The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-06-28

it is claimed, introduced her to Paul
Williams, and later the others were
invited to join the party, but to these
she was not introduced. The promise
that other girls were to be included
in the party, encouraged her to go,
and when the start was made from
the city, it is alleged that the boys
declared that the other girls were at
Crookston and would join the group
there.
At Crookston they were refused adj
mittance to the dance, claimed Miss
Chapman, because it was a private
affair and strangers without invita-
tons were excluded.
Alleged Assault.
Some time was spent in Crookston
and it was past midnight when, on
the way home, the alleged crime was
committed. The machine was stopped
east of Fisher, according to the story
told to the prosecutors, and the de-
mand that the girl submit to their
desires or walk home was made. Miss
Chapman declares that she said she
would walk and proceeded up the road
on foot Three of the boys, she
claims, pursued her, dragged her back,
and it was then that one of the most
brutal crimes ever reported here, took
place.
Following the alleged assaults, she
says she was helped back into the
machine in weakened condition and
was brought back to Grand Forks,
where she entered local hostelry un-
assisted. She returned to her home at
Larimore that morning, where she re-
ceived medical attention and the ply
stefan in charge of the case advised
her to place the matter in the hands of
a Grand Forks attorney.
Case Taken Up.
The girl returned to Grand Forks
Monday, June II, and placed her case
in the hands Of Attorney H. A. Libby,
who took the matter up with States
Attorney T. B. Elton on the afternoon
Of Thursday, June IA. He also confer
red with Sheriff Turner, and the Polk
county authorities, he states.
Several conferences were held be-
tween the two attorneys, but compli-
cations, including the state of the
girls health, her reported unwilling
ness to institute criminal action, and
the necessity of prosecuting the charge
in either the Polk county or federal
courts, prevented immediate action.
The girl was at the Libby home,
i'll at the time, but returned to Lari-
more Saturday, June 16, without hav-
ing informed the authorities as to
whether or not she wished any Grim
inal action taken in the matter, al
though it had been indicated to States
Attorney Elton by her friends that
she did not.
Civil Case.
| Attorney Libby represented the girl
in civil action for damages only, the
defendants being represented by Tracy
R. Bangs. An amicable settlement Of
the case was made.
This course was strongly advised
Mr.. Libby states, by friends of the
girl from Larimore.
Criminal Action.
The county authorities were not dis
posed to leave the matter rest, how
ever, and on Tuesday, Sheriff Turner
autoed to Larimore and advised the
girl to come to this city, as County
Attorney Elton wished to see her. She
readily consented, and yesterday ar
rived here. Immediate action was
taken and after the consultation, the
trip to Crookston was made, where
the charge was lodged before County
Attorney G. A. Youngquist and NUM-
cipal Judge Gossman.
It is said by everyone that Miss
Chapman has an excellent reputation
in every respect, and that she is I'M
usually popular in Larimore.
LATER-Pau1 Williams and Eugene
Coulter were arrested by the sheriff's
force this morning on charge of rape
in the first degree. The arrest fol-
/ lowed receipt Of the following tele-
gram from Sheriff E. f. Kelly Of Polk
county, Minnesota: 81 hold warrants
for Roy Spriggs, Paul Williams, Eu-
gene Coulter and William C. Hogg.
Arrest and hold these parties"
Roy Spriggs and William G. Hogg
have recently enlisted in the army and
are somewhere in a training camp,
but it was pointed out today that the
federal military authorities will sur
| render them on request of the Mime
sofa sheriff. Clifford Bridgman is at
present out OF town, having departed
four or five days ago for Duluth, it
was said. His arrest will follow
| shortly.
The two-year-old daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. Orr, of Watford City, Me-