Fiendish Crime
Submitted by Donnie PickardClinton Banner, April 6, 1882
An Agent Of the Devil, now in the County Jug Charged With a Fiendish Crime.
Thursday evening last, 29th, ult., Dr. T. L. Burris, deputy constable of White Oak township, brought in and turned over to the custody of Deputy Sheriff King, a young man named Jesse Agent, who gives his age as nineteen, charged with a most foul and brutal outrage upon the person of a little girl -infant, we might truthfully say - eleven years of age - Elzaida Tackett, daughter of Robert Tackett, Esq., a respected and industrious planter of that township. The damning deed is said to have been committed on the morning of the 26th, while the prisoner and his unfortunate little victim were hoeing together in the field. It appears the both reached the end of their respective rows at the same time, when, without a word of warning, he threw the child down dragging her some distance, and partially succeeding in accomplishing his hellish purpose. Her prayers and entreaties were of no avail. That is the little girl's statement, after regaining consciousness some hours afterwards, in answer to inquiries propounded her, which was verified by an examination, by two medical gentleman of that locality, and a visit to the scene of the outrage. She was reported in a dangerous condition. The lustful villain, becoming alarmed, immediately made himself scarce. The warrant was quickly sworn out before Justice Hamm, for his arrest, who committed him to the county jail at this place, to wait the action of the next grand jury, which honorable body assembles at Clinton the later part of next month. We omitted to state, however, that his capture was effected fifteen miles from the locality in which the crime occurred, the same day.