Evening journal., 1914-09-04
Girl attacked
ON PARK VISIT
16-Y Year Old Miss Sirman
Accuses Youth OF She'll
pot Assault
LURED FROM BOAT
TO NEARBY BUSHES

Enticed from a row boat at the
lake In Shellpot Park, late Wednes-
day afternoon, on a pretext of gath
ering flowers, Miss Margaret Sirman,
the 16-year-old daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. William Sirman, Of Harrington,
is alleged to have been assaulted by
a white youth. The Sirman child
was taken to her home yesterday by
her parents. who came here when
advised of the case. The youth who
is alleged to have assauIted the child
was seen in the park late that day,
but no attempt was made to arrest
him. When Chief Black was notified
of the case he at once dispatched
Patrolman Crozier and several other
officers to the park, but when they
arrived the young man had made his
escape. Enraged at the escape OF
the man, relatives and friends Of the
Sirman girl are contemplating TAX
ing the case up with the attorney
generals Office.
Although the assault was commit
ted on Wednesday, it did not become
known until this morning. From
what could be learned of the case it
appears that the child, who was Wis
| iting the family of Mrs. Mary Owens,
at No. 305 1-2 Franklin street, left
the Owens home with Lolith Owens,
aged 10 years, and Edith and Ann
Prince, the and year old daugh-
ters of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles S.
Prince, No. 305 Franklin street. The
four children went to the park about
two o'clock and shortly after arriv-
ing they were approached by the
young man who is accused OF the as
sault. The youth was dressed in a
blue uniform, which led the child to
believe he was an attache of the
park. The youth asked the Sirman
girl If he could swing her on one OF
! the swings in the park and she re-
piled in the negative, saying it would
make her i'll. The youth then sug-
gested that she accompany him to a
, show in the park and, when she re-
fused, he suggested a boat ride on
p the lake. This she agreed to and the
Z four children and the man went to
p the lake. 81,
The Sirman girl entered boat with
3 the young man while the other three
! Girls were left standing on the bank
: After rowing a while, the man rowet
D into a clump of bushes and asked th'
= Sirman girl to step out and gather the
flowers. At first Miss Sirman refused
= to leave the boat but after the man haS
v presented her with bouquet she decid
!. ed to gather some herself As she step
# ned into the bushes from the boat tn
e youth is said to have attempted to as
sault her.
Miss Sirman fought the man of an
while her clothes were nearly torn fror
, her BODY and her hair was dishevelle
4 she managed to escape from the you'll
;" In the meantime the three younger ehi
dren left on the bank of the lake becom
70 . ing tired went 10 the entrance OF tn
> park where they boarded a car for thel
;, homes.
=, Shortly after o'clock that nigl
- the Sirman girl entered the home
Mrs. Prince when it was seen thi
her condition was serious. Aft'
being questioned the girl recover'
' her composure and then told Mr.. an
~ Mrs. Prince of the attempted assau
IN DR.. Charles W. Hughes administer
az to the child's condition. This sho'
no ed she had not been assaulted, crir
s inally.
ne After seeing that the child WI
Z being attended to Mr.. Prince we
d at once to Shellpot Park and aft
n visiting the various amusemen
be there he located the young man WI
u was accused by the Sirman chil
IN Mr.. Prince called one of the guar
ed at the park whose name he did n
mt know but the guard, according to n
be Prince. refused to arrest the you
in claiming he had no warrant.
lpt Prince then went to the office
he Chief of Police Black but when t
an officers arrived at the park the m
m had disappeared Since then
trace of the girls assailant has be
found.