The herald., 1897-10-27
Assaults q Fifteen-Year-
Old Girl
A MOST DIAB0LICAL OUTRAGE
THE CHILD NOW LIES IN A CRIT
ICAL CONDITION
Mary Larsen Attacked in a Lonely
Spot on Sunday Evening Near
University Station

F1Iteen-year-OlQ Mary Larsen lies at
her home corner of Santa Monica and
Western avenue in critical condition.
the result Of vicious assault last Sun
day evening by an unknown man, who.
after accomplishing his foul purpose, es-
capped in the dark, leaving his little vic
tim unconscious by the roadside. Only
an imperfect description of the wretch
could be secured, which fact makes his
capture doubtful.
The child alighted from a University
car at the end of the line shortly before
6 p. m. Sunday and Searted to walk to
her home, a mile distant. She had been
visiting her sister, Henrietta Larsen,
who is employed at the home of Frank
Phillips, 1861 South Flower street. When
she left home she had promised to return
at o'clock and as she walked away from
the car the gathering darkness alarmed
her lest she should be late The shad-
ows themselves were not reessuring to
the timid child and she quickened her
pace. About half way home, just beyond
a new house in course of construction on
Fortieth street, the girl noticed that
some one was following her. She
watched the man for a minute, full of
apprehension, and then started to run.
Looking back over her shoulder she saw
that she was pursued. Very much
frightened, she ran with all her might,
but was soon Overtaken.
AS her pursuer came up close behind
her Mary again glanced over her shoul
der. She got very good look at him,
and he was such "a nice looking gentle
man," as she afterwards described him.
that she was treasured. He was a well
dressed man, she says, and had pleas
ant face. In size he was a little larger
than her father, which would make him
weigh about 160 pounds. She was about
to speak to him when the wretch stepped
up and seizing her around the body with
one hand clapped the other over her
mouth. She, however, managed to scream
twice before she was thrown to the
ground.
The point at which the girl was at
tackled is very dark at night, being
shaded by large pepper trees. John
Dodge's house is located about hun
dred yards back from the road. Mrs.
Dodge was in the yard and heard Mary
Larsen cry once. She listened, but as
she did not hear the cry repeated thought
nothing more of the matter at the time.
The brute attacked the girl under the
shadow of the trees. He then sneaked
away, leaving the helpless girl in a
swoon. She must have lain upon the
ground some minutes before she recov-
cred.
When Mary came to herself again she
ran over to Mr.. Dodge's house and told
what had happened. Mr.. Dodge's son
Immediately started out to see if he
could find any trace of the fiend who had
assaultd the girl. He secured the neigh
borhood, but owing to the darkness was
unable to see or hear anything of the
fiend. Mr.. Dodge started to accompany
the child home and on the way met her
father, who had become alarmed at the
child's failure to return at the appointed
time and had started out to find her.
DR.. Luther D. Scherer, who lives at the
corner of Jefferson street and McClin
took avenue, was summoned. He exam
ined the child and found that she had
been terribly lacerated. Her condition
was pronounced critical.
Mr.. Larsen went to the scene of the
assault and found a book which his
daughter had dropped. The spot was
marked and the following morning he
returned and was able to trace the foot
steps of man back to the new house
where the girl had first noticed that she
was being followed. Leaving the spot,
they led off toward the University school
and were lost not far from that building.
The sheriff's office was notified, but the
incomplete description of the man
causes them to work at a disadvantage.
The child says that she could identify
her assailant. While the girls parents
will not say that they suspect any GER
tain person of the crime, they state that
they have reason to believe that it was
some one who lives at University.
The Larsens are Germans and live on
a little ranch. There is large family of
them and Larsen makes living by SELL
ing fruit about town. The little girl was
slightly improved last evening and ev-
cry hope is entertained of her recovery
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