The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-08-21
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'p Brutality. Jatg
Our people were intensely excited, week ago,
ON learning Of an attempt, by low, filthy bruts,
10 commit nsmeless outrage on little girl 12
years Of age, tn daughter of highly respected
parents, whose nane, ct their request, W sup
press. The little eirl, in company with child
some six years old,swas playing near the rive,
bank in the vicinity Of the powder house, In the
edge Of East Ottawa, when the scoundrsl ap.
preached them, and addressing the children IN
hs bestial Language, seized the larger Of the two
and By force and threats attempted to accomplish
his hsllish object. The smaller one ran, scream.
ing. towards home, and soon exciting the attsn.
ton Of persons in hearing, the seoundrel became
alarmed and msds of, failing Of his object but
still inAicting> on his victim, in The ssrusglA
.aniss serious bruises. Within hkif a Asuurr
dossns Of men were in pursuit Of the brute, but
b hsd lodged them completely, and Is the chill.
dram could give no close description Of him, Il
was feared he had made good his escape. Next
day, however, on stating the fsets 70 Dstectivs
@. SC. Crane, that officer, without hesitation,
stated that he knew the man. and took imme.
diate steps to arrest him. A warrant was issusd
BY Justice Lockwood, and late on Sunday night
served on Richard E. Edgecombe, IT,, Who w
ut once arrested and put in jail. HI. Crane sus.
pscted him at once, not only from the general
description given, but because he had occasion, to
arrest him for like offence year ego, and
knsw Of several other Intellectual attempts Of the
kind he had been guilty of. In the affair year
ego, Edgecomhs had been let od only On secount
Of the unwillingness Of the parents, who were
highly respectable, to have the matter msds
public, and also with the stipulation that hs
should leave the city, which hs did for month
or two. When arrested on Sunday evening,
EdgeSombe made no denial Of the charge, and
only showed sullen, doggish disposition. Next
morning, when it became known that the brute
was arrested. large crowd gathered around tho
Court House, and for . time serious apprehen.
aions were felt Of an attempt TO break into Jail,
seize the scoundrel and Lynch him. However,
better counsels prevailed, and subsequently,, on
being fully identified by the little girls, and
waving examination, Edgecombe was admitted
70 bail in $4,000 for his appearance before the
Circuit Court, and as he can find no bail, he re.
mains in prison. Edgecombe himself is Of 70.
spectable family in this city. and but for his
bestial instincts in this one direction. would
otherwise probably be respectable.
ANOTHER CAsE!-On Monday evening. a
young man. said to be from the neighborhood Of
Sc0erx and ,i v;n1 b;s c.vno a. T.-n. p-.L.
grossly in.ulted, by bestial gesture and Ian.
guAgs. the daughter Of City Marshal Harris, on
La Sale street, west Of the Court House. He
was immediately arrested and lodged in Jail.
Next morning he was brought before Police
Magistrate Leavens, and fined to the full extent
Of the law, being $4l, including costs. Az the
fellow had but half that amount with him, he is
still in limbo. The only extenustion he had 10
offer was, that he was drunk at the time.