The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-08-08
A Beastly Attempt to Outrage
Little Girls Aged s
and g Years.
The Gray-Headed Old Sinner
Arrested and Held in the
Sum Of $1,000.
An Account Of the Crime as Re-
lated by Witnesses to a
Bazoo Reporter.

Mr.. Eugene W. Vest, a commercial trav.
eler OF this city, came in from South
west Missouri this morning and related 10
a BAZOO reporter the particulars OF ter
ribie crime which was attempted at Shor.
Greek, or Empire City, lew DAYS ago, al
| though the facts were not made public I'M
| TIL Tuesday, when the party whose name is
now covered with infamy was arrested.
AN OLD FIEND.
Residing at Empire City is man named
Smith, aged probably fifty wears, who has
TWO sons engaged in the grocery business,
they carrying on the same Tor their father.
but III their own name.
For some time past old man Smith has
been very attentive TO the little gir,s who
traded with him, but il was never known
until the present that he had base pur-
pose in view. He would give them nuts
and candies, thus getting himself into their
good graces. and. child-like, the little inno-
cents thought nothing OF the attentions
that were showered so freely upon them
On the day in question two children,
aged respectively eight and nine wears, the
daughters OF we'll kfown miners, entered
the store, when they were engaged
in conversation by old Smith. who
was even more profuse than formerly with
HIS PRETENDED KINDNESS
and bestowal Of candies. He talked with
them for some little time, and when they
were about to depart, after having con-
cluded their purchases, he told them ii
they would return in the evening he would
give each OF them twenty sticks ef candy.
They were not to meet him at the store,
IL L
would be In waiting.
The children were In high glee over the
prospects of rare treat, for, ON former
occasions, the old beast had been very
sparing in dealing out sweetmeat>, giving
them only enough to get into their good
graces OF course they agreed to the
proposition, and when they reached home
their mothers were informed OF smiths
offer, and at once saw through
THE DAMNABLE PLOT,
so determined upon revenge. They con-
suited together, and took several lady ac-
quaintances into their confidence, when il
was decided the children should meet old
Smith, according to promise, the women
following at a safe distance, ant. at the
proper time they would descend upon the
old reprobate with all their fury.
About dusk the children visited the spot
selected, where they were soon joined by
Smith, who gave them the candy promised,
and at the same time commenced taking
improper liberties with their persons, first
paying his attentions TO one and then to
the other, all of which conduct was wit
messed by the
LADIES WHO WERE sECRETFD
koh.,l Oh b,,t , sbn., l;,to,,o. o,roxx
They witnessed his actions for few mo-
ments, and when they perceived that he
was about To outrage one of the little girls,
they left their place of concealment and
made for him, when he at once beat
hasty retreat, and their utmost endeavors
to capture him proved unavailing. The
descent was not made a moment too soon,
for the child had already been slightly in
jured by the inhuman treatment 20 which
she had been subjected, and had the women
not put in an appearance just as they did,
Smith would undoubtedly have accom-
plished his object.
AT first il was decided to keep the matter
quiet, but the fathers Of the little girls, on
being made acquainted with the facts, de-
cided that
SMITH SHOULD BE ARRESTED,
and on TUESDAY he was taken in custody,
the arrest causing not little excitement.
He was taken before Justice Harvey, of
Empire City. before whom he had his pre-
liminary examination, and was bound over
to await the action OF the grand jury in
the sum of $1,000.
1t is said that Smith denies being guilty
of any intended wrong, but if the facts are
as related to the BAzOO's informant, he will
have not little difficulty in convincing
jury that such is the case.