The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-08-27

A bold assault committed on Main
street early Saturday evening, with
the possible intention of doing greater
wrong, mas been the talk of the city
during the past several days and has
created painful sensation. The VIC
Tins of the assault were Miss Mary
Busch and her brother, Joseph,
youngest daughter and son of Mr.. and
Mrs. A. j. Busch. Miss Busch was
fortunately unframed, save nervous
prostration following upon the severe
fright which the encounter occas-
Toned.
Miss Busch, who is twenty-five
years of age, started to walk home
from her fathers store at a quarter
after nine o'clock Saturday evening,
and was accompanied by Joseph, who
is eighteen years old. They passed
along Front street to the Corner Cafe
corner and then turned up Main
street toward their family residence
on Fifth street. When near Broad
street and under the shade cast by
the thick foliage Of large tree they
were overtaken by two young men,
who came up behind them and with
out any words or warning, save
asking where they were going, went be-
tween young Busch and his sister.
Joseph recognized one of the parties
as Martin Murray, a young plumber
Of this city whom he had known for a
long time, and spoke to him, telling
Murray that he recognized him and
cautioned him not to harm his sister.
Murray at once hauled off and dealt
the boy blow on the right side of
his head. Miss Busch was much
frightened and screamed and ran back
toward Second street, followed rapid
ly by one of her assailants. Some
people were standing on the CONNER
cial House corner and at once went
to her assistance, and Murray and his
companion disappeared, probably 60
ing into the Lamperu Lumber Co.'s
yard. Joseph Busch was not much
hurt, and ran to his sisters aid,
and the police were at once no.
titled. Miss Busch was accompanied
to her home where she suffered con-
siderably from the nervous strain to
which she had been subjected. No
words other than those mentioned
passed during the affair, and Murray
and his companion said nothing to
either Mr.. or Miss Busch.
Murray was arrested a little later
in bar room and locked up. His
companion earlier in the evening
was Billy Cook, who is thought by the
officers to be the other party wanted,
although he was not arrested.
Murray was seen at the city hall
lookup Monday by a FREE PRESS
reporter, and seemed little anxious
to know what charge would be pre-
ferred against him. He refused to
say whether or not Cook was his COM
panion in the assault, and refused to
say who struck Joe Busch. Said he:
81 old not know that the parties were
Mr.. Busch and his sister. We mistook
them for other parties, We did not
know who the boy was, and thought
that the young lady was a person
whom we knew, but we found out
that we were mistaken. We had both
been drinking some during the eve
ming but were not full"
Frank ST. Clair, who is stop
ping at the Washington House
and has running horse in the Ameri-
can House barn, was standing
at the Kron corner when Mr.. Busch
and his sister went by on their way
home. He says that Murray and his
companion saw them when they were
opposite Martin WiltgeD's livery barn
and that one Of the young men shout
ed to the couple to stop. Mr.. and
Miss Busch did not seem to hear the
call or else thought that it was in
tended to attract the attention of
some one else, and went on without
needing it. He then heard one Of the
men say to the other, "You knock
the fellow over and I'll take the girl, "
or words to that effect, Murray and
his companion then started after the
couple, and overlook them at the
point named, with the result already
stated.
Mr.. A. Busch was in consultation
withCounty AttorneyHughes Monday
forenoon in regard to the matter. He
expressed his sympathy for Murray's
mother and sister, and said that on
their account he did not feel like pro-
ceeding with the case, but he took
the ground that the interests of So
ciety demand prosecution. He said
that he believed that the young fel.