The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-07-24
AN ATTEMPTED ASSAULT.
Girl Ran Screaming Home and AL
legged Assailant Was Arrested.
A LIVELY SUNDAY EPISODE
A Chase For Quite q Distance Along the
Road, when the Best sprinter Won
offender Brought Into the
City and Locked

Sunday afternoon the residents CT
Waco were very much agitated over
the report of an attempt to assault a
young girl, Mary viccok, the IL years
old daughter Of Fred Viccok, an en-
ploye Of the Canton Stoneware company
and residing at No. 1919 Charles street.
Mary, together with q companion, was
picking berries along the creek about
one mile north Of Waco, when, 1t Is al
legged. she was approached by Harry p.
Steele who made advances to her. which
1t appeared were to be followed by force.
The little girls ran screaming toward
their homes, when 1t is said Steele fol-
lowed them to the road and then walked
leisurely to Wilson's grocery store in
Waco where he sat upon the steps.
F. w. Runner, who resides in Sherrick
avenue, in close proximity to the place
of the alleged attempt to assault, upon
hearing the screams Of the child, start
ed down the road after Steele and
caught up with him while Steele was
sitting upon Wilson's steps. Mr.. Rem
ner said: Harry, what have you been
doing?" to which Steele replied, moth
ing"
Renner questioned the young man
futher but ELECTED nothing more. Rem
ner then went to consult with some Of
the residents as to what should be done
in the matter, when Steele arose from
his seat and started to run as fast as
he could up the road. He crossed
through the yard Of the Brenner school
house and ran down the hill east Of
the plant Of the Canton Stoneware COM
pany, followed by crowd of men and
boys. He was caught at the top of the
hill by Renner. who is a good sprinter.
and taken to the office Of the Stoneware
company, where the patrol call was
turned in.
A News-Democrat reporter learned
that Harry Steele, who Is better known
as "Old Iron," is 20 years Of age. The
family reside at 1909 South Market
street. Harry is said to be somewhat of
a degenerate. He was ragged and dirty.
When in the office Of the stoneware COM
pany he held tightly clinched a stone
in each hand, evidently for the purpose
of defense in case he was assaulted by
the angry crowd outside, who were
clamoring to obtain admittance. Steele
said he did odd jobs at the brick yard
week. He lived about and obtained his
meals wherever charitably inclined
persons would harbor him. He told the
reporter that he was with a chum, but
refused to give his name He said he
was Innocent. LET them take me If
they will. don't care what they do
with me-" The reporter asked him why,
If he was innocent, he ran, and attempt
ed to get away. but Steele would make
no reply. At the arrival Of the patrol,
Steele walked to the wagon, and stepped
in and was taken to the city prison.
STEELE ARRAIGNED.
Steele was arraigned before the mayor
Monday morning at 9 o'clock on the
charge of assault. He pleaded not
guilty to the charge and he will have
a preliminary hearing Wednesday
morning. He was unable to furnish $500
bail and the mayor remanded him to
the county jail until the day Of the
hearing. Steele stated that he was en-
tirely innocent Of the charge and that
another party Who was with him. was
the guilty one. The little siri upon
whom the alleged assault was madeI
did not appear at the arraisnment. but
three other children rho witnessed the
attempt were present and they identsfed
Stesls a. the guilty party.