The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-03-31
Assault CASE is SURROUNDED
WITH MUCH MYSTERY.
Former Eagle Lake Residents Figure
in Sensational Affair in the
West: Husband Arrested.

From fridays Daily.
Walter Till OF Eagle Lake has
returned from Boulder. Col, where
he was called to help solve mys-
terry that has baffled the authorities,
and has led 70 the undoubted wrong
ful arrest Of his bother. George
Hill, who about four years ago
moved there from Eagle Lake, and
is Well and favorably known in
Eagle Lake and vicinity.
Wife Struck While Asleep.
IL appears that two weeks ago,
while Mr. and Mrs. George Hill were
sleeping in their house on farm a
mile and half from Boulder, the
dwelling was entered, and the party
got into their bedroom and began
TO pound Mrs. Hill in the face with
what seemed to be brass knuckles.
Her husband had been working hard
and was sleeping soundly and 1t was
Il moment or two before his wife
could awaken him. She threw her
arms up 10 protect her face, and her
head and arms were badly cut and
bruised. When Mr.. Hill finally awOke
he jumped cut of bed and chased
his wife's assailant out, but the lat
ter disappeared in the darkness
around the corncrib and was not
again seen. AS it was dark, neither
Mr.. nor Mrs. Hill could recognize
him, and they have no clue as to
who he is
Arrested the Husband.
The authorities were notified, and
as they seemingly could not find
anybody else to arrest they took Mr..
Hill into custody on the charge that
he was the assailant. At his pre-
liminary hearing, his wife testified
for him, and his good record WAS
shown up, but the magistrate decid-
ed 10 hold him to the grand jury.
1t is not believed that the case will
proceed further than that.
Mr.. Eill's wife was formerly Mrs.
Winehammer of Eagle Lake, who OBJ
tanned divorce from her first hus-
hand, il IS said. on the ground of de-
sert'on She and Mr.. Hill have been
living together on very friendly
terms, they both say. They have
two children, and Mrs. Hill has one
by her former husband.
Immediately after the assault Mr.
Hi telephoned for a doctor and for
the nearest noighbors. and when
they came they found him bathing
Ii ,rg,f
suspicion at that time, SO far as
known that he inflicted them.
AssaiIant Made a Mistake.
Two theories have been advanced
as to the crime. One is that parties
who had grudse against Mr.. Hill,
who is constable of his township,
went to his house TO assault him.
That night bis wife was sleeping
on the outside Of the bed, and in
the darkness the assailant might
have mistaken her for her husband.
The other is that the assault may
have been made by her former hus-
hand, but there is no evidence to
support this theory, as Mr.. Wine
hammer is said to be a good and
kind man and no bad blood existed
between him and his former wife.
His present whereabouts are said 10
be unknown at Eagle Lake.
It Is a Mysterious Case.
The case is one that is certainly
mysterious in the extreme. The
many friends OF the family will hope
that Mr.. Hill will be completely ex-
onerated and that the real culprit
will be apprehended and punished.
They feel that great mistake has
been made and a srievous injustice
done man who had no reason TO
do what he is charged with doing,
and would not have done it in any
event, as his whole past life at Eagle
Lake shows.
mDo cAphL BARNARD ONO q