The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-04-08
(From the St. Paul Dispatch, April ~
THE OAkDALE ASSAULT.
statement by One Of the Victims.

Editor St. Paul Dispatch:
In the account given in the DISPATCH OF
the outrage committed upon me, on the
evening of the 18th inst, one might infer
that Duschane had financial griev-
ance.'' or that the attack made upon me
was the result Of the refusal to lodge him
for the night. Either conclusion would
be incorrect, for, in the first place, having
discharged him paid him e0em more than
scos his due. He had left my
place for a period of five days.
When, on the evening of the 18th inst: he
returned sneakingly to my house, having
with him concealed weapon, heavy
monkey wrench. which does not belong
here, nor to any of my neighbors, the
lamp had just been lighted, and sat by
the stove, 'bareheaded and in slippers.
When Duschane appeared in the door
wav he presented himself to me as the
shadow of evil. Without rising | asked
him what he wanted. He said Il want
to sleep here I answered in a firm
tone that he could not do so. He seemed
to acouiesce, and asked my wife for some
article of dress of his which remained
here. She went Immediately to get 1t,
and during her momentary absence,
being still seated. Duschane fell upon me
and had given me four or five blows with
the wrench on the head before l could re-
alize anything. My wife then came to my
assistance and was enabled to gain my
feet. A struggle then commenced whict
| cannot describe. The lamp was upset
and We fought in darkness. The assall
ant had command Of the door and woulc
not let nv wife out for fear of an alarm
She then went through the window, leav
ing me to struggle with the brute. con
tinnued to hold the wrench, and In return
received severe kicking ant
choking. Duschane, apprehendinl
that help would soon b
at hand released his hold of me ant
fed.
When my wife got to the next hous
she was quite beside herself and did no
, know where she was, thinking at leas
; that was dead. l had been hit not les
than twenty times on the head, beside
, many bruises from heavy boots. NJ
vile n1Q WOuIlO Ott tuO ACaA
and a half inches in length. and the lob
5 of an ear split, and yet, wonderful as
/ NAV appear, we kept our feet to the enc
;. God alone sustained us, and Him we than
G for our deliverarce.
= hope to be able to attend to my ord
nary duties in week or so. l Woul
d have requested you to make this corre
. ton at an earlier date had been IN col
v dition to do so. hope the other cit
). papers will also correct.
q In connection with this affair ! may
IS permitted to remark-what every OF
,e will acknowledgement crime Of eye'
N kind is daily on the increase. While
IS the same time all men are not agreed
3 to the insufficiency of the penalty pr
.. yided for its punishment. When mt
derers, and kindred criminals are co
IN vinced that hanging is not "played Out
Of honest people may rest easier.
us dealing with our criminals It will De
&C. departure from charity to adopt the ma
X. i'm ian eye for an eye and tooth for
es TOOTH A strict criminal code, with
Of swift and rigid application is the b
"a preventive of crime. The sooner
tn Law aside sentiment" and ''philanthl
Is. py" as applied to law breakers OF
ef. descriptions, and return to common SCI
res in dealing With them, the better for
ct. State, and the people who dwell IN it.
ty Yours very respectfully,
i, W. ARMSTRONG