The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-06-01
Two Young Williams are Placed
Behind the Bars.
GUILTY OF VICIOUS ASSAULT
RoWdies Insult Two Young Ladies
and Strike Their Escort; 0ughtt0
Be Given The Whip.
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
An aggravated assault took place on
North Front street late last evening, in
which the victims We're young man
named Arthur Wohlrade and three
young ladies. Mr. Wohlrade is a mem
Der of the Junior class at the high
school and attended the reception given
by his class to the seniors. About 80
o'clock he started for home, acting as
escort for three young ladies who live
in the north part of the city, and who
are all members of the graduating class.
Two of the young ladies walked a little
way ahead and the third by the side of
Mr.. Wohlrade, who. by the way is a
nephew of Rev. A. F. Winter, and whose
home is at Truman.
When on North Front street, two
Young men whose names were later as
lcertained to be Joe Dietl and Albert
johnson, twenty years old came out OF
a saloon Just as the two young ladies
who were in the lead passed by the en-
trance. They Immediately followed the
ladies and Johnson placed his arms
about one of them. The young ladies
were naturally greatly frightened, as
Dietl and Johnson were strangers to all
of the party and it was evident that
they had been drinking to some extent.
The ladies ran back to Mr.. Wohlrade
anCh his companion, and their
prosecutors then followed the four
for several blocks, making numer-
ours aggravating remarks. When
pretty near the lower end of the
street, Dietl struck Mr.. Wohlrade sev-
era times in the back and once in the
face, cutting his lip. He then snatched
Mr.. Wohlrade's umbrella.
Mr.. Wohlrade is of slight build, and
more plucky than strong, but when he
saw that matters were getting serious
he stepped into saloon. which were the
only places open at that time of the
night. and called for assistance. A low
er town business man came out and
went with him toward the ladies', who
were still being tormented by the young
fellows, but on their approach the as
sailants took to their heels. The police
were notified and soon had Dietl and
Johnson locked up, having located them
near the Franklin school building.
| Detl and johnson were this morning
arrainged before Judge Comstock on
the charge of assault in the third de-
gree. on a warrant sworn out by Mr..
Wohlrade. When asked whether they
were guilty. Dietl said that he was u
minor and asked whether saloon
keeper could sell him drinks. The court
said that this was not the question at
this time, and the two defendants then
entered pleas of guilty. Both tried to
excuse their conduct by saying that
they were drunk.
''Were you drunk last night?" asked
the court of johnson. 9@
Il was drunk, you bet" replied the
prisoner with little respect for the dig
inty of the court.
DO you think that that excuses your
conduct 2"
<"You bet your life l do"
"How many drinks did you take?"
about fifteen WHISTLES and beers"
Are you accustomed to doing that
sort of thng?'
Il do it once in while"
Turning to Dietl, the court asked
"What excuse have you for your con-
duct last night?''
"Not any If | had not been drunk |
wouldn't have done it," replied the pris-
Oner.
The court drew out by questioning
that one other boy, nineteen years old.
was in the saloon drinking and that the
read from the court records showing
that Detl was before the court Oct. 3lst
and paid fine for disorderly conduct,
and that on Feb 10Th he was again be-
fore the court on the charge of assault,
but that the charge has been dismissed
for reasons best known to the county
attorney.
The court then addressed the prison
ers, saying that the assault which they
had attempted was one of the most SER
ious known to the law. If the young
man who had been assaulted had pos
sessed deadly weapon and had used it
upon his assailants even to the extent
of taking life he would have been JUS
titled in doing so. The court said that
he himself would have done so under
similar circumstances, and would have
trusted to the good sense of jury to
protect him. There is growing ten
dency among certain young men to get
drunk, but when they offer that as an
eXcuse for their crimes it aggrevates
the offenses rather than excuses them to
It..xr 70 hat Chi n1I