Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-01
A YOUNG FIBND.
LOUIS HAGER MAKES TWO UNSUCCESSFUL
ATTEMPTS TO COMMIT RAPE
UuOn School Girls Not Yet in Their Teens-Arrsst-
ed Yesterday Afternoon, and OOnfssSss
His Guilt

On TUESDAY mOTuluB ZIG 1sDNAS@
published an account Of an attempted
outrage upon the person Of nine-year-
old girl at the Webster district school.
Yesterday it was learned that the young
scoundrel was guilty Of a second at
tempt at another place. Louis Hager'
a seventeen-Year-o boy, who lives with
his parents near the corner OF Thirty
seventh and Eof streets, was arrested
for the crime and confessed his guilt.
1t appears that Hager. who has been
working at the Grand Opera House Tor
a few days, was passing handbills on
Monday afternoon for coming attrSc-
tion at the theatre mentioned. ABOUT
2:3O o'clock he reached The Webster dis
trict school building and noticed Laura
Seabright, a nine-year-old daughter OF
the weIl-known dairyman out CaldwelPs
run, enter the girls closet In the school
yard. He followed her in, and locking
the door, grabbed the thoroughly
frightened girl. She attempted to
scream, hut he placed his fingers in her
mouth. She struggled so hard, how
ever, that he was compelled to release
her before accomplishing his vile pur-
pose.
1t seems that one attempt did not sat-
isfy the young fend, for about An hour,
later he followed little Eva Conrad into
the closet in the rear Of the Fifth ward
school building. He closed and fas-
tened the door behind him, but there
was no lock upon it. The little girl,
although badly frightened, fought des-
perately. According TO her story he
placed his fingers in her mouth to pre-
vent an outcrY, and she closed her teeth
upon them with such force that he was
compelled to release her. Here again
! he was unsuccessful in his pur-
pose. The little girl, who is a daughter
of Charles Conrad, OF 2l24 Eoff street,
made her way to the school building
and was found in the hall crying by her
| teacher, to whom she told the story OF
the attempted outrage. Miss Conrad
was sent to her home at once, and the
family physician, who was called, MADE
an examination and stated that the vii
lain had not accomplished his end.
The description of the aSsailant in
each case given by the girls left no
doubt in the minds Of the officers that
IL was the same person, supposltlon
which was strengthened by the interval
of time between which the assaults took
place. Acting upon this theory Otflcer
| Lukens Yesterday arrested Hager while
he was passing handbills at the matinee
at the Grand. He stoutly protested his
innocence, and told the officer a very
plausible story, which, however. he az
terward denied. He stated that he had
met boy at the south end OF the Mar
ket street bridge on Monday, who had
asked him TO allow him to pass some
bills. He gave him handful OF "dodg-
ers" and ticket for the performance.
Officer Lukens went out TO the home
OF the Seabright girl and brought her
up to police headquarters about three
o'clock yesterday afternoon. Hager
took his arrest very cody, and when the
officer and girl appeared was sitting In
the Chiefs private Office, with his legs
crossed, wearing an air OF unconcern,
and putting a cigarette. The Seabright
girl positively identified him as the per-
son who had attempted the outrage.
The officer then went down after Miss
Conrad, and returned in short time
with the girl, accompanied by her moth
err. When asked il Hager was the per-
son who assaulted her, the girl said he
was. Then Hager began to cry and
protested that he was innocent. The
little girl was affected and afterward
would not be positive that he was tho
person.
Finally BaQer broke down, and con-
fessed his guilt, in the presence OF sew
eral officers and the little girl and her
mother. He was then taken before JUS
tice Ankle, and committed to Jail to
await preliminary hearing on Friday
afternoon at two o'clock, in the jail
office.
Hager has been arrested several times
and has never borne good reputation.
About three years ago he was arrested
on charge of stealing money from
Quimby's news depot. He was con-
vcted at the next term Of Court on
three separate charges and served four
months In the county Jail. There was
preat deal Of Indignation expressed
yesterday when the facts in the case
were made public.