The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-21
Prosecutor Investigates the
Charge that W. E. Perry
Denuded Wife and Allowed
Dog to Attack Her.
ACCUSED NOW HELD
ON ASSAULT CHARGE
1t Is Probable that a More
Serious Charge Will Be
Placed Against Him in the
Circuit Court.

Held on charge OF assault and bat
terry on his wife. w. Il. Perry, a labor
er, is accused by the woman's father.
Charles Riecker, 1923 North Eleventh
street, of having stripped her thread
bare and then set hound upon her.
Perry was arraigned in police court
today. but more serious charges will
probably be filed against the man In
circuit court.
In sworn statement to Prosecutor
Charles r. Ladd, the woman verified
the statement OF her father. made this
morning. In addition she told Ladd !
story Of beating. cruelty and abuse.
the like OF which has probably never
before come to the attention of the
Wayne county authorities.
Although not insane, Perry Is said
by the woman's relatives to be almost
a maniac when angry. Both man and
wife are under thirty years old. They
have been married several years and
have one child. girl. Perry's mai
treatment OF his wife. is alleged by
Riecker to have begun soon after
their marriage
Story Or the Assault.
Last Saturday night, when Mrs. Per-
~ came home from doing the Sunday
buying. Perry was waiting for her.
according to the statement made 10
Prosecutor Ladd. He. demanded to
know what she had purchased and
finding that she had spent thirty
cents for an article 0f wearing apparel
for the child he became enragcd. 1t
is stated.
Take off every stitch OF your
clothes" he commanded her, applying
some cuffs and blows to make his de-
mand more emphatic, Prosecutor I1add
says.
Terrified the woman removed her
clothing. and then according to At.
torney Ladd, the woman told him her
husband then permitted dog to at
tack her. She said she was injured
only slightly by the animal. When
Perrys anger was appeased he left
the house, on North Seventeenth
street. The woman then fled to her
fathers home, where she has been
since the latest attack.
Prosecutor Ladd questioned the NO.
man closely for several hours yester.
day afternoon and drew from her
tales OF numerous cruelties that were
heinous and revolving In character.
Stories told by the woman and her
father, show that on one occasion last
summer, Perry came home in rage
and, grabbing heavy piece OF crock
cry had hurled it at his wife, striking
her on the side. A permanent injury
which physicians have been unable to
cure. was inflicted. It is stated.
Mrs. Perry told the prosecutor that
she had been stripped OF her cloth.
ing at other times and while nude had
been beaten sby the man with boards,
his fists and other weapons. The III,
tie girl had been present on several Of
these occasions. she told the prosecu.
tor.
The prosecutor has not determined
what charge will be field against Per-
ry in circuit court. but he believes In
case the woman's story can be drawn
from her on the witness stand, he
would be able to send Perry to tho
penitentiary for long term.
When arraigned on the affidavit
made by his father-in-law, Perry en-.
tered plea Of not guilty and asked
for time to secure an attorney. The,
assault and battery case is set for Fri.
day morning. In the meantime L4dd
will continue his Investigations, and
lit is possible that he will never be
tried on this charge
The Perry home IS a iitle two-ro0m-
ed shanty near the river on North
Seventeenth street, one OF the most
cesolate sections of the county. It
is surrounded by few scrnb viii
lows. In the midst OF sea OF mud
in the winter, and hard dry ground,
without sign Of grass or flowers, In
the summer.