The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-09
UNDER A SERIOUS CHARGE.
II. J. MAHONEY ARRESTED FOR
AssAULTING A LITTLE GIRL.

Frank Cerveau Charges Him With
Making such an Attempt Upon His
S-Year-OId Daughter. MabeI-Ma-
honey Identified by the Girl and
Two Wftnesses-He Was Under the
Influence of Liquor when Arrest
ed-His Brother Claims the Charge
Was Trumped Up.
T. J. Mahoney. young white man, is
locked UP at the police barracks on a
charge which viii prove very serious
for him unless circumstances develop in
his favor. He is charged with an at
tempt at criminal assault upon Mabel
Cerveau. the little s-year-old daughter of
Frank ]. Cerveau.
The circumstances Of the case, as stat
ed by the witnesses, make it look bad
for Iahoney. He has been in the habit.
Il is stated, of going to the house of Mr.
Cerve u for the purpose Of visiting a Wo-
man who formerly lived there, but who
has recently moved away. Cerveau is a
painter and lives on State street between
Habersham and Price streets. He was ab-
sent yesterday afternoon About $3.50
O'Clock Mahoney called and asked to see
the woman whom he had been in the habit
of visiting, but was informed that she
was not there. Instead Of leaving Ma
honey walked through the house to the
back yard where Mr. Cerveau's little
daughter Mabel was playing. 1t is charg-
ed that he took the girl into small build
ing between the two adjoining yards and
that he there attempted to assault her.
The principal witnesses, besides the lit
OF ri
live in the adjoining yard Their state
ment is that one of them heard the girl
crying, and going up to the building.
peeped through a crack and saw Ma
honey and the little girl. She cauedgthe
other woman to her and she also looked
through and saw the same thing. Both
are positive in their statements of wha,
they saw. The women called out and this
frightened Mahoney, aud he ran or Be
fore going. however, he Told the girl. she
said, not to say anything and If she did
he would kill her One of the women
said that she ran after Mahoney and tried
TO stop him, but he got away.
Mrs. Cerveau was up stairs during this
time. The girl went to her and told her
what had happened and the story was
corroborated by Che two colored women.
Mr.. Cerveau had not returned, but as
soon as he came he was told the story.
He at once reported the matter to the
police barracks. Mahoney was arrested
at 10 o'clock by Policeman Downing. He
was standing in front of his home. on
East Broad street, between Broughton
ana state streets, when arrested When
he arrived at the barracks he was taken
10 the sergeants office Mr. Cerveau. his
wife ana daughter, and the two negro
women were in another room. They were
brought into the Office where Mahonev
was one at a time and each Identified
him. The girl and the two women were
prompt and positive in their identihca-
ton.
The girl was taken by her parents IN
Dr. stone, who stated that an attempt at
assault had been made.
Mahoney was seen at the barracks nv
morning News reporter, and was asked
II ne had any statement to make he
said that he had nothing whatever 10 saw
and did not wish TO make anv statement
he was under the influence of Honor
when arrested, and had not recovered
entirely when seen some time later
A brother of Mahoney called at the
Morning News office and stated that there
We're circumstances connected with the
charge which would place an entirely diff
terent face on the matter He asserted
that the charge had been trumped IN for
a purpose. - ~