The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-07
FLORENCE SLAWIK'S STORY
OF HIS ACTIONS AT HER FATHERS
HOME CAUSES Il A sENSA-
TIONg
ARLINGTON HILLS WAY.
by Mistake But Luckily Misses
Him..

shnOWA ~ nearly every one III the CITY,
is under arrest at the Rondo street sta
ton, charged with assault. Reidel
when he works makes q bluff at cut
ting trees and doing odd jobs at gar
dening. Yesterday morning he put in
an appearance at the residence of Emil
Slawik, at GO Front street, and was
hired to trim number of trees in front
of the residence. He had about COM
pleted his work when Mrs. Slawik had
occasion to go to a neighboring store.
There was no one left at the house but
Florence Slawik, the nine-year-old
daughter. The girl had occasion to go
down in the cellar and had been there
but moment when Reidel followed
her down. He attempted to take hold
Of the child, ard finally did grab her
in his arms. The girl, who is rather
large for her age, screamed and fought
the best she could, and Reidel en-
deaVored to brighten her by saying he
would throw her in the cistern if she
did not cease her cries. This only had
the effect Of making the child shrek
the louder and redouble her efforts to.
get away from the brute. She finally
slipped from his grasp and ran up the
stairs. Reidel followed ard chased. the
girl to the second story of the house.
She was well acquainted with the
premises and made her way by a rear
stairway to the yard and from there to
a neighbours house. 1Reidel left the
house and ran to the fence of Oakland
cemetery, through which he crawled
and was soon out of sight Mrs. Slawik
returned shortly after, and being ac-
quainted with the story, at oLce sent
word for the police. Before the officer
arrived, ReidePs brother called at the
house evidently in search Of the one
who had committed the assault. The
men, in general way, resemble each
other, and Mrs. Slawik, seeing him ap-
preaching the house seized a revolver
and took a shot at him. Both Mrs.
Slawik and the neighbors who were at
tracted by the sound of the pistol shot
were Of the opinion that the bullet took
effect, but later in the day the police
visited the dugout occupied by the Rel
dels near the Mississippi street bridge.
and they say the fellow escaped unin-
jured. r,9t.
Mrs. Slawik was much relieved when
she heard that the case of mistaken
Identity had not resulted in her shoot
Ing the wrong man, but said she wished
1t had been the other one and that her
shot had taken effect 4.-Na5 ss,ts s,4
The Reidels are well known charac-
tiers and are known as Holy joe and
MS brother. Some years ago Frank
Reldel, the one who is now under ar
rest, was the center of attraction on the
streets. He invariably went without
hat or shoes, and with his hands clasp
al I,ir a
closed as if in prayer, tramped the
streets at all hours of the day and
night. He usually took the daylight for
his Wanderings, and while apparently
unconscious of the attention his actions
attracted. he always seemed to pick out
the most crowded thoroughfare for his
performances. So annoying cid the.
man become that in June, 1890, he was
taken before the probate court and
under the name of Frank Josephs, was
adJudged fit subject for treatment
and sent to the asylum at Rochester.
He was released from that institution
on May 6, 1891, and for time kept off
the streets and confined his devotions
to his cabin. In October, 1898, he
again commenced his street perambu-
lations and for hours at a time would
walk from curb to curb at the inter
section of Seventh and Wabasha
streets. He would first carefully sweep
space across the streets and then,
with his hands clasped in front of him.
and in his bare feet he would commence
his walk. His actions at times blocked
the streets, and in order to get rid of
him, Chief Garvine filed information of
insanity against him in the probate
court. Nov. 1, e1893 he was ex-
amined and again sent to Rochester.
He remained at the asylum until Sept
IL, 1894, when he was released
and came back to ST. Paul.
Since that time he has kept off the
streets, and until yesterday had not
been brought to the attention of the
police. ff
AS soon as the affair was reported.
the police sent out general alarm to
all the stations with orders to arrest
Holy joe" He was found about 5
O'Clock by Patroiman McHale, and
when told he was wanted, accompanied
the officer quietly to- the station He
gave his name as Frank Reidel.- and
admitted that he had been at work at
Slawik's house in the morning. Fur
Their than this he would not talk
The police say that there is no doubt
but that the man is insane, and that
for the protection of the citizens he
should be placed in some place where
persons with his weakness are taken
care, of. Rev. Father Caillet, who took
an interest in ReideI at the time he
was sent to the asylum in 1893, told the
police that he was satisfied from the
mans actions that he was not a safe
person to be about where there were
children.