Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1904 — SERIOUS CRIME IN BENTON. [ARTICLE]

SERIOUS CRIME IN BENTON.

Benton county has been worked up to a high pitch of excitement for the past week over the dastardly crime of one Perry Sumner, A rural mail carrier whose route runs out of Fowler. On Wednesday of last week Sumner, who is about 50 years of age, and a stepson of postmaster Williams, induced Mrs. James Pritchett to let her 8-year-old daughter go out over the route with him. The child returned in the afternoon looking very pale and on inquiry from her mother stated that she had fallen against the step of the mail wagon and hart herself in getting out. Later her condition became such that a physician was called and the true cause of her trouble became known. In the meantime Sumner had decamped, or a lynching would once again have occurred in Benton county. A reward of several hundred dollars has been offered for the apprehension of the brnte and officers are searching for him, but at this writing he has not been captured. The child is reported in a serious condition.