The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-08-17

had better leave the woman alone.
The hack stopped once and she was
laid upon the ground in a semi-uncon-
scious condition, and the brutes tried
to accomplish their purpose, but
whether or not they did she is not
sure. They at least attempted to as
sault her several times during the eve
ming. Three stops were made for
water for her, and once they poured it
over her head and it left her clothing
wet. When she was finally abandoned
at Kasota she was covered with
bruises.
Miss Watson suffered more from the
nervous shock than from the physical
misuse, as bad as that was. Her
thought during the ride was that the
iends intended to murder her, and
she thinks now that if it had not been
for Graves the other two would have
killed her. She prefers that the charge
against them be changed from rape to
attempt rape, but the officials believe
that this is due to desire on her part
to shield her family from disgrace.
She thinks that her parents, who are
farmers in Chisago county, have not
heard of the affair, and is very anxious
that they should not. Her grand
mother, who resides in Minneapolis,
knows about the matter and feels that
heavy disgrace rests upon the family.
For this reason the two attorneys were
unable to prevail upon Miss Watson to
have physician make an examination
of her. She refused to allow DR..
Powell, who attended her at Kasota,
to do this. Even if physicians testi-
mony cannot be secured, it is thought
that Mrs. Hodge, who assisted to care
for her at Kasota can give some valu-
able information on this point.
Miss Watson denies some of the
stories that are current as to the man
ner in which she was treated. There
Albert Juliar, of Decoria, left today
for Olivia, Mimi, where he will look
after his farm The other day he
finished threshing on his farm in De-
coria and secured yield of 20 bushels
No. 1 wheat and SO bushels of oats to
the acre.
1t is said that tramp visited sew
eral houses in the lower part of the
city and demanded money, saying he
needed it to get to Minneapolis with
So far as has been learned he did not
succeed in obtaining and donations.
was no beer bottle used.
In regard to the money that was
stolen from her i'll the hack, Miss
Watson stated that she had between
$40 and $75 when she came to Manka-
to, and she was robbed of this. The
greater part of this was in bills and
was fastened in her clothing, but
while the men were taking liberties
with her person they discovered the
money and took it. Some people think
that these are the parties who robbed
the cash register of the Kasota eating
house.
The man who Thursday afternoon
telephoned to Sheriff Gerlich that
Martin Murray had been located at
Winnebago City came to Mankato on
the afternoon train and had talk
with the officials His name is De
Lane and secured a description of
Mu rray from the officers the day be-
FORE He heard that man answering
the description of Murray was work
ing on farm eight miles away, and
he rode horseback there and took a
look at him. The description Tailed
exactly. The man was at work stack
ing, having started in the previous
afternoon, and admitted that he came
from Mankato. He seemed agitated
while speaking. Mr.. De Lane then
rode to..Winnebago City and telephon-
ed to Sheriff Gerlich asking what he
should do He was told to take the
man into custody, but instead he came
to Mankato, having no papers for
Murray.
Chief Bruels and Deputy Sheriff
A lbert Gerlich took the evening train
for Winnebago City with De Lane, to
investigate the matter.
Poundmaster Geo. May got tip
that Murray was in ST. Paul, and took
the train for there Thursday after
noon, intending to arrest him if he
should find him.
1t is reported that Miss Watson is an
epileptic and has been treated for the
disease. This is discredited by the
officials.