Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-04-09
LOOKS LIKE
Father Sulek Bound Over On
A Charge OF Rape.

Father AdelbertS ulek had a hearing in
Justice kendall's court on Wednesday
on IA charge of rape. alleged to have been
committed by him upon the person OF
Agnes Osowski, the complaining wit
ness. The complainant, who was from
December 18th to March 10Th, a servant
in the house OF the defendant, alleged in
the complaint that upon two different
occasions during the month OF February
he had, through Misrepresentation, OBJ
tanned admittance TO her room, and had
forcibly violated her person. In her tes-
timony, she stated that this occurred
during the month of February, and that
she informed her parents on the day al
ter 1T occurred the first time. Her testi-
mony and that of her mother is, how
ever, contradictory. Her mother testified
that she went to Browns Valley on a
visit during the month OF February, not
returning until about the middle OF
March, and that upon her return Agnes
informed her OF what had happened and
she Immediately took her home. Joe
Maloney and Albert olney testified that
after it had leaked out that the Osow-
skis were charging the priest with Grim
inality, they visited the Osowski place
with II view to settling tie matter and
thus keep it from the public. Mrs. Osow-
ski offered to settle for 5000. They then
persuaded the Osowskis to go to the
priests house. Father Sulek offered to
pay the girl u balance of S12 which she
claimed was due her, but over which
there had been a dispute, he claiming
that he did not W. her so much. Mrs.
Osowski refused to sanction o settlement
for less than 5000, to which Father Su-
lex would not agree. As near as we can
ascertain, the facts in the case are these !:
During the fore part OF March, Father
Sulek took "A trip 90 North Dakota, and
upon his return he discovered that u keg
OF wine had been drank up during his
absence by young men who had frequen-
ted the house during his absence. He up
braided Miss Osowski, and in giving
vent to his Indignation, accused her OF
being "a public prostitute. He also made
this accusation iii the presence OF Mrs.
Osowski, who Immediately took Agnes
home. They afterwards visited his house
and threatened to prefer criminal char
ges against him unless he would pay
them the sum OF $4,000. This being re-
fused, they offered to accept 5000, which
he also refused. Only the girl and her
mother Were put on the stand Cor the
prosecution, and their evidence was not
at all corroborative. Besides this, Miss
Osowskis testimony on the stand and
her statements in private do not agree.
La private conversation with a certain
party in Webster, she stated, it is said,
that Father Sulek had violated her 49, or
20 times, while on the stand she only
claimed that it occurred twice. The
lao t.a1-,n III - -la,l Ill ...tl El,n.u.
neighbors, having, it is said, been con-
nected with questionable transacted in
the past. and no one up there takes any
stock in the charges. 1t looks very much
like a matchmaking scheme and it is hard
to see sufficient grounds in the testimony
submitted to warrant binding the de-
PENDANT over, which the court did in the
sum OF 5000 bonds.-Day County Herald.
The above is one OF the most distorted,
untrue, and misleading variations that
was ever designed to curry political
favor. Senator Kelley is no doubt labor
ing under the delusion that this sort OF
rot will advance his political chances and
make him solid with every voter in Gren-
vile Township.
AS IA matter OF fact, the whole article is
coniured up by friends OF the defendant,
and nothing OF Importance therein was
offered IN evide nee at the preliminary
hearing.
Father Adelbert Sulek did not go to
North Dakota until after a warrant had
been issued for his arrest and until an in
formation had been filed against him
and he had been suspended from the
clergy. The arrest would have been
made some time before but for the good
offices OF church officials, who wished to
avoid scandal. The Herald's account of
the case was not offered as evidence nor
much OF anything denying the charges OF
the complaint. 1t was no easy matter
for Sulek to get the very small bond re-
quired, 5000, and then the bondsmen
would only make the bond good until
the following Monday.
Free Pills. 4