South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-02-23
PLUM HELD FOR
ATTACK ON GIRL
COnfeSSeS When Arraigned in
City Court-FaCeS More
Serious Charge.

Examination Of the man who at
tackled Grace Couch in St Joseph $
Catholic church. corner Hill st. and
Lasalle av. shortly before o'clOck
Tuesday afternoon. by Chief Of De-
tectives John r. Kuespert Wednes-
day. revealed that he is Floyd Plum
Of Goshen. Ind. an ex-convict with
a local police record. Plum pleaded
guilty TO a charge Of assault and
battery before Judge Warner We'd
nesday morning. but it is expected
that a charge of assault and battery
with criminal intent will be filed
against him. lie is being held under
$500 bond and the case was set
down for further hearing Thursday
morning.
When questioned by Chief Kues-
pert Wednesday morning Plum. who
gave his name as BILL" Roberts
when arrested Tuesday afternoon,
admitted his identity and also con-
fessed TO having attacked another
girl in front OF the St. Joseph church
about two months ago. This girl was
al the police station with Father j.
+. Carroll and Miss Couch and iden-
tilted Plum as the man who had
grabbed her by the shoulder while
she was passing the church.
Chief Kuespert stated that Plum
was sentenced to the Jacksonville
reformatory from Elkhart county
for grand larceny in 1911 and was
paroled in 1913. He was also ar
rested in 1903 for larceny but was
found not guilty in circuit court. No
reason is given by Plum for his at
tacks upon the girls at the St Jo-
seph church
He Hates the World.
Everybody has turned me down
and / hate the world" he told the
officers when questioned
He positively denied having any
connection with the theft of the
money from the poor boxes at the
church some time, ago. He admit
ted hanging around the church at
various times. IL was at first thought
that perhaps Plum was a follower
for the Catholic church led him to
try to poison 200 people in Chicago
several days ago. But Plum de-
clares that he holds no malice
against the church. 1t is the belief
OF some o. the officers who had
Plum in charge mat he is a dope"
fiend. The young man, who is but
2S years old. declares that ne has
never taken drink in his life and
was not drunk when he attacked
Miss Couch Tuesday afternoon.
In the midst OF prayer the girl
was interrupted. A figure approach
ed. and the girl looked up. With
out word OF warning the man at
tackled her and struck her three
times with his fist. She screamed
and at that moment the janitor OF
the church, Joseph Joss, entered
the front door of the edifice
He gave chase. The man leaped
over the altar rail and fled from the
sanctuary and out the back door.
In close pursuit was the janitor.
once outside he sounded the alarm
and the pursuit was taken up by
passersby. Two blocks away the
man was captured. The pursuers
had increased to more than 100.
The fire laddies at No. hose house
rushed TO the street and aided in
directing the chase. Ii was there
that the asSailant was taken 10
await the coming of the police pa
troll
In the meantime his victim had
gone 20 the parish house next door
Rev +. J. Carroll. pastor was away
ON business errand. Rev. f. NJ
Gassensmith. assistant pastor. who
when the chase began had rushed
from the parish dwelling TO the
street. found Miss Couch on the
steps She was crying Historically
Rev. Mr.. Gassensmith attempted
10 comfort her. The girl was
trembling with fear Completely
unstrung from the attack and fright
she had received in the sanctuary
where she was wont TO so. not only
for protection but to divest herself
Of worldly matters from the busy
cold, wOrkaday world. she could tel
little OF what happened.
Aside from the fact that he had
struck her. not once but many
times. she knew nothing. It had
been so sudden. and come so unex-
pectedly. there in the quietness and
sanctity Of the church. as she was
kneeling in one of the church pews
% offer few words OF thanks &c
the great Provider. directly in front
IF the altar. and totally unconsciou,
3ll the while of any impending evil
that she became completely un-
nerved.
Friends took her TO the Coucr
home at 534 y. ST. Louis ST. I'm
mediately she was compelled 70 TAX,
20 her bed. and remained there dur.
ing the afternoon and evening.
Roberts Admits Guilt.
Last night at the police station
Roberts admitted his guilt. AT the
Ere station i'm the afternoon. con.