The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-10
.GEbERT FACES
SERIOUS CHARGES
Arrested for Attempted Rape on Elev-
en- Year Old Girl in Animal
Show Yesterday
Afternoon.
STORY OF THE AFFAIR
Used Force to Get Her In Back Room
But Attempts Failed--Arraisn-
ed In Rurrows
Court.

Edward Gebert, a young fellow
about twentyfour years of age and an
employee of the animal show at $40
Main street, is facing a serious
charge, that of attempted rape on
eleven year old Elizabeth Waldorf.
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. ]. D. Wal
dorf, family which recently moved
to Keokuk from Kirksville, Mo. Ac-
cording to story told by the little
girl Gebert attempted to take her
into the back room OF the show for
immoral purposes and even suggest
ed it to her previously. An informa-
ton was fled by the girls father in
the justice court of James S. Burrows
last evening and warrant issued for
his arrest. Shortly before 10 o'clock
he was arrested while asleep at the
show and locked In jail The informa-
ton was read to him this morning In
Burrows court, and ne took time to
consult counsel. being Informed Of
his rights by the judge. The informa
ton reads: THAT the defendant will
fully, unlawfully and feloniously as
saulted Elizabeth Waldorf, and then
and there attempted to commit rape
and against the peace and dignity OF
| the state of Iowa" The crime Is an
| indictable one and under the indeter.
inmate sentence law the sentence Is
| twenty years in the penitentiary.
While the little girl positively identi-
| fed the young fellow. there is a posi-
bility that the wrong man is being
! brought to answer to the charge.
Details Of the Case.
The little girl tells the story OF hav-
| ing visited the animal show, which re-
Gently came to the city and located at
80 Main street, in the afternoon
sometime between one and two
o'clock She says that the young fell
low, whom she claims $ the one an
swering the name of Gebert, became
| familiar with her and even went so
far as to place his b nds on her and
attempt to force her to one of the
rear rooms, at the same time suggest
ing immoral actions. The girl OBJ
tanned her release from him before the
fiendish act could be accomplished,
| upon going home she related the in.
cident to her folks in childish man
ner.
The father, in company with the
/ girl, made visit to the show in the
evening, and at this time the father
states the little girl saw and identified
Gebert. The affair was reported to
| the police and Justice Burrows was
| hurried to his Office and an informa-
tion filed and warrant Issued.
Gebert Arrested.
With the warrant in hand Marshal
Kesselring went to the show about
$50 In the evening and found Gebert
asleep In the back room. He was
awakened and the warrant read pre-
ceeding his arrest. .Gebert spent the
| night in JAIL
This morning he was arranged in
| Justice Burrows court in answer to
the charge and denied ever seeing the
/ little girl before. In the court room
the little girl did not restrain herself
and seemed positive in her identified
/ ton. She even mentioned funny marks
| on his arm and when he barred his
1 right arm there could be seen rum
I Der Of tattoo marks. He took time to
consult counsel and his trial will be
held In few days. His bond was
fixed at $1,000, which he was unable to
/ furnish.
Although the little girl seems posi-
tive in her Identification of Gebert,
there is strong reason to believe that
1 the wrong man may be in jail await
! ing trial. Gebert denies being pres
ent at the hours in question, and Miss
Bristol also Of the show company, is
positive that he was not on duty dur
ing the day. She spoke of young
fellow by the name of Charles Powell,
| who left during the afternoon rather
mysteriously after drawing his money
and seemed to hang suspicion en- him.
The case will be further investigated
by the police.