The times., 1898-07-08
A BRUTAL CRIME.
Patrick FIauary Charged With
FeIoniousIy AssauItInR n Child.

al Shhtu.
Patrick Flanary, an artillery soldier
stationeds at Camp Alger, was arrested
yesterday afternoon about $3.50 o'clock
on the charge of committing a felonious
assault upon Gertrude Connell. the four
year-old daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
ID. j. Connell, who reside at No. $50 ID
Street. The charge was made by the
child's mother. who caught the brute
redhanded in the act. Henry DeForest,
soldier, whose wife rents a room from
Mrs, ConneIl, and who went TO the de-
fense of the child. was also arrested on
a charge of assault and battery pre-
ferred by Flanary.
The little girl was thrown into a high
fever by the disgusting conduct of the
soldier, and she could not be seen last
evening.
Mrs. Connell, who is an actress, gave
the following graphic account of the af
fair. She said her little girl was playing
in the dining-room with Mary Greeves.
the daughter of one of her roomers, and
a neighbor's child, a few minutes before
the assault was made. The three chill
dren, Mrs. Connell said, went out TO play
in front of the house. and had not been
gone from her sight more than five min
utes when Mary Greeves ran to her and
! informed her that "a soldier had Ger
trude in the basement and was hug
ging her in a terrible manner
Instead of going to the front door, Mrs.
Connell ran through DeForest's room
and looked out the window. The sight
that met her eyes was revolving in the
extreme. Down in the basement and un-
der the steps she saw the solder with
her child in his arms.
The little one was struggling with all
her strength 10 release herself from the
grasp Of the brute.
Seeing the situation at a glance Mrs.
Connell shouted to the soldier to release
the child. Her cry attracted DeForrest,
who Immediately went TO the rescue.
Flanory by this time had come up from
the basement and when DeForrest went
toward him he assaulted him. There
upon DeForest turned upon the soldier
and beat him almost into insensibility
saying. he finished the job that he
was sure Flanary would not bo,her an
other child as long as he lived. A little
later Flanary went east on L Street and
had not gone far before he got into a fight
with another soldier, when he was again
wors-ed.
By this time Policeman Sprinkle appear
ed on the scene and Flanary made
charge of assault against DeForest and
he was arrested and taken TO the Twelfth
Street station.
Mrs Connell said she never saw Flan-
ary before. and she Is positive that
his intention was to assault the child.
When he found that he was discovered,
Mrs C0nnel said he was in state of
passionate excitement and, no doubt,
would nave assaulted her If she had been
within his reach.
Several persons who Witnessed the way
in which FIanary was handled by De-
I Forest applauded his actions and one said
! that ne should be given an honorable
/ discharge at once and pensioned for life
Flanary was seen AT the Twelfth Street
! Station. but refused TO talk on the sub
/ ject. He said il was nobody's business
whether or not he gave his right name
! when arrested. Neither would he say to
what company or regiment he belonged
! When told that he would have 10 give
his version Of the cause Of his arrest in
/ the Police Court this morning, he said
/ il was doubtful if he would.
/ From the silence Flanary maintained
! in reference 10 the cause of his arrest
/ II is evident that he appreciates the Sc
/ robustness of the crime with which he is
/ charged To all questions asked him he
made dogged replies, generally adding
/ that no matter what happened, he could
! not be much worse off than he is now.
! DeForest could not be found last night,
as he deposited collateral at the police
I station for his appearance at court this
/ morning 1t was stated just after he
! polished off Tlanary that he had cut him
/ IN the head with a knife, bat it was
! learned later that Flanary's wound was
caused by a nail which was proTudlng
/ from a piece of board with which De
/ Forest struck him.
| The charge against Flanary at the po-
! IL. .-HT# ATs-
| ConneIl. the mother of the child, said
/ last evening that this morning she would
swear out an information charging him
with feloniGus assault