Muscogee County GaArchives Obituaries.....Lummus, Mrs. F. Edward August 1919
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Carla Miles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002476 September 28, 2005, 10:50 pm

The Butler Herald, August 21, 1919
The Butler Herald
Thursday, August 21, 1919
Page Five

Mrs. Lummus Dies As Result of Nervous Shock

Victim of Attack by Negro Highwayman Last June Succumbs to Injuries in North
Carolina

Columbus, Ga., Aug. 17 – Telegraphic news reached Columbus yesterday morning
conveyed the sad intelligence that Mrs. F. Edward Lummus wife of F. Edward
Lummus cotton gin manufacturer here, had passed away at Biltmore, N.C. Saturday
morning following, it is thought, nervous prostration succeeding the attack made
on her here last June 28th.

The Attack on Mrs. Lummus

On Saturday night at ten thirty o’clock last June 28th Mrs. Lummus was attacked
in her car at the Eleventh street culvert by a negro highwayman who, it is
thought, sought to rob her.  The burly attacker jumped on the running board of
the car and called to Mrs. Lummus to “stop that car” at the same time hitting
her several severe blows across the face and shoulders with a heavy stick.

Retaining her presence of mind sufficiently Mrs. Lummus accelerated the speed of
her care thereby throwing the negro off his balance and causing him to lose his
hold on the car, and in a semi-conscious condition she drove to Wheat’s Drug
Store, where first aid was administered, following which she was taken to her
home in Wynnton and kept under the constant attention of a physician.

Several days later Berry was taken before Solicitor General McLaughlin and
apparently sensing another grilling cross examination the negro became
frightened, and before Solicitor McLaughlin had asked him a single question the
negro said: “I confess robbing that white man but I don’t know nothing about
that negro or that white lady.”

Mrs. Lummus name had not been mentioned to the black nor had reference been made
to the attack on her.  Following this denial the negro was later taken from his
cell in the jail down to the jailer’s office where the Solicitor and Mrs.
Lummus, accompanied by her husband, awaited him.

When the black entered the room Solicitor McLaughlin stepped up to his side and
said suddenly: “stop that car!” The suddenness of the Solicitor’s ejaculation
brought from the negroes lips the apparent unconscious repetition of the
sentence.  Lunging his face forward and peering at Mrs. Lummus, who had raised
her veil the negro said sharply “Stop that car.”

Upon hearing the negro’s voice and the tone in which it was given Mrs. Lummus
stated to the Solicitor that she was positive that Berry was the identical black
that had attacked her.  Previous to bringing Berry before her Mrs. Lummus had
failed to recognize several other negroes that were presented.  It is said that
Mrs. Lummus late said that she might be mistaken as to the identity of the negro.

At the July session of the superior court Berry was convicted of one charge of
robbery and sentenced by Judge Howard to serve nine years in the penitentiary. 
Despite the web of circumstantial evidence that was woven about Berry he was not
tried on the charge of attacking Mrs. Lummus, but was ordered to be removed to
Clarke County chain gang at Athens by the state prison commissioner as a result
of a precautionary measure against mob violence.




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