The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-02-17
VICIOUS ATTACK,
WOMAN VICTIM
Mrs. Phillip Weis Brutally
Struck On Head
WAS ON HER WAY HOME
Followed Considerable Distance
BY Stranger Who Con-
stantly Whistied


slugger holding forth in the north end
of the city is strongly indicated by
the fact that two people nave been
sandbagged or beaten over the head
in the vicinity Of the intersection Of
North Broad and Madison avenue
within the past week. The first oc-
currence of this kind to occur in this
city for years past, was last Friday
night, February 3. when Frank Thill
was assaulted at that point by two
ruffians, one of whom grabbed him by
the throat and the other slugged him
rendering him unconscious. When he
came to after being found lying in the
snow early an hour, he discovered
that he was robbed of something over
thirty dollars. , ~
The second occurrence of this kind
took place last evening about $3.50
when Mrs. Phillip Weis Of 316 East
Lafayette street was knocked down
by blow on the back Of the head by
a man who had followed her all the
way from the filling station on North
Front street to a point near the in
.ersection of North Broad and Madi-
n avenue
Whlstilng Made Her Nervous.
In a statement to The Free Press
this morning Mrs. Weis said that she
had been to the Mankato postoffice to
mail some letters and going homes
gone north on Front street. When
she passed the Standard Oil filing
station on North Front street a man
stepped out and followed closely be-
hind her and kept whistling tunes to
himself. Mrs. Weis said that it made
her very nervous to have the man
walk so close behind her, but she got
the impression that it was some one
living in the north end of the city
going home.
Mrs. Weis stated that the first init
nation she had that the man was
about to attack her. was when she
received a hard blow on the head
which partly stunned her and felled
her to the sidewalk. She says that
she at once began to scream. Her
aSsailant, who was dressed in overalls
and jacket and cap, bent over her as
she lay on the sidewalk with what
she thinks bar Of iron in his hand.
He said: Keep stlu," but Mrs. Weis
said that she kept screaming at the
top of her voice, and the man took to
his heels across lots short distance
north of the Frank ]. Mettler resi-
dence on North Broad street. q
SdhStH9 TIOHi OUOSNs a
It was moonlight at the time. but
Mrs. Weis, who is a very small and
frail woman was so frightened that
ton of the man, further than to state
according to her best judgment he
was about five feet seven inches tall
and of a rather stout build.
Mrs. WeiS is now suffering from
nervous shock and the pain from
two large bumps and cut on her
head. Mrs. WeiS said that she is not
sure whether the weapon used in
telling her to the ground was a bar
OF iron or a piece of rubber hose,
probably filed with either shot or
sand.
Mrs. Weis ran screaming to the
residence of Mike Riedel, S23 North
Broad street and was taken inside in
a very dazed condition. and was later
accompanied to her home by Mr..
Riedel.
Women and girls have been fright
ened for the past two weeks by some
times one man and at other times by
two men who followed them along the
street hill.
Three young ladies who had been
out to sewing club meeting on Third
avenue last Friday night, were very
much frightened by a man answering
the description of the man who as
saulted Mrs. Weis last night follow
ing them. At that time he had his cap
pulled down over his face In such a
manner that it was difficult to recog-
nize his features. According to the
statement of one of the young ladies
this afternoon to the Free Press the
prowler is encountered most of the
time on the top Of North Front street
hill in the vicinity of the T, r.
Coughlan wood yard. The informant OF
The Press said that this sort of thing
had been going on for about three
weeks, now and women living in that
part of town are afraid to venture out
after nightfall. ~
The same young lady stated that
there is a "Tom the pepper" abroad
in the night time in that part OF
town. One young lady was nearly
scared out Of her wits a few nights
ago when she happened to glance to,
ward the window and saw man star
ing at her through the glass. The
Pepper" is described as tall and slim
and does not tally in any way with the
"Slugger."
The pranks of the pepper were par.
ticularly in evidence Monday and
Tuesday nights of this week.