The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-06-14
ALBERT ANNIS ARRESTED FOR
ASSAULTING LITTLE INA
STRATTON.

Sheriff Geddes received! word Thurs
day afternoon that the man who assault
ed Robert STATIONS little girl Tuesday
morning had been seen near Good Thun-
der, and asking that he go out there.
The sheriff arrived there in the evening
and found that o. A. Austin, of Good
Thunder, had arrested a Young man
named Albert Annis four miles south of
that town on the charge of being the
man wanted for the assault. The sheriff
brought him to Mankato Thursday night
and the prisoner is now safely lodged in
the county Jail. He has thus far de-
clined to speak of the matter, and the
only reference he made to il was to ask
who the girl was. He said nothing when
arrested for the crime. Alfred Johnston,
of Rapidan, who saw the man just be-
fore the assault was committed, was in
the city to-day, and positively identifies
Annis as the man wanted. The sheriff
left Friday noon to procure all the per-
sons who saw the man after the outrage,
especially Mr.. wager, who was stood OIL
with revolver during the chase. A re-
vclver, by the way, was found on Annis'
person, but the six cartridge shells were
empty.
Annis is not over twenty-five years of
age, and is an adopted son of AFRO An
mis-, a respected farmer of Sterling. He
has always lived in the country. Two
years ago he was convicted of attempted
assault on a female, and served two
years in the penitentiary, being release
ed last December.
/ 1t seems that the girl, Ina Stratton.
who was assaulted Tuesday, suffered an
attempted assault last winter, but the
matter was kept still. 1t is not known
whether Annis made that assault. The
girl is about thirteen years old.
Albert Annis was Saturday forenoon
positively identified as the man who as
saulted Ina Stratton Tuesday morning.
The girl herself, Chas. wager and the
others who saw the scoundrel Tuesday
morning were in the city this forenoon
and identified Annis as the man, beyond
the possibility of a doubt. After first
giving detailed and correct descriptions
of the man, they were taken separately
into the Jail corridor and picked Annis
out from among the prisoners, who were
formed in a circle and caused to march
around. Each one picked out Anpis
without any hesistancy, although the
prisoner had shaved his beard since
they had last seen him. The sheriff
found much corroboratorv evidence
yesterday afternoon while out in Rapi-
dan and Garden City towns. Annis left
the place where he was working Mon
day night and went to the place of the
assault, leaving his satchel and overcoat
near his uncle's. He returned to his
uncle's place Tuesday evening by cir.
cuituous route. Here he shaved and
started south Thursday and was caught
during the day. He had been traced
along the Maple river until he turned
towards his uncle's place. His own ac'
count of his movements is conflicting
He does not deny the crime, and re-
fused to face his victim Saturday fore
noon.
Albert Annis was taken before Judge
Porter Saturday afternoon and waived
an examination. He was bound over to
the next grand jury and was committed
| to Jail, as the Judge has no authority tc
place the bail in such cases.