Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-07-22
MOB BEATS Up OLD
MAN ACCUSED OF
ASSAULT|NC GIRL
ALLEGED MORON TTACk D
AFTER FATHER OF 12-YEAR-OLO
CHILD CATCHES HIM AND is
SEVERELY MANHANDLED BE.
FORE RESCUED BY DEPUTY
SHERIFF.

Famed to a white heat after a
| several hours search for a GO year
old man, who it is charged attempt,
! ed to Criminally assault a l. year old
| girl, a posse headed by the child's
father caught and severely beat Tom
o Neal, last night at $3.50 o'clock at
the corner of Superior and Chestnut
streets. Only the timely interference
OF Deputy Sheriff Harry Westcott.
who fought his way through the
crowd and took possession of O'Nea].
prevented the prisoner from being
critically injured Mr.. Westcott sue.
"ecded in protecting the prisoner un.
I'll the police arrived and took him
t. Jail in the patrol
The man who is accused by his for.
mer friends 1f being q moron is said
to rave entered the home of Mike
Barlint, on Pine street, early YES
terday afternoon when Lizzie the
y year Old ddt2hter of the family,
vas alone. Tie mother Of the girl
is alleged TO have arrived home inI
tine to- have prevented the aged man
1'tm t,,ly AiactTg the child.
Tie father CS the little girl, who is
e"Woyet at the National Plate Co.. /
was e,lmmDnet home Barljnt went
down town at once, and secured al
state warrant for the old mans ar
rest He informed the officers that!
O'Neal had a gun in his possession,
which he had used in the attempted
attack
O'Neal Was Z niend of the Bar
lint family, and it is said was inI
the habit Ct frequently making in.
formal calls and visits at the home.
Neighbors Form Posse.
AS the men of the neighborhoodI !
return home and heard the story.
they jCired in the search. Deputy
Sheriff Harry Westcott, who resides
a few blocks away, also learned of
the warrant, and aided the police in
making the search. At $50 a num-
Der of searchers, including Deputy
Sheriff WestCott return to their
homes. The officer had Just settled
on his porch, when he heard the
Childs father cry out:
"l've got him
BarIint caught the man as he
headed west at the corner of Super
iOr and Chestnut streets.
The officer could hear a shower of
blows, A posse of five other men,
who were down the street a short
distance still making the search ran
to Barlint's aid. ONeal was knock
ad down and as the officer ran, he
could hear numerous blows, which
apparently were struck with wea-
lOn.
Saved by Deputy Sheriff.
crowd gathered on the corner al
most instantaneously and the officer
rad to fight his way through the
'rnwd, who were bent on furnishing
he old man for the hideous crime of
which he was accused.
BY the time Mr.. WestcOtt reached
lis side and succeeded in fighting
,ff the posse, the old man was Sc
'erely beaten. and cut from numer-
us licks he had received His head
md face were bleeding freely, and +
lis clothing was covered with blood Il
1r. Westcott in taking him to safe
Y, got his shoes and clothing all
oyered with blood He succeeded
n quieting the crowd, and in getting
DNeal from the center OF the mob
ONeal was taken down the street
nd held a prisoner until the police
rrived to take him in charge. He
vas then assisted in the wagon. and
aiken to the county Jail. where he
vas locked up until 100 o'clock this
fternoon. when he was given hear
ng before Justice of the Peace KOe-
iig
1t is said that except for the bray.
rv displayed by Deputy Westcott.
he old man would have been in a
cry bad shape before the officers ar
ived II is said the mob was so
urious over the outrage, that the