The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-09-22
KNOCKED DOWN.
Cowardly Assault on Rev. S. D.
Works Thursday Night.
He is Attacked From Behind in Front
of the Y. M. c. A. Entrance
by..a Gambler.

as On outcome OF the active interest
which he has taken in the work Of
purging the city of the gamblers who
have flocked In, with the street fair.
Fortunately, Mr.. Works injuries were
slight.
Mr.. Works was walking down the
east side of Front street at about
500 o'clock, and when opposite the
entrance to the stairway leading
up to the Y. M. @. A. rooms
was stopped by man whom he re-
cognized as having seen connected
with the wheel of fortune at the cor
ner of Front and Main streets, whose
proprietor he had had arrested late
in the afternoon. This man, who was
dressed in gray suit, caught him by
the coat sleeve in friendly manner
and began TO talk with him, asking
what had been done with Blatt. Rev.
Works replied that he had withdrawn
the charge against Blatt and that the
latter had been given his freedom.
The man said that he was glad of this
action and then went on to talk about
the wheel of fortune, explaining some
features of it's mechanism.
Another fellow, rough looking,
stood near and frequently UNEXPECTED
remarks to which Rev. Works paid no
attention. Mr.. Works recognized
this man as another of the gang
around the wheel of fortune.
Aftera couple of minutes converse
tion with the man in the gray suit,
Rev. Works said that he must go and
started away, the man bidding him
good night. Mr.. Works turned north
and had not taken three steps when
he heard a quick movement behind
him. He instinctively threw up his
left arm to protect himself and partly
warded off a heavy blow that had been
aimed at his head. Only a part of
the force of the blow struck his head,
but his arm was famed. He was
knocked down against some dry
goods boxes in front of Geo. Ponds
store. AS he recovered his feet he
noticed his assailant, who was the
rough appearing man, entering
Roche's saloon. The man in the gray
suit started to advance toward him.
but just at that moment Chief Bruels
appeared and large crowd gathered
around, as there were number Of
people on the street. Rev. Works
does not know whether his assailant
used his fist alone or had billy or
stuffed club.
Mr.. Works informed Chief Bruels
that he had been assaulted and asked
for protection, as he did not know
how many more of the gang were
around him. He feared further as
sault if he entered the saloon to point
out his assailant, but he gave de-
scription of the man to the chief. No
search Of the saloon was made at that
time, but later the police looked for
the man, and were in search of him
today, but he escaped, 1t is probable
that he passed through the saloon and
caught the first train out of the city.
The assault is strongly condemned
by the public at large and has lost the
gamblers what little sympathy they
had.
Rev. Works called ON Mayor Currier
Friday forenoon and,made complaint of
/! the manner in which Chief Bruels had
handled the case. He said that the
chief did not make a search of the
saloon when told that the assailant had
gone in there, but had started down
street Mr. Currier called Mr.. Bruels
to his Office and heard both sides of the
case. 1t appeared that Mr.. Works did
not volunteer to accompany Mr.. Bruels
| into the saloon, and Mr.. Bruels did not
ask him to do 80. 1t also appeared that
the two had had unpleasant converse
tions twice yesterday in regard to the
gamblers who got $45 of young Brant's
money, and their relations were some
what strained. Mr.. Currier believes
that this may have been the reason
why the chief did not show more dill
gence last evening. Mr.. Currier has
the complaint under consideration and
has not decided what action to take.
officer Bienapfl arrived on the scene
few moments after the assault and
made search of the saloon and ad-
joining premises but the man had
skipped.
Mr.. Works now believes that the man
in the gray suit also intended to strike
him, but was deferred by the arrival of
the chief.
Mayor Currier has heard it intimated
that he left the city Thursday to avoid
further annoyance In regard to the
trouble over the gamblers. He indig-
nantly denies this and says that he and
Recorder Williams made an engage