Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 130, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1912 — SERIOUS CHARGE FILED AGAINST W. P. MICHAEL. [ARTICLE]

SERIOUS CHARGE FILED AGAINST W. P. MICHAEL.

“Coon Dog Bill" Made Defendant In Attempted Criminal Assault Action “Against Sister-In-Lnw. William P. Michael, who has been commonly called “Coon Dog Bill,” has been made a defendant in Justice S. C. Irwin’s court on a very serious charge preferred by his sister-in-law, Mrs. Harry Cook. The affidavit made by Mrs. Cook and her husband charges Michael with having caught hold of Mrs, Cook with the intention of Criminally assaulting her. It is alleged by Mrs. Cook, who is a daughter of Joseph G. L. Galey, that Michael came to their home, when her husband and father were absent, and followed her into a bedroom where she went to put some ironed clothes away; that he stood in the door and restrained her from leaving the bedroom, and made improper proposals to her and sought by force to carry his carnal suggestions into effect. Mrs. Cook says that she resisted him and screamed out and that he then plead with her not to tell her husband or father. After he went away, she says, she went across the fields and told her father and later her husband. The alleged attempt was made on May 17th. On May 22nd the affidavit was made before Moses Leopold, who is aiding Prosecuting Attorney Longwell in the state’s case. Constable Parks arrested Michael Wednesday, bringing him before Squire Irwin, who released him under SSOO bond, secured by J. A. Larsh, W. J. Wright, F. E. Babcock, D. S. Warner and J. H. Chapman. The hearing of the case was set for next Friday, June 7th. Michael’s wife is also a daughter of Mr. Galey.