Clay County AlArchives News.....Winston Foster convicted of Rape April 5, 1901
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Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 February 13, 2023, 11:43 pm

The Montgomery Advertiser April 5, 1901
Ashland Alabama April 4. A special grand Jury has been called by Hon. M. N. 
Manning, Judge of Clay County Court, to consider the case of Winston Foster 
(colored), who is charged with attempt to ravish a 3, year-old white child, 
daughter of one of the citizens of this place. The crime was committed last 
Saturday night, but the matter has been kept so quiet, but little is yet known. 
It appears that the negro boy, Foster, who is about 15 years old, decoyed the 
child to the barn of a neighbor, where the crime was attempted. Shortly 
afterwards the child having returned home, complained somewhat, and on inquiry 
told that the negro hurt her. Her father found the negro at once, and the latter 
made a partial confession, but denied the principal charge. The incensed father 
was with difficulty restrained from killing the negro. As it was, he beat him 
considerably, though one or two persons were trying to hold him to prevent his 
killing the negro. The negro was placed in jail here at once, and the matter 
kept as quiet as possible, to prevent a lynching. Monday night forty or more men 
came to town with the avowed purpose of taking the boy out of jail and lynching 
him, but on being told that a special grand jury had been called for the purpose 
of indicting the negro, they were persuaded to desist in their efforts. Fears 
are yet entertained as to the prisoner's safety, as there are mutterings of 
discontent occasionally heard because swift punishment was not visited upon the 
wretch.

The Weekly Advertiser Apr 19, 1901
The special Jury term of the County Court of Clay met and very promptly disposed 
of the only case before it, via. The State vs. Winston Foster, charged with 
rape. The defendant was found guilty, and his punishment was fixed at fifty 
years imprisonment in the State penitentiary. The prisoner's youth, he being 
only 13 or 14 years old, doubtless saved him from the gallows. 

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