Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-11
YOUNG GIRL HAS
AWFUL EXPERIENCE
Grace Woodland Comes Near Be-
ing the Victim of a Grim
inal Assault
MAKES GOOD HIS ESCAPE
Year Old Daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Melvin Woodland. Near Lam ollie,
Has Terrible Experience With timer
Grant PeddIer-she Fled fer Her Life
Trace of Man Lost.

The experience of little Grace Wood
ard. the 13-year-old daughter of MI
and Mrs. Melvin Woodland, living one
and one-half miles east of L;lMoille, on
Wednesday afternoon, when an Arabian
or Assyrian peddler assaulted her with
her home with no one within calling
distance, will probably remain as one
of the awful hours of her life, That the
brute did not accomplish his purpose
was due only to the stubborn fight the
girl made against the man clutching
at her throat, which enabled her to tear
from his clutches and flee to the neigh
bors for protection. The man followed
after the terrorized girl but seeing help
at hand turned ana left the scene in his
rig which was standing near the door.
The search of neighbors failed to find
him. and up to a late hour this after
noon the sheriff's officers know nothing
of his whereabouts.
The fiendish attempt upon the per-
son Of Miss Woodland, was at a time
which best suited the purpose of her
assailant, as both Mrs. Woodard and
her older daughter, Eva, were away
from the house, leaving the younger
girl alone. The Woodlands, since their
house was blown down in storm of
few weeks ago, have been making
their home in the old house on the
David Campbell place near there. Leav-
ing the daughter Grace to complete the
after dinner work, Mrs. Woodland and
her daughter Eva went to their former
home, which is about quarter of a
mile distant, where they We're occupied
during the afternoon. The young girl,
left alone. continued her work undis-
turbei until she was called to the front
door by the rapping of roughly-clad
dark skinned individual who. by his
face and broken English, stamped
himself either as an Arabian or Assyr-
ian. After ascertaining that the girl
had neither rubber nor rags to sell, he
attempted to induce her to purchase ar
ticles of tinware. or jewelry Being
really afraid of the swarthy stranger
she wished only to be rid of him, In
which she thought she had been sue
cessful when he left. closing the screen
behind him, and made for his wagon by
the roadside. She promptly latched the
screen door and returned to her labors.
Fights for Her Life.
1t is evident the man must have
known that the child was alone in the
fn, oil 1n ha Ia ,,tcr hn
shortly returned and opening the
latched screen stepped inside the kit
chen where he stood motionless until
the girl, unconscious of his presence,
looked up from her work and saw him
standing there with his eyes following
her every movement. Rushing upon
the girl he seized her and dragged her
into his lap, where he threatened her
with vile words, that unless she submit
to his desires he would kill her. The
girl screamed and attempted to evade
his grasp, but the man chung the closer.
and, selling her by the throat, choked
her until she was nearly exhausted. AL
tho half craZed with terror Miss Wood
ard cxerted herself as only one whose
life depends upon it can.
Races for Safety.
Struggling fiercely she finally man.
aged to tear away from the brute's
grasp, and rushed out of the room and
thru the front door. running in the di-
rection of the field in which Mr.. Camp
bell was working, all the members of
the Campbell household being away
from home at the time. Flee as she
would, fear lending speed to her strides.
the man followed. In the first few
steps he gained little. The mans horse
is probably responsible for the child's
escape, for While passing thru the
yard the animal started off and, leaving
for moment his pursuit, the fellow
halted the animal, which. while
it consumed but few moments, gave
siderable lead.
Would Still Overtake Her.
The mans purpose was clearly shown
lin his efforts to overtake his victim.
After securing his horse he again took
zip the race. On and on the girl ran.
the distance to the field where Mr..
Campbell was working being several
hundred yards. The brute would have
finally overtaken her, for he was gain
ing rapidly, when Mr. Campbell ap-
peared and the man, realizing that help
was near, turned and ran to his wagon
and drove away.
Speechless With Fright.
So thoroughly frightened was the
girl that she quivered ike leaf and
altho questioned by Mr.. Campbell was.
for a considerable length of time. I'M
able to give coherent account of her
narrow escape. AS soon as he could
learn her story, and help could be sum-
moned the search for the assailant was
commenced. Altho kept up for some
time no tangible trace Of him could be
found, and it was not until 10 o'clock
al night that the sherirf's Office was no.
titled.
Is Located in This City.
The first trace of him was found
early this morning. when it was learned
that the man had left the city driving
eastward. The officers began to inquire
over the rural phones of residents in the
southeast part of the county. About
10: 80 o'clock this morntag Mrs. Wiley
Ward. living about three miles south
east, notified the officers that such a
man had passed their place about an
hour before. The direction he had
taken could not be given, as the roads
cross near the house and his direction
HAD not been noted.
Start in Pursuit.
Sheriff Shoemaker and Deputy sher-