Brutal Assault By A Negro Made On Miss Nellie Balcom

BRUTAL ASSAULT BY A NEGRO MADE ON MISS NELLIE BALCOM

She is Superintendent of Nurses at University Hospital -- Her Assailant Escaped in the Darkness

A brutal assault, by a negro, which was made on Miss Nellie Balcom, superintendent of nurses at the University hospital, on Sunday night last, came to light Wednesday.

Miss Balcom only recently came to the city to take up her present work. She had gone to St. Andrew's Episcopal church on Sunday evening and was returning to the hospital after the services by way of Ingalls street.

When she reached the corner of Thirteenth and Catherine streets she heard hurried footsteps behind her and had barely turned down Catherine street, when a brutal looking negro caught hold of her and attempted to force her to the ground.

HE CURSED SAVAGELY.

Miss Balcom, who is a strongly built woman, grappled with her assailant, who cursed savagely when he found that Miss Balcom was a stronger opponent than he probably anticipated.

But the young woman's strength was fast failing her and the brute might possibly have accomplished his purpose had the approach of two students not alarmed the highwayman. He released his grasp of the nurse and hurriendly disappeared into the darkness.

After the assault, Miss Balcom was so weak from fright and the force that she had expended in protecting herself that it was some time before she regained her normal self. She described the fellow who attacked her as rather tall, powerfully built, and of a coal-black color. He wore a cap which was well pulled down over his eyes.

Miss Balcom was accompanied to the hospital by the two students who came to her assistance.

MRS. CAMPBELL ATTACKED.

Other cases of attempted assaults have come to light on the heels of the Balcom affair, which seems to indicate that some scoundrels, or scoundrel, are regularly engaged in the work of attempting improprieties towards defenseless women.

Mrs. E. D. Campbell, who lives in one of the select portions of the city, was recently returning to her home in the early part of the evening, recently, when a man rushed from some place where he had hidden and grabbed her. She tore herself from his grasp and the assailant was frightened away by some chance passers by.

Mrs. Reighard, who lives in the same vicinity, had a similar experience. Both of the ladies declare that the man came up behind them and they were unaware of his presence until he touched them.