Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1892-09-16

A DAS1ARDLY DEED |.
Henry Bs,ke Attempts an Assault
s --> Upon Eight-Year.Old Mamie
- La Police. ~S.
From satsr,a. y Dr..
J Last evening little Mamie LAP Polic,
had an escape from a fate worse thar
death. It was well for her assailan7
that he had failed in h',s diabolica
Intentions or summary justice woult
have been dealt out to him by aveng
ing citizens. Fortunately howevel
the girl was uninIured, while her a.
sailant Hes IN the county jail suffer
Ing from the effects of a spree, and
mentally tortured with the thoughts
OF his dastardly actions.
Heu.y j. Becker, a cigar maker
was released ;s.on1 the county jaf
Yesterday morning " whcl he ha5d
been serving 4 sg1tence FOR petit lar
ceny. As sooi as given his -..eedom
he commenced celebrating it by get
ting drunk. IA the afternoon HI
hired 4 livery team and drove owe,
to the West Side. About six O'Clock
last o%;nins little Mamie LaPoltce
was se.tt to 4 nelghbor.ng grocery
store on an errand. While returning
homo sne was overtaken by Becker
Who coaxed the child to get In the
buggy with him. The fellow drove
past the child's home, Ms
Lap dice lecC MIXING her child but in
the darkness was not positi &c
Mamie not returning, the poor
woman was nearly crazed with fe,al
and worry.
Driving about mile beyond the
house Becker stopped in the woods
and lifting the little child from the
carrle 70 carried her in the bush. He
first attempted to dug her by fore,
ing liquor down her throat, but the
child screamed and struggled 40 that
he desisted. The brute then threa t.
ened little Mamie that II she did not
keep still he would kill her. At the
time the child said he drew q knife
from his pocket and opened the
blade, but whether for the pun pose
of intimidating her, or for q most
fiendish purpose is not known. Fear
Ing that the CT les Of the child might
attract attention he finally left hel
in the woods and drove hastily back
to the city.
The child made her way home anG
told her mother of the matter. Th,
police were immediately notified o.
the al tempted assault, and q short
time asterw ard Chief Roy found Bee
ker who was finishing his spree. He
was >immideately locked up in tho
county tan before the matter was
generelly known or he would have
Jared BADLY at The hands of some o.
the citizens who have children O.
their own.
AS it was, when the news of the
assault became known, there was
considerable excitement, and more
than one pei >on was heard to re
mark that they would be willing tt
assist In meter4ng out summary jus
tice to the despfcable wr>tch, Will.
one man generously volunteered te
furnish a rope with which to string
him up. -,
Becker Is about ~ years OF age ant
is well known in this place, where h.
has worked as cigar maker for some
time.
DR.. Fortier examined the chil(
about 8 O'Clock lest evening, bu
found that she had not been injured
When q Transcript reporter called a
the house few minutes later, th
child was able to be around but wa4
evidently suffering from sever
nervousness and freight. Mamie is ,
pretty child OF about average size 70
one OF her age, with characterist Ii
French features, rich dark eyes, blacl
hair and a brunette complication.
Becker was seen this morning 1,
the county jail by Transcrip r.
POI Ter. He feels his position yer.
keenly, and attributes his presel
predicameut to liquor. II do not i {
member the first thing about tn
MATTER" he said in answer to que
tions. II commenced drinking ye.
terday morning with some friend
after being released from jail, and d.
not remember anything from tn
middle Of the afternoon until arrest
ed when on the way to the depot t
go to Fergus Falls. did not knos
until this morning what I was a,
rested for and could hardly believe
possible. can't remember the frs
thing about being out d. wing @
anything else In connection with tn
matter. You don't think it can be
put up Job on me, do your he aske
the reporter appealingly. On bein
informed that there was not til
slightest ground for such a chanc
he remarked, "Well, I'm In a prett
bad fix. That's what comes {
drinking"
Becker then asked about the gil
| and how old she was. On hearir
the particulars he seemed unable
realize that he cou:d be guilty OF SUI
O thing.
| When informed that considerab
feeling was shown around town la
night when the matter became know
he Immediately wanted to know If
was quieting down any. He eviden
" feared that he might possibly
assaulted when taken into court.
i Mrs. La Police, accompanied
Mamie, came over to County A
tOrney Ldndberg's office this mornil
and laid q formal complaint again
Becker. .....
In connections. with the. trout