Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-03
HELD TO THE GRIND JURY.

Joseph Sweeney Held to the Grand Jury
for Attempted Outrage of Christiana OLE
sOn--The Evidence.
The police court was crowded with an
idle, curious and almost vicious looking
throng yesterday morning, drawn thither
in the hope of picking up what salacious
morsels might be developed in the hearing
of the state against Joseph Sweeney,
charged with attempted rape on the per-
son of Christiana Oleson.
The affair happened on Thursday night,
and particulars we're given in Fridays is
sue of the GLOBE. The case was called at
$50 O'clock. August LARSEN was the first
witness. He testified as follows: Am en-
ployed by Mr.. Wright; knew Christiana
Oleson; knew the defendant by sight; wit
ness was out riding with Miss Oleson last
Thursday evening; they we're on their way
home when runaway horse came along;
witness jumped out and caught the runa-
way; Sweeney came up and witness told
him to take his cutter containing Miss Ole
son and follow him; defendant got in the
cutter and drove away; he drove fast; this
happened on Rice street at $50 p. M;
when defendant drove off, witness called
for him to come back.
CHRIsTIANA OLESON.
Christiana Oleson, the youthful victim,
was then sworn. Her testimony was as
follows: Witness had been riding with
LARSEN Thursday; after the runaway came
along Sweeny got in the cutter and drove
away as fast as he could. Defendant put
his arms around her and took improper
liberties with her; she Lad never seen him
before; witness got out of tbs cutter; she
was afraid something was wrong; when she
got out he followed her; he took hold of her
and turned her around, taking vulgar and
indecent liberties with her person; he put
his hand On her mouth and hurt her.
The witness then detailed what took
place, showing that an attempt had been
made to violate her person, the circum-
stances being not proper to appear in
print. The undergarments worn by the
witness were shown as evidence Of the
struggle.
HENRY NELSON.
keeper of a boarding house on Rice street,
where Miss Olsson is employed, was the
next witness. He testified to the return at
11:3O O'Clock Friday morning of the young
woman, who was excited; she stated that
defendant had tried to do something bad,
but had not succeeded.
Mrs. Nelson was next sworn and testified
that when Miss Oleson came home she was
in tears; she had told witness that defend
ant had tried to do something bad to her;
witness had examined her; had not found
that she was injured; the only evidence
being some blood on her clothing.
JOSEPH SWEENEY.
the defendant, was sworn and testified as
follows: On going home Thursday night
saw cutter coming down Rice street; a
man called to him and asked him to get in
the cutter and follow him; witness did so;
he drove around town for quite awhile:
when on Park avenue the girl stopped the
horse and got out; not desiring that she
should walk home he got out and pulled
her into the cutter; he then drove her
home. They drove out as far as the GEM
etery; had not done anything to her in the
sleigh; did not put his arms around her:
had merely expressed desire for illicit
conduct; had tried to kiss her. that wss
all.
He was held to the grand jusy and the
bail fixed at $4,000. He was committed.