Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-03-15
MISS LILLIAN RIGDEN
BEATEN BY MAN
NEAR HOME
SNATCHED HAND BAG
VICTIM SAYS SHE RECOGNIZED
ASSAtl1NT, WtO AFTER AR-
REST DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE
10:15 LAST NIGHT ON NORTH
COLUMBUS STREET.

Struck and beaten about the hea.
and face by a youthful assailan. VIII,
acCosted her al a lonely spot ON NORTH
olumbus street Miss Lillian Higdcu
well known telephone company "lr
ploye. last night was the victim o.
one Of the most brutal assaults yet
recorded in Ottawa police annals.
The assault, which occurred as Miss
Rigden was on her way home from
downtown. .ook place within a stone
throw Of her own front door At one
OF the darkest and most sinister spots
along Columbus street, The south,
after terribly beating the young won
an snatched her hand bag from her
arm as she lay screaming upon tn"
ground. where his blows had almost
rendered her senseless, and ran dow II
the street. Before he disappeared
into the dark Miss Rigden managed
10 struggle to a sitting position and
saw the culprit disappear under the
electric ligh, with her bag tucked
under his arm.
Today, while positive Of identidca-
tion of the bandit, Miss Rigden was
not positive she had recognized the
youth. She thought was a young man
named Howard Kennedy, Is. who re-
sides in North Ottawa. and who once
before tried to carry on conversu-
zion with her as she was walhing
home, although he had never been
formally introduced to her Young
Kennedy was taken into custody, but
after his arrest denied emphatically
any connection with the murderous al
tack on Miss Rigden. He said he
spent the evening up to 10 O'Clock IN
tOstello's store. near the l. x VI.
bridge, and then Wen. direct home.
When the police Went to his house III
1920 O'Clock the suspect was getting
ready to retire This afternoon She
III Ayres. not content with the youth
story, started ou to search for Ken
nedy. 1t was his intentions to place
him under arrest and subject him to .
!cittlni2ing examination of his aces
during the early hours Of the night.
II the Interrogation brings results
Kennedy will be held under warrants
10 be issued later
The first Miss Rigden saw Of her as
ed Norris street on her way to her
home. There she looked about sud
denly. when Il dark form appeared be.
hind her, and suspected she was being
followed. AS she crossed the street
near the old feeder bridge the man
spoke to her saying This is a bad
street here She replied in the af
1irmative and quckened her step, hop
ing to reach home before any mon .
words were passed by he man.
First Blow on Nose.
When she walked laS,e? the fellow
tried TO keep up with her. Just as she
passed De Leon street and was with
ing half a block from home, the man
caught up with her. She turned to see
what he was going TO do. ana just as
she did this his fist shot out and
struck her squarely between the eyes
She fell screaming to the street rs
she crumpled under the force of the
blow and tried to get to her feet. ne
struck her again, the blow hitting
about in the same place as the first
one. Her screams attracted Mrs. Anna
shea, near whose residence the az.
sanlt occurred, and she ran from the
house. Her appearance on the scene
helped irighten the brute, who diSa;.- |
peared down the street as rapidly as
his legs would carry him, The girls
cries were plainly heard by her sister
and mother, and they hurriedly dress I
ed, expecting to find the victim badly !
injured from an automobile acciden !
ana not thinking she had been n3.I
saulted by II tiend of the worst pos.
sible type.
Miss Rigden was rushed to Ryburn |
hospital, where an examination was
made to ascertain whether or not her !
nose was broken. The doctors founi /
that the bridge was badly injured, bur
not fractured. 30 h eyes were badly |
discOlored
Throws Purse Away.
The hand bag, in which Miss Rag.
den carried he purse. contained about
80 cents In money. and when the thiefI
found there was only little change
in 1t 1t Is thought he threw the purse
with Its contents away Later they
were found not far distant from the
scene of the crime by a member Of
the police force. Neighbors hal