A Fiendish Crime
January 9, 1897
Summary
A young African American girl is raped by a white man and her relatives turn him over to the authorities.
Transcription
Chula, Amelia Co., Dec. 28, 1896
A case of rape occurred about a half mile from my residence, Christmas day about night. A white man, Richard Booker by name, brutally ravished a little Negro girl, tearing most of her clothes from her and otherwise mutilating her person in accomplishing his dastardly purpose.
The brother, uncle and some friends of the girl went to his home after it was told by the girl and he then and there admitted that he was guilty begging them to spare his life.
This girl is between 11 and 12 years of age Booker was sent on to the Grand Jury, and for safe-keeping is now in Richmond jail.
The negroes are much wrought up, and only cooler heads prevent the most warlike from wreaking summary vengeance on the brute
A case of rape occurred about a half mile from my residence, Christmas day about night. A white man, Richard Booker by name, brutally ravished a little Negro girl, tearing most of her clothes from her and otherwise mutilating her person in accomplishing his dastardly purpose.
The brother, uncle and some friends of the girl went to his home after it was told by the girl and he then and there admitted that he was guilty begging them to spare his life.
This girl is between 11 and 12 years of age Booker was sent on to the Grand Jury, and for safe-keeping is now in Richmond jail.
The negroes are much wrought up, and only cooler heads prevent the most warlike from wreaking summary vengeance on the brute
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Brian Schrott
Citation
“A Fiendish Crime,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed March 15, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/21.