The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-11-06
A BAD CASE.

on TUESDAY evening some hall dozen
of our most highly respected ladies were
assaulted on Broad and one or two adj
joining streets, by an unknown man de-
scribed as being tail and wearing Il buff
falo overcoat. The assaults were made
almost in broad daylight the time being
between five and seven o'clock. As we
have been able TO CLEAN the facts they
are these:
The strange and very bad man was
proceeding south on Broad street when
he met two young ladies (sisters) i'm
front of {. IL. Parsons residence and in
proffering his arm To the eldest, of
course very much frightened them.
Very soon afterwards he met two other
young ladies, and by grasping one about
the waist caused them To scream most
vigorously for assistance. Going on a
little further hc met or rather came up
behind of our most estimable mar
ried ladies and threw his arms around
her. At first the lady supposed
il was her husband, but upon
looking up and observing herself held
by Il man six feet and two or three in
ches in height with buffalo overcoat on,
her fright can better be imagined than
described. She gave Il frantic scream.
at which the man let go hIs hold and
proceeded on his way. We should here
remark that that the MAJ was directing
his steps toward the business part of the
city. Coming this way until about in
front of q. w. Slade's residence on Sec
ond street, he came across q NOrwe-
gian m who was just returning
home. As he threw his arms around
her, she caught hold of the pickets
of the fence and screamed for help.
The mar then placed his hands over
her mouth, tore her from the fence and
threw her upon the walk, but her
frantic screams finally secured her re-
lease. This poor woman he left with
hands bleeding and frightened to a
point which rendered her almost speech
less. Smith Pierson came along at this
time and soon after Geo. Fox happened
along on his wav to tea. Finding that
tine lady resided in his neighborhood,
Mr.. Fox accompanied her home, while
Smith proceeded to notify the police of
the escapade of this man. Whoever the
miscreant was, he continued on his way
down town, and when opposite the
dies. lie embraced one ofthem Us he had
others, but her screams frightened him,
and he started off on u run.
Word having reached the police of
this individuals escapades search was
T made for a man answering the descrip-
ton mentioned. A very little time
thereafter chief Welch spotted whom he
believed TO be his a proceeding down
town, and followed him. When along
where the Northwestern company are
erecting their depot, he crossed the
street and went into an alley in rear of
the buildings on Front street. The
chief followed him, and demanded hil
attention ut City Hall. The man went
without any effort to defy. the man OF
law, out protested that he had done
nothing for which he was amenable tc
punishment. One or two of the ladies
who had been assaulted were sent fol
and recognized him as the man who had
| committed the assaults.
The man under arrest was JudsOn ID
Humiston, ESD, of Tivoli-a man who
l has always borne q first-class reputa
, ton, has a splendid family and is wei
= connected. Mr.. Ii. came to town Tues
E day for the purpose of contracting some
t wood, a commodity which he deals quite
extensively IN during the winter. Abou
= five o'clock he went to Marsh's butte
tub factory TO try and place u hundred
4 or two cords. Ii was about this tim'
and during his absence from the bust
ness streets that these ladies were as
y saulted, and answering the description
given, the circumstances pointed yer.
@ strongly to his guilt. On a Harran
for assault, sworn out by Mrs. Matsol
, the Norwegian woman mentioned above
g he was locked up for the night an
bailed out Wednesday. Thursday morn
ing was set for Il hearing of the case be
/. fore Judge Porter, but on motion of th
county attorney the prisoner was dis
charged from custody without trial.
T. As we have said, Mr.. IL. has Away
borne an unblemished character. ii
occasionally imbibes a little when /
- town. but MOI to ~ extent that fendel
e. him intoxicated to any considerable ~
n gree. On the evening of his arrest n
nt had been drinking some, but chief Welc
informs us that he was not intoxicate.
'o While the circumstantial evidence l
&c the case was strongly against him, Hun
ut iston's good character war decidedI
IN contradictory to his guilt as charge'
Ii is to be hoped that whoever the ra
'' cal was, he may be ~Gaught'and punlsht
ny TO The full extent of the law.
I'LL