The Columbus journal., 1905-05-24
Night wss Blant.ta Him

What was reported Ia the Daily
Journal last Saturday as III attempted
brrglfry at the residence Of W. ".
Hathburn in which Mrs. Rathburn
was assaulted while attempting to
protect her three rear old baby from
the midnight intruder, turns out IN
be one of the most sensational Incl.
| dents that ever occurred il Columbus.
involving a 0riehr and popular young
man from enc # CO!umbus' oldest
and best families.
So0n after the n:idn;sh! incident of
Thursday, Nav Il. the RE- was n rumor
| current Oh the streets that Will Leh.
man r Of the nun proprietors OF
the Tnruston Hotels was the man
who had broken into the Ecuse of W.
". Rathburn. and who had the as
snnlt upon Mrs. isashhurn. AMI that
he had left the city.
Later developments fully confirm
this uu!or Il as u result Will Leh-
nan is n voluntary exile from nome
ard from Nebraska fer n period of
five years. Uncer pain Of forfeiture of
$500 shoaid he return within that
time eXceps in the event of the SER
ious illness OF q near relative.
vii. Lehman aud his father, George
L; Imam. signed Il bond last SATURDAY.
which contains the aforesaid cOndi-
tons. and Will Lehman left the city
Sunday morning IN conformity there
with.
According to the terms Of the bond,
Mrs. Ratturn fOreGors nil comVensa-
ton for physical injuries provided he.
assailal If is KEEP: OCT Of her presence
for tine period of five years.
On his part Will Lehman made an
affidavit: in which he admits that he
was at the Rathburn home in m in
uoXicated condition on the night of
May IL. He declares that he has no
recollection OF 4 difficulty mr. altec.
cation with Hrs. RHthhurn ard be
does not recall assaLl;inE her. In fact
he declares that he relleIE hers nothing
that occurred after eleven o'clock
that night He SAYS tina: he was drink.
ing hard on the 10Th a1d 18th. and on
the night of the Eth was deeply in
toxicated. He swears that he had
a; any previous time visited Mrs.
RsthbIrn and he declares ,hat he does
not Know" when Oh whv or how he
gained admission to her apartments
on the night Of May 18th. He also as.
serts that Mrs. Rathburn had never
given him any reascn. express or
implied, by wc:ti or act. by hint or
intimat;on. to beileva that he might
visit her at her home or elsewhere"
and he declares that he is entirely
unconscious OF having ..ione ANYTHING
OUT OF tia way thai night.
Will Lehman Is n graduate of the
Nebraska University. is q young man
of warm heart and pleasing personal
ity and excellent business Gualifica-
ticns. But it is said he is a slave TO
periodical cravings for liqnor and that
when under its influence Nc seems to
be insane.
George Lehman when seen by a
Journal reporter this afternoon said
that his son fully realized the enorm-
ity of the Cffense which drink had lsh
him to commit AMI that Wills last
statement tn him was that he had
taken his last drink.
The high standing of tho families
involved and the keen suffering
which is felt by them as we'll ~ by
their friends makes this n of the
NEST painful in ndents it becomes 4
reporters duty to record.
Mrs. Rathburn's physical injuries
are rot Of a serious nature and she
Will Dor from all but the
nervous and mental shock.