Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1894-11-15
SHE WILL RECOVER.
Mrs. Tromer Not Fatally In
jured BY Her Would.be
Murderer.
ViDlers Removed From the
County As a Precau-
ton.

DR.. Baldwin returned Thursday night
from LsMoure county where he had
been to attend Mrs. Tromer, the woman
whom NJ. j. Villers, now IN jall, is
claimed to have attempted to murder.
The woman was found to be in bad con-
dition and her body bore marks OF
inhuman treatment. All that could be
done to relieve her suf1enngs was done
and when he left her she was doing we'll
and resting easily under the care OF
kind and attentive neighbors. The
community there is thoroughly aroused
and are doing all in their power to bring
the assailant to justice. Contradictory
stories and damaging incidents are re-
ported which make the outlook for
Villers not the brightest. but he upon
his trial, may, however, prove many to
be without foundation. Villers is we'll
known throughout this county, and in
a portion of LaMoure county as we'll,
and is SAID to be an ex-sheriff in Michi-
gan, where he formerly resided.
Speaking Of the wounds which Mrs.
Tromer received, DR.. Baldwin states that
besides several ugly scalp wounds, a rag
ged cut or tear on the face, extending to
and across the bridge OF the nose and up
on the forehead, there are bruises on her
arms, back, shoulders, cheek, knee aod
elsewhere, indicating inhuman treat
ment. Two of the front teeth were
knocked out and the left hand Is swollen
and puffed up, as though several of the
6neers were broken, but an examination
. disclosed no injury except to the flesh.
During the early part OF yesterday the
injured woman went into series of con-
vulsions and spasms, but under skilled
treatment was greatly improved when
left by the doctor.
Mrs. Tromer ls simple minded Ger
man woman who speaks English imper-
fectly. In q fragmentary manner and
finally entirely, the story OF the crime
has been drawn from her and is in sub.
stance somewhat az follows:
On the evening stated che was visited
by Vlllers, who raped on the window
and invited her out Of the house, CLAIM
ing that his team prevented bis entrance
OF the house to her. Something vas said
about provisions and bis wife being in
the wagon, and Mrs. Tromer stepped out
to the barn, distant several rods from
the house. Here she was assaulted and
thrown feet first into we'll in the
barn. There was considerable water IN
the well-many feet-the distance from
the surface Of the water to the top OF
the we'll being about Is feet. Fire wae
then set to the barn, which was built Of
sod and bad straw roof. Soon after
this her aeaa;lant left the place.
The oldest child, q girl OF about
years of age, who had evidently been keep
ing watch on the proceedings. after the
disappearance OF Villers, lighted 4
lantern, ran to the we'll, called bel
mother and held the light in the we'll &C
that she could crawl out. The we'll was
stoned up and quite narrow, so that by
placing her hands and feet in the crew.
ICES between the rock reached the top
She states that she does not know now
how she ever had the strength, bruised
and bleeding, her face covered witt
blood which trickled from severa
wounds, to climb that Is feet OF stone
curbing. With her garments clinging tc
her, wet with blood and water, she gath
cred the frightened children around bel
and hid in the cellar OF the house unit
daylight, fearing temperance OF bel
| would -be.murderer. The wounds "bled
out" or clogged, and when daylight ap
peared she barely had strength sutticien,
to crawl to the house OF Mr.. Jordan
nearly two miles away, where she waf
Immediately cared for.
There is another question in relation tc
this crime which is being closely looked
into by the LaMoure county authorities
and that is, where is August Tromers
the husband Of the injured woman. he
has been absent for about five weeks
nothing heard from him and foul play il
suspected; also that he never lett the
county. All day Thursday searching
parties were out examining sll vacant
buildings, rsvines and any place where
it il suspected that the body may have
been secreted. The popularity about
his disappearance, it is rumored.'s that
Mr.. Villers and one Of his sons are al
that seem to know anything about the
last movements of Mr.. Tromer. The
little girl 10 said TO have gone to Mr.
Villers', after her fathers absence o.
several weeks, and asked about him
She was told that her father had gone te
st. Paul, it is said, for treatment for BIZ
ewes. and was carried to the depot b,