Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-03
AROUND THE CITY.
An Assault Upon a Weak
minded Child.
OF THE ACCUSED.
Chamber Of Commerce Directors
Hold Meeting-Amusements
and Other Events.
ARREsT OF THE ACCUSED.

Yesterday it was reported to the po-
lice that at about 5 80 o'clock the little
twelve.year-old daughter of John Ter
race, an employee at Stoll's soda water
works, had beon outraged by man
named William Lascombe, in a vacant
lot near the residence of her parents, No.
134 Lazard street. The poor child, who
is almost an idiot and can make herself
understood only to her parents, was in
the habit Of playing by herself in the lot
in question. which ia close to her home.
Yesterday evening, as she was amusing
herself In her usual manner, a man
came across the street and spoke few
words to her, after which he sat down on
the ground near the sidewalk and en-
ticed her over to him. Two little girls,
aged 13 and 10, the daughters of Mr.. B.
j. Cook, the auctioneer, who lives on
the corner of Center and Lazard streets,
while passing shortly afterwards were
attracted by the child's sobs, and saw
the man taking liberties with her. They
were afraid to say anything about
the matter, however, on arriving home;
but just as they went into the house, the
Terrace child ran round the back of her
fathers house screaming. Mr.. Cook and
ex. Officer w. 81. Young. who weressitting
on the porch. noticed the child, but not
until learning of the affair subsequently
from the Terrace family, did they have
any idea of the cause. Mr.. Cook then
questioned his children and learned that
they had seen man, about As years of
age, dressed roughly and wearing long
hair and grey beard, with the Terrace
child. A search was instituted in the
neighborhood, but no one answering the
description could be found. In the
meantime Mr.. Terrace had returned from
work, and on being told of the affair,
proceeded tc Police Headquarters only to
learn that Mr.. Young. his neighbor, had
already preceded him. He then called
upon DR., Cole of Temple street, who &C.
companied him to his home, and after
an examination gof the child, stated as
his opinion that an attempted outrage
had undoubtedly taken place. Officer
Manning visited the place about seven
O'clock, but was unable to find any
less search in tho neighborhood, returned
affair. Ex.Oficer Young and Mr.. Cook
uotcTmlu6u " koop Ou tuo lOOk-Sub lOI
the man, who, from the description
given of him. was believed to be resi-
dent of shanty, near by, and at 8 :15
O'Clock their vigilance was rewarded
Young saw man Sinking along the
fence of some shanties across the street,
carrying bundle of blankets, and ran
over and placed him under arrest. He
took his prisoner to Mr.. Cooks house.
and both Tessie and Kittie readily iden-
titled him as the man they had seen.
Accompanied by Mr.. Cook, Young
marched the man up to the County Jail
and lodged him behind the bars on the
charge of assault with intent to commit
rape. The man was recognized at the
Jail as William Lascombe, former in.
mate of that institution, and he con-
irmed the recognition by acknowledging
that such was his name. He expressed
no surprise at his arrest, and admitted
that he had spoken to the Terrace child,
but he denied having attempted to harm
her. Mr.. Terrace, on learning of Las
combe's arrest, visited both City and
County Jails to confirm the report, and
was just in time to see the prisoner be-
fore he was locked up in the latter.