Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-08-18

Bearius and Held in $500 Bau Each to
Await the Action OF the Grand Jury.
Priyates Edward p. O'Neill and
Charles Welsh OF Co. /. First Della
ware Regiment and George Stradley
OF Townsend, aged about "a years, son
Of John D. Stradley, highly respected
citizen Of that town. have been arrested
and held In $500 bail each to await the
sction of the grand jury of this county,
the charge against them being at
tempted felonious assault upon Mary
and Rosa Steverra, Italian girls, aged
II aud 10 years respectively, near
Townsend, Tuesday week. The accused
day. The two girls and their father,
John Steverra, who was with them
when they were attacked, have each
been held In sl00 bail as witnesses.
From what developed at the prelimi-
mary hearing il was not shown that
sither of the girls was seriously injured,
but the lack Of knowledge on the part
of the authorities on this point ia due
in large measure to the fact that the
Italians understand very little about
ths English language and there was no
expert testimony. Enough evidence
was adducsd, however, TO warrant
holding the men and there will be
ample opportunity to make a full in
vestigation before the next term Of
court.
uNwARRANTED ATTACK ON lNoFFEN-
sIvE ITALIANS.
From what could be learned from
the citizens of Townsend, Steverra and
his two daughters, all OF whom are
musicians, made their appearance in
the town early in the morning. For
some time they strolled about the
streets entertaining the citizens with
their music. Several people followed
them around the town, and in the
crowd that followed were noticed two
soldiers, and several citizens say that
one or both of the soldiers were seem to
This girls are comedy and attracted the
attention OF the men, and the advances
of the latter were apparently distaste-
full to the fair musicians, who i'm
pressed those who noticed them as
being modest and respectable.
FATHER AND CHILDREN SEPARATED By
FORCE.
Between and 10 o'clock the trio oil
musicians left the town and started or
the Delaware railroad tracks in the
direction OF Middletown, which il
about four miles north Of Townsend.
They were followed by two soldiers
and civilian, who appeared to b,
making o. effort to attract their at
tention. When the Italians reached q
bridge over a small stream. which il
about three-quarters of a mile north O.
Townsend, according to the statement
OF one OF the girls. the civilian an
preached the father, placing himsel
between the father and the daughters
and engaged the attention Of the fathel
while each of the soldiers caught holt
OF one of tine girls. The father mad,
an effort to go to the assistance of hi
daughters, when, it is alleged, he wal
prevented by force from doing so
Some say that the father was brutal,
assaulted, but who committed th
assault could not be ascertained, ant
il is nut known whether there wer
- more persons about than those VIII,
have been mentioned.
At any rate, the father, seeing tina
he was unable 10 make bis way towar,
his daughters or do anything tina
would save them from the rough treat
ment OF the brutes, ran away as rapiCll
as he could for the purpose Of sum
moning assistance.
GIRLS DRAGGED DOWN AN ENHANCEMENT
After the father had been drive
away the soldiers took the two girls
who were. aoing all in their power {
resist the men. and forced them dow
an embankment either under or nea
the railroad bridge Several colore
girls who-were there were frightene
and ran away. The italian girls wer
roughly handled. but it is eviden
from their story, which was related q
the hearing, that they we're stronge
than the men had bargained for an
succeeded in q measure in defendin
themselves. However, they were final
overpowered by the brutes, who, a,
cording to the girls testimony, treate
them in q most inhuman manner
Whether all thres men participated !
the brutality under the bridge has NJ
yet been definitely settled, as the CIR
were probably too badly frightened I
know just what did take place or iu
who was there.
FATHER SPREADS THE ALARM.
In thB meantime the father hi
reached George Shockley's farmhous
which is along the railroad, about ha
mile above the bridge where I'll
crime is alleged to have been COL
mitted AS best be could. althoup
unable to get out much English,
Informed the people on the farm
what bad befallen himself and h
daughters, and just as he and sever
others were about to go back to Il
bridge the soldiers came up the RAJ
road, bringing the girls with thsr
Some people say that the men b,
hold of the girls while walking up d
railroad, and the impression is th
the girls were accompanying the
against their wishes. AS SUM as t
father and the men on the farm we
noticed the girls managed to bre
away from the soldiers and ran iowa
their father. and while attention "
being paid to the girls the brutes 9
away. Several men started after the
but they made their escape, and at I
time IL was not known Just who th
were. 1t was thought by some that t
assailauts of the Italians we're unc
the influence Of liquor.
Mr.. Shookley, this farmer with WHIT
Stsverra had sought refuge, adyis
the latter to go 10 Middletown a
place the matter In the hands of (
authorities, but as the Italians
psared to have but littls knowledge
to what he had better do, Mr.. Shot
ley went himself to Middletowu a
informed Magistrate William X. II,
nolds OF what had occurred. 4
magistrate at once started out in
ourriage to make an investigation, a
before he was out of Middletown