The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-01-27
Girls Flee
sClub1l1an
L IL L S II e.
Neighbors Armed Wins,e
Bats and Pitchforks L =
ture Arthur kccline as
Quarry Takes Refuge.
Held for Investigation

4 posse of citizens, armed with
shotguns. ball bats. shovels and pitch
forks, from the neighborhood of For
ty-eighth and Center streets, captured
Arthur keeline. capitalist of Omaha
and Council Bluffs, at last night
after he had attempted to gain en-
trance to house where two young
girls had taken refuge from him.
Cecile Potter. Ais South Forty
sixth avenue. and Marie Prenosil
2117 South Forty-sixth street. each
IS, told police that Keeline. who met
them at Forty-eighth avenue and Cen.
ter streets. after improper advances,
followed them as they fled.
They took refuge in the home OF
Mrs. Effie Snid. 1909 South Forty
eighth street, widow, who was home
alone with her three small children.
Follows to Refuge.
The girls screamed as they ran to
the Smid home. attracting the atten.
not respond at first, thinking the girls
were playing a hoax.
THE man ran after us to the
house and we slammed the door i'll his
face" said Cecile Potter. I'VE bolted
the door and he kicked at it several
times. Then he went to a window
and pulling a knife from his pocket,
tried to force open the window. He
made faces at me, too.
Mrs. Smid and the three children
and Marie slipped out of the front
door while ! kept his attention at the
window. When it looked like he was
going to open the window, l grabbed
a kettle of boiling hot water and held
it ready to pour on his head
Run for Neighbors.
Mrs. Smid her three children and
the Prenosl girl ran to neighbors and
screamed for help. The neighbors,
realizing what was happening, quickly
organized a posse and grabbed shot
guns, ball bats and other handy ar
ticles of defense.
Clair Potter, brother of the girl.
armed with a shotgun, and John Gra-
bow, 1904 Walnut street, carrying a
ball bat, led the irate neighbors.
After searching about the premises
they found Keeline hiding in a small
shed near the house. He did not re-
sist capture. "1f he had, l hate to
think what would have happened to
him." said C;rabow. THE crowd was
an angry one"
Held by Posse.
Keeline was held by the posse until
police arrived. At the police station
he was held without bond and
charged with being drunk, operating
an automobile while drunk and inves-
tigation. He gave his address as the
Omaha club. A Cadillac coupe which
he had left at Forty-eighth and Cen
ter STREETS was taken by police and
impounded until the trial.
Both girls were hysterical last
night because of their experiences.
I'VE got off Of the street car at
Fiftieth and Center and walked to-
ward Forty.eighth street" said &C.
cle Potter we passed him at
about Forty-eightli avenue and he
said to US: Hello girls, where can I
get a taxicab?'
I'VE told him he would have to
walk two blocks to street car be-
cause there were no taxi stands in the
neighborhood. Then he tried to find
out our names and when we wouldn't
tell him he said: It's mighty wet to-
day. You will get your feet damp.
Better let me take you home in my
nice car.
Girls Start TO Run.
lie pointed to a machine. Then he
made an insulting remark and we
started to walk fast. He started to
run and so did we.''
keeline. who is director in a
Council Bluffs bank and has many in
terests here, was sued for divorce by
his wife some time ago. She accused
him OF cruel and inhuman treatment
of nature to endanger her life and
health, excessive use of 'intoxicants
and improper association with other
persons. She said he was worth more
than $3.50
Many of the neighbors said they
will appear before Chief of Detec.
tives Van Deusen this morning and
insist that keeline be prosecuted. He
VIII have a hearing in police court