The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-12-20

me l4s imam homo .... IS "e-GTf
affair occurred 10. sra3 E0Es
em fher" fr tae r. lenc1 ~ Mr
=; the police that she suspected him
Dixon was found at the Salvation
Army hall about five o'clock by or
ficer ROmack, who informed him
chat he was suspected Of the charge
aud asked him if he would come to
the police station. Dixon readily as.
santed. protesting that there must
be some mistake. He admitted hav.
ing been at the Rhodes home that
afternoon and remembered the girl
but denied stoutly that he was
guilty of the serious charge. lie Of
fcred voluntarily to go to the home
Of Mr.. Rhodes and have the girl
either exOnerate or denounce him.
Captain Buyer was then notified and
the three. Officer ROmack, Captain
Buyer and Dixon went TO the scene
of the alleged assault. When the
men entered the home of the girl.
Miss Rhodes was asked which one
OF them had assaulted her. and she
at once pointed the accusing finger
at Robert Dixon. At the denuncia-
ton. the Salvation Army man wilted
like rag. but maintained his in.
nocence. He was brought to the po-
lice station and placed behind the
bars.
Came Highly Recommended.
Dixon came here two weeks ago
from Minneapolis. highly recommend.
ed by Major Arthur Cass of that
city. He is not member of the
army. and does not profess to be a
religious man, but in his five years
of service he has never given cause
for the slightest doubt as to the
strength or purity of his character
His story of his actions during the
afternoon is as follows: 81 left the
Armv hall about rs and went out
to West Mankato to solicit food for
the Salvation Army Christmas din
Der. After working up and down
several streets I arrived at the home
of Charles Mailman, and Mrs. Hall
man promised chicken for the
dinner. I took her name, address
and what she was to give and then
went next door where the Rhodes
family reside. 7 knocked at the
door and a young lady opened it.
| asked her if her mother was home
and she did not seem to be able to
speak. but nodded her head in the
negative. then told her what ]
was doing and asked if she could
help us. I noticed that she did not
appear to be real bright. As coulG
not seem to make her understand,
left the place and went on my
way. I think that this was about
three o'clock. but I cannot say for
certain. took several more orders
and then came back up town. On
Rrett's corner I stopped and talked
with a newspaper man. Then ]
went to the hall. and as it was such
n nice evening I went to the hard
ware store to get our gasoline torch
which had been taken over there
to be repaired. When I returned
with it I found the officer and he
told me what was alleged to have
happened. He said that he could
not arrest me as he had no war
rant. but asked me if ! would come
to the police station with him. Rath.
or than have a doubt of such a
horrible crime hanging over my
head for minute more than neces.
sary 7 went with him Immediately.
Declares He Is Innocent. ..
"The police explained matters a
little more fully to me there and
then I offered to 20 to the place
and see if the girl could identify
me. | do not know why she &C.
cused me. but | swear before my
God that 7 am innocent. If COM
mitted such 4 horrible crime do you
think that could go on soliciting
for the Army as If nothing had hap
pened? II ] had wanted to run
away I could have done so, but l
did not. I did not have to go vol.
UNFAIRLY 10 the house and ask the
girl if I was the man. I know
enough about the law so that I could
have made them bring her to- me if
they wanted her to do that. Do you
think that would have kept as
clean record all my life as I have
and then do that? am not drink
ing man and have not touched a
drop for years. Gentlemen, if You
can find single time In the Ave
years ] have been with the Saliva.
ton Army that ! have acted in the
least ungentlemanly way to any one
] will plead guilty to this charge.
RI had done this would ! not have
tried to run away when I knew that
the cries of the girl would arouse
the neighborhOOd? But now my
reputation is gone. Oh, do not
care for myself. / can stand it, but
it is for the army and the faith that
all it's members have reposed in me-
I would rather die than be accused
and arrested for this. But it is all
up now. / wish | were dead. If
were guilty l would gladly let them
take me out and lynch me. for that
is no more than I would deserve.
Much Cast Down.
81 have no hope of ever being
able to hold up my head again, for
when a man is arrested for a crime
he is considered guilty by the pub.
lie. And it is public opinion that
J. fear more than any punishment
that could be inflicted upon me.