Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 220, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1912 — THREW WIFE TO GROUND AND THEN SAT ON HER. [ARTICLE]

THREW WIFE TO GROUND AND THEN SAT ON HER.

Mrs. Wilbur Criswell Followed and Attacked by Husband From Whom She Has Been Separated. I ■ ■ .1 ■ ■ Cries for help emlnatlng from a woman brought Ed Duvall and one or Wilbur Criswell at the corner of Front and Rutsen streets in Rensselaer shortly before 7 o’clock Thursday evening. The appeals also brought about all the people in that neighborhood to their doors. It was not yet dark, although it was difficult in the twilight to see just what was going on, but Mrs. Criswell was lying on the ground and her husband was either sitting on her or holding her down with his knees. Asked what he was doing he made charges of unfaithfulness against his wife. He then left and his wife hurled some’very harsh terms at him as he departed. Mrs. Criswell left her husband and four children, ages from 4 to 9, some five weeks ago. They were living in the country about 2% miles southeast of town. She alleges that he was jealous and after making certain charges against her, ordered her to leave his home. She came to Rensselaer and procured work at the Rensselaer Hotel. She was interviewed by a reporter for The Republican this Friday morning and stated that she was afraid of her husband. She charges him with having threatened her and says that she has been afraid to leave the hotel because he was often standing near the bottom of the stairs watching for her. On Thursday evening, she said, she wanted to go out on the street to do some shopping and she went down the rear stairs of the hotel. She Intended to go to the Leopold residence corner and back to town, taking that roundabout way to avoid meeting him. She had gone only a short way, she stated, until she saw him following her and she quickened her pace and he started to run.. She says she asked him what he wanted and he said he wanted her to go with him and she said she would no-t. He then caught hold of her and threw her to the ground. She says that he did not strike her. She told him before he threw her down that she would call for help if he touched her and she made good her word and her cries for help were hear all over that part of town. (Mre. Criswell says that her husband always provided well for herself and’their children but that he was jealous and that they have separated on this account and that she proposed to make this one final. She said that the children had a good home with his parents and did not exhibit much regret that she could not be with them. Criswell hurried to the hitchbarn and got his horse after the assault on his wife. He is supposed to have returned to his home in the country. His wife declares that she will have him arrested and placed under a peace bond. She denies that he has ever had grounds 'for jealousy and says that the man whose name he has coupled with hers is a "perfect gentleman.”