The record-union., 1896-05-18
ARRESTED ON Two CHARGES.
GerlOSS Il. Bennett Landed in the City
Prison Yesterday.
Katie Hermann and Anna Peters Sa
He Committed Vile Assaults
on Them.

yesterday morning MIS- heIHidiiH,
who resides at 1922 F street, visited the
police station in company with her
daughter Katie and told story Whlch,
If true, surpaSseS anything Tor shock-
ing depravity that has occurred In this
city for a long time.
Her daughter Katie and her niece,
Anna Peters, she said, were outraged
on Saturday night by Geloss H. Ben
nett, who resides on + street, between
Sixteenth and Seventeenth.
Katie Hermann, who is IL years old,
corroborated the statement made by
her mother. and said that she and her
cousin, Anna Peters, started to her
mothers home from the Hibernla Ho-
tel, on Front street, where they were
both employed Bennett started to
walk home with them, but enticed them
to the river front, between } and X
streets, and there accomplished his vile
purpose at the point of pistol, fright
ening both girls, under fear or deatn,
into doing his bidding.
Officers Douglas and Fisher were sent
to run Bennett down, and shortly after
noon they succeeded in landing him In
the City Prison.
Bennett was somewhat vicious and
declared his unwillingness to enter the
JAIL and when there resented every
thing He stated that he would have
nothing to do with newspaper report
ers and that if one of them talked TO
him he would smash him in the face.
He said he had not been near the HI
bernia Hotel on Saturday night, but
said later that he was so drunk he DID
not know anything about what oc-
Cured.
In the meantime Chief Drew had sent
for Katie Hermann and Anna Peters,
the young women who accused Bennett
of the crime, and they, upon arriving,
at once identified him as being their
assailant.
Bennett had, according to Katie Her
mann's story, been meeting her clan
destinely for several months past, as
her mother had a dislike for him, but
had never shown any v1c1ouSness
prior to Saturday night. He had been
drinking, she said, and drew pistol
with the intention of shooting some
one. He represented that he was
police officer, and that he had recently
been appointed to fill the position occa-
stoned by the dismissal of Officer Ruth
erford.
She succeeded in getting the pistol
away from him, but gave it back when
he quieted down, and he showed no
evil disposition at the time he started
to escort the girls home.
Anna Peters said she was Bennett's
first victim. At the station she said
she got upon her knees and prayed her
assailant to spare her. He replied py
placing his pistol against her head ana
threatening her with immediate death
unless she submitted quietly. This she
did in order to save her life, ana was
then obliged to stand by and see her
cousin Katie assaulted.
Annie Peters is 19 years old, an or
phan. and has been in this country
only a few years. She is native OF
Germany.
Mrs. Hermann stated that she had
forbidden her daughter having any
thing to do with Bennett, and that she
did not know she had been disobeyed
until Katie told her the story OF the
outrage
Both girls seem to be very modest and
have the appearance OF having always
worked hard for a living. Bennett is
about % years old and is a painter IN
the railroad shops. If the story told by
the girls should be proven against him
he will be in exceedingly close quar-
ters. Two charges of criminal assault
have been preferred against him, ana
no pains will be spared to sift the mat
ter to the bottom
Last evening Bennett succeeded In
securing bondsmen and was admitted
to bail in the sum Of $1,000
Subsequently the Herman girl calied
at the police station, and while she dld
not deny that he had done as charged,
she said she regretted having had him
arrested.
The impression prevails that the
Peters girl is the one who has most to
cnnplain of.