Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-03
MAN ASSAULTS
GIRL OF a YEARS
GAGS CHILD WITH HANDKER-
CHIEF TO PREcENT AN oUTcRY
WHEN COMMITTING OUTRAGE
TIED TO A MACHINE
Bind Girls Hands With Rope to Sew.
Ing Machine-Attack MADE During
Noon Hour While Child Was
Alone in House Of
~ Uncle.

With both her hands dashed to the
iron support of a sewing machine and
q handkerchief crammed into her
mouth to prevent any cutlery, Carrie
Sutherland, a girl only fourteen years
of age, was criminally assaulted by a
masked man yesterday afternoon
about / o'clock at her home, 1879 Van
Buren, avenue The perpetrator OF
the crime made his escape immediate
ly afterward, leaving no trace and
without arousing the suspicious Of the
neighborhood The police are WORK
ing on the case today endeavoring to
bring the criminal to justice but SO far
they have not the faintest clue. Al
though weakened by fright and suf-
fering from the outrage, the little
girls condition is not, serious.
That the unknown man knew his
surroundings and that the girl was
alone was evidenced by the fact that
he made no move to ascertain wheth-
er or not there were other occupants
In the house and that he evinced no
fear that any one. might return while
he was perpetfating his assault.
Uncle Tells Story.
Lance Young, an uncle of the girl,
at whose house she has been living for
some time past, relates the story OF
the assault as the girl, whose I'M
nerved condition prevents anyone from
seeing her, told 1t short time after
1t occurred Mrs. Young was also
away from home at the time. Another
little girl by the name OF Edna Bow
man, aged 10. who also lives with Mr..
and Mrs. Young, was with the child
before the assault was committed.
About IL o'clock the little Bowman
girl was dispatched from the home
with Mr. Young's dinner, taking it to
tho Grips livery born. The Suther-
land girl went upstairs Immediately
after remaining for some time. Com
ing down stairs again she peered out
Of the dining room window to see
whether or not the younger child was
returning, that she might prepare their
own dinner Not seeing her she turned.
Just as she was passing the outside
door of the dining room the masked
man stepped in before her tive got
you" he Kissed from behind his mask
"a dirty rag completely hiding his
features. The mask seemed to strike
terror into the poor girls heart and
she made no outcry and was too weak
to resist. On his arm the rufilan car
ried small piece Of rope. Throwing
her to the floor he seized her hands
and ran them through the iron work
Of the support of the sewing machine,
one from either side and then dashed
them fast The girl lay helplessly on
the floor with her hands securely tied
above her head and the rope 80 tight
that 1t began to cut her flesh.
Gagged Her With Handkerchief.
The assailant then deliberately
went to the bookcase only few steps
away and picked up handkerchief.
The girl thought he. was going after a
little money bank in the bookcase and
felt that she was safe. Roughly he
forced the handkerchief into her
mouth Then he made his dastardly
assault Without word that the
girl can recall he then walked out Of
the same door he entered. The child
struggled at her bonds but the effort
only brought pain to her arms and
wrists. A few minutes after, the little
Bowman girl returned and at the same
time the Sutherland girl managed to
work the handkerchief out Of her
mouth. Frightened by what she saw,
the younger girl turned and ran But
the cry of her companion brought her
back to the house and she unfastened
the rope which bound the girls hands.
Run to Neighbors.
Freed from the rope the Sutherland
girl arose and with the other, ran to
the neighbors. They were immedia-
te1y reused and rushed to the house
but found no trace of the perpetrator
of the crime. Mrs. Young was i'm
media,ely telephoned for and arrived