The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-09-11
AN OUTRAGE
Attempted ON the Person of Mrs.
John Gilmore. of Garden City.

On the evening of Sept.4t at about
the hour Of nine.a most dastardly out
rage was attempted by an unknown
villain upon the person of Mrs. John
Gilmore. of Garden City. The facts
in regard to the case are these:
A man wearing a white handker-
chief across the lower part of his face,
and hat pulled over his eyes, entered
the house by the door. sliced Mrs. G..
by the arms. She broke away from
him, snatched up a chair to defend
herself: this he twisted out of her
hands, throwing her upon the bed.
She struggled and fought until she
succeeded in beating him off and re-
gained her feet. Then with desper-
ate determination he threw himself
upon her again, forcing her TO the
floor. She screamed for help. and he
drew a revolver, pointing the weapon
at her head. and with his left hand
around her throat attempted to out
rage her. In the struggle the fend
nearly tore the clothes from her body,
and after desperate fight she man.
aged to get away from him. He left
the house by the back door, ran into
the brush and escaped. A gun stood
in corner of the room that Mrs. G..
took up, but unfortunately it was not
loaded or she would have shot the
scoundrel in the back as he ran into
the brush. Her husband was out of
town at the time, but as soon as he
arrived he went to the telegraph office
at the depot to notify the sheriff at
this place, but found the office closed.
The next day Mr.. G.. came to this city
to see what could be done to catch
the villain. Mrs. @. says he wore a
Prince Albert coat. and had a dark
mustache which stuck straight out on
each side of his mouth: he is about 5
feet 10 inches high, and weighs about
150 pounds. The family came here
Saturday, and brother of Mrs. G.. took
her TO her parents near Eagle Lake to
stayuntil she RECEIVERS from her fright
This unfortunate affair occurred the
evening of the last day of the county
fair, and Mr.. G. is of the opinion the
villain was in attendance and does
not live in that vicinity. 1t is need
less to say what would have been done
with him had he been caught: at least
he would never have been able to
make the second attempt.
Saturday morning man who had
boarded the early train at Garden City
was arrested on suspicion and brought
to this place, but upon examination
proved not to be the ravisher in ques-
ton, and as yet no clue has been
gained.
Mention of this outrage has been
withheld for few days at the request
of those in search of the outrager, be-
lieying that if the matter was kept
quiet for a few days, their search
might prove more successful.
Albert Annis was arrested at his
home at Sterling at SIX o'clock this
morning on suspicion of being the
guilty party, the description answer
ing somewhat. He was brought to
this city and lodged in Jail, to await
the arrival of Mrs. Gilmore on this
afternoons train, in ord er that she
might identify him. Annis has served
two terms in the penitentiary for
similar offenses. being released last
spring.
On her return, Mrs. Gilmore, who is
very weak on account of the nervous
prostration following her terrible con-
fiict,w was assisted to the city hall. and
there at once picked Annis out from
the others there. She pointed her fin
ger at him and said decidedly, ''that
is the man." Annis did not change
countenance, and he denies the charge.
The examination was to have occurred
at three o'clock this afternoon, but
owing to Mrs. Gilmore's weakness it
was postponed until Sept. 10th at ten
O'Clock.
If this charge should be proved, the
extreme penalty of the law should be
imposed upon him. Having been
twice before convicted of similar or
worse offences, no mercy should be
shown him. 1t is question whether
hanging would not be too good for
him.