an open window on the first floor and had ascended to the girl’s room, the window of which looks out on the window of Morrow’s room in the house next door to the south.

The mother claims to have recognized the Negro as he left the house. Martha Schrador was said to be hysterical Sunday and no statement was obtained from her by the officers. County Attorney Hoover expected to have a statement from her today.

Family Has Had Trouble

Mrs. Busing’s husband was electrocuted at the Iowa Railway and Light Company’s power plant three years ago. The younger daughter, who told the story of the crime, was the victim of an alleged attempted assault a year or two ago, in which a neighbor was accused but who was acquitted in district court.

The crime charged against Morrow is punishable by a tern of twenty years in the penitentiary. Morrow insists that he attended church Friday night and went from the church to his room, going immediately to bed. He came here last May from Alabama and is employed in the M. & St. L. round house.