The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-03-31

under the snow fence. He urged
them TO come where he was by diff
ferent statements designed to lure
them, but they refused his overtures
Then he sprang out, seized the old
est girl and tried to drag her to the
fence. She escaped from his clutches
and ran. He then seized the smaller
girl but the other girl returned and
fought the man so hard that he
loosened his hold and both girls
ran for home, with their under
clothing half torn from them. A
farmer at work in a field not far
away but hidden by the snow fence
is no doubt what deferred the man
from further molesting the girls.
AS soon as the girls arrived a,
Mr.. Sauck hitched up his team and
taking the oldest girl with him, has.
tened to Fairmont. He notified Mar
shall Ebben and Sheriff Ward of the
attempted assault, then hurled to
the county attorneys office and
stated the facts, the girl giving a
good description of her assailant. A
warrant was at once issued and
placed in the hands of the sheriff.
1t charged "felonious assault" The
county attorney also 'phoned the Of
ficers at Imogene and Granada to
be on the lookout for the fellow.
The girl had given Il minute descrip-
ton of the man.
Fellow Wanted a Ride.
When going to Imogene by auto
j. l.. Palmer had passed the fellow
who demanded ride, but not lik-
ing his looks, 10 sped by him, be-
ing rOundly cursed The man went
a short distance east after 10 passed
him. then returned to FairmOnt. =
In the meantime the officers had
been in search of him and the sher-
if had traced him back here. At
the hour named Sheriff Ward went
into Joe Speier's saloon and there
found his man and placed him I'M
der arrest. He took him to a side
room, showed him the warrant and
searched him; then took him out of
the front door and asked Street
Commissioner Parker to take charge
OF the fellow while he went back
and questioned the man who APP
peared to be his partner
After his talk with the partner
the sheriff went ont of the saloon
and just as he emerged the prison.
er made break for liberty, run
ming toward the mill He was COM
manded to halt but answered in de-
fiance and profanity. The sheriff
then drew his revolver and fired
four times at the fleeing man, drop
ping him with the fourth shot.
Identified BY Girls.
At the Jail the fellow was visited
by both of the little girls whom he
had attacked. who positively iden-
tilted him as the man who had seiz-
ed them and torn their clothes near
ly off them. County Attorney Palm
er also tried TO get statement from
the fellow but he refused to talk UNI
til told that he might die from the
shot, then he said his name was
William Edison, his home in San
Francisco, but that for two or three
years he had worked around Web
ster City, Iowa, and came from
there to this place few days ago.
or Inn tod hxy
his partner, who also said Edison
was one quarter Indian. He is very
dark, rather good looking and about
twenty-seven years old. The part
ner had got job at the tile plant
while Edison had done nothing but
lay around and drink booze since
coming here. The little girls in
describing the man who assailed
them said "he smelled awfully of
Edison is suffering greatly at this
writing and it is the opinion Of DR..
that he will die from the
effects Of the wound.
Edsons father is dead, his mother
married again ana her home San
Francisco, but he could not give
her street number. An attempt will
be made to find the mother
EdsOn's partner states that about
a week ago the wounded man had
n big fight with the police at Web
ster City and made his escape as
he attempted TO do here. He had
a newspaper clipping giving an ac-
count of the fracas.
Rev. Father Condor, the Catholic
orator, visited the dying man on
Thursday afternoon and give him
such comfort and assurance as the
church has to offer.
Mrs Francisco RobeI Win Mad