Omaha daily bee., 1920-10-10
Iowa Man
Is Accused
OF Slavery
Son Is Whipped, Cursed and
Abused Like Il Yellow Cur,
Neighbors Tell Prose
cutting Attorney.
Lads Mother in Grave

Creston. Ia, Oct. 9.--(Special
Telegram.)-Th virtual slavery 'n
which Herold Winkler, said to be q.
is alleged TO be held by his stc1-
;ather, Richard l.. Winkler.
farmer living six miles northwest
of Creston, and stories of years OF
inhuman cruelty to the boy, have
aroused the cut:re countryside here
and have resulted in court action 10
take the stepson away from the man
and have a guardian appointed for
him. Young Wnkler is said to be
sub-normal mentally.
This Afternoon court hearing was
begun on petition to free the youth
from his alleged bondage and term
mate the terrible mistreatment said
to have been inflicted on him. The
bearing before the court and two
directors lasted until $50. An or
der was issued after the hearing 70.
the appointment OF guardian. The
boy was found mentally weak.
Stories of violent attacks on the
youth were told by II witnesses
summoned to testify in the case
They said that he had been abused
by his father as small boy and that
of recent years has been handled
like a dog" beaten with straps
clubs and the cienched fists of his
stepfather.
Cringes Like a Dog.
''The boy eringes like a cur dos
before the whip of cruel master
when his stepfather is around" said
one man. Il have seen him jump
around on all fours, like a dog, when
working for his father, trying TO
do the many things he commands
him to do"
The boys mother died when he
was 5 years old, according to
neighbor.
"The boys father died when he
was baby and his mother married
when he was 3 years old. She lasted
just two years as Winkler's wife.
She died when the boy was S years
old"
After the mothers death the boy
was mistreated continuously, neigh
bors said. He. has not been allowed
to associate with neighbors except
under the eyes OF his stepiathcr, it
is said. -
Cursed and Abused.
Winkler refuses to surrender the
youth, it is said, because he claims
that he has adopted him.
The boy has been forced to do a
mans work ever since he rea shed his
teens, it is alleged. At the present
time he is loaded with duties and
cursed and abused while he is per
forming his labors, it is charged.
The boy has been grossly mis-
treated, according to witnesses" said
E L. Carroll, county attorney OF
Union county. who is prosecuting the
case. He is below the average
mentally and hasn't enough will
power to break away from his ia
ther. Winkler never has paid the
boy any wages and holds him i'll a
state of terror. | am told"
Mrs. Grace Blaus, who was doing
some sewing at the house OF
neighbor of WinkIer, saw the step
father abusing the boy, she said AMI
sWore out the complaint against
him.
Woman Pushes Case.
"Neighbors Of NVinkler had been
resentful at the treatment accorded
the boy for a long time" said County
Attorney Carroll, but you know
how those things are. Nobody
wanted to take the initiative and it
ran along until Mrs. Blaus took the
bull by the horns and filed the COM
plant
"The state legislature passed law
at the last session allowing the ap-
pointment of guardians in classes. of
cases into which this falls. 1t is
through this statute that we hope to
free the boy and have guardian to
look after his interests.
Winklcr has employed the law
firm of Higbee & McEniry to de-
fend him. Eleven witnesses have
! been summoned