The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-08-23
VICIOUS ASSAULT.
Chas. Rasdall of St. Clair the
Victim.
The Preston Brothers of This City Lock.
ed Up After Deperate Fight With
Police and Citizens.

Second was the scene of much excite
ment Sunday evening between the hours
of ten and eleven o'clock. The Sunday
, evening quiet was broken by dis
graceful disturbance in which several
people were injured.
Charles Rasdall came to the city
Sunday afternoon from st. Clair to
purchase pump and some lace leather
for J. w. Chase, who runs threshing
machine in that vicinity and by whom
he is employed. He fell in with R. A.
and A. T. Preston, sons of VIM. M.
Preston, who was badly assaulted and
robbed and thrown into an excavation
near the old Omaha depot couple of
years ago. They and deaf mute &C.
companied Rasdall to the store of
Chas. T. Taylor, who let him have the
goods as matter of convenience, Mr..
Chase to call later and pay for them.
Rasdall took the leather and with
the Prestons and the deaf mute went
to saloon, where he treated the
party, including the Prestons. One of
these slyly cut the leather until inter-
fered with by the proprietor of the
saloon.
The two Prestons then went out and
waited for Rasdall to come out, which
he did presently Rasdall started for
Martin Wiltgen's barn, where he had
left his team, and when near, the I'M
dertaking rooms of Lamm & Land
hammer he was assaulted by the two
Prestons, who knocked him down
and pounded and kicked him while
PROSTATE until he was insensible.
While this was going on, Rasdall called
loudly for help and crowd soon
gathered that blocked the street. The
electric light went out and all subse-
quent events transpired in the dark
ness. Officer Daniels put in an ap-
pearance and placed both the Prestons
under arrest, after hard scuffie in
which someone struck at him. The Off
Ger was assisted by Fred Bombach.
James Berry, one of the central fire
station men, heard cries from the vi
cinity and ran to see what was the
matter. When Officer Daniels saw
him coming he handed over the older
of the Prestons to him and asked Mr..
Berry to take him to the hall. The
officer then marched the younger pris-
oner off and locked him up without
much more difficulty. ...
Mr.. Berry's man refused to go; how
ever, and Berry found that he had a
tartar. Preston struck and bit at him,
and declared that nobody could lock
him up. Some stranger tried to res
cue Preston, but Mr.. Berry landed on
his face and quickly put him out of
the game. Carl Bienaph then tried to
assist Mr.. Berry but somebody else re-
tired him from the field with blow
A young man then assisted Berry, but
Pres ton closed his teeth upon his
wrist and it was impossible to choke
or wrench him loose. Finally he was
tripped and his head banged against
the stone walk and he let go. The
youth is nursing very sore wrist.
Finally, as not much Roadway could
be made, Mr.. Berry threw his man
and held him until Officer Daniels re-
turned, and the two locked Preston up.
Mr.. Berry sprained his thumb dur
ing the encounter, and had difficulty
to avoid being bitten, as Preston fought
like maniac. Mr. Berry did not con-
slider him drunk, as he recognized and
spoke to those about him. Berry's coat
was badly torn. He made splendid
fight and showed GOODNESS and pluck.
The crowd stood around in a most
disgraceful and cowardly manner, re-
fusing to assist in subduing the two
Prestons and calling to the officers not
to strike them. Persons who would
like to have intertered were prevented
by others from doing SO.
Mr.. Rasdall states that he never saw
the Prestons until last evening, when
he saw them insulting lady on the
street and reproved them for it, They
did not seem to take offense at this,
but accompanied him to Mr.. Tsylor's
saying that they would carry the lea
ther back. When he went out of the
saloon, an hour later, he was assaulted
by them, one being on each side, so
that he had no chance to defend him
self. He was taken by surprise. as the
young fellows had seemed friendly
enough previous to this.
1t appears that the older of the Pres
ton brothers several weeks ago had
fight with Mr.. Chase, for whom Ras-
dali is working. Chase had suffered an
accident and had one arm in sling,
and as he could not defend himself
very well, Preston succeeded in giving
him a severe pounding.
Mr.. Rasdall states that since the
fracas between Preston and Chase, tn e
former has several times sent out word
to st. Clair that he would whip any
employe of Mr.. Chase who would come
to the city. or any st. Clair man for
that matter. He believes that the only
reason why the Prestons assaulted him
was on account of their grudge against
Chase.
R. A. Preston. the older of the young
men, is twenty-six years old, and A.
T. Preston is twenty years. Both are
young men of powerful physique.
The police say that they have been