Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 24, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1901 — Charged With Criminal Assault. [ARTICLE]

Charged With Criminal Assault.

Squire J. M. Troxell heard the evidence Monday evening in what, judging from the facts then shown, was one of the most aggravated cases of criminal assault that ever came to light in Jasper county. The defendent was Irving Lewis, a young man about 18 years old, and a member of one of the most highly respected families in Barkley Tp. He was arrested by Constable Vick, at Lee Glazebrook’s place, where he was working, some miles north of town. The warrant was sworn out by James Fay, of north of Blackford, father of the alleged injured girl, Myrtie Fay. According to the story told at the trial, Myrtie, who is 17 years old her next birthday, attended church at Brushwood, Sunday night. Young Lewis was there and asked Laura Steel, 15 years old, to ride home in his buggy. She consented but asked Myrtie Fay to go with her. The direct route would have taken Miss Fay home before Miss Steel’s place was reached, but Lewis took a very circuitous route, several miles out of the way, and in a wild secluded place, stopped, and forcibly removed Miss Fay from the buggy. Further particulars are not suitable for publication; but the Steel girl states that the horses were scared by Miss Fay’s screams, and started off, and it was a number of minutes before she could stop them and drive back to the place. Miss Fay, it is stated, was choked almost into insensibility and much of her clothing torn from her person. After being replaced in the buggy the girls continued to scream and cry at such a rate that Lewis insisted they must stop or get out of the buggy, and they did get out and walked three miles to their homes. The Squire bound young Lewis over to the circuit court, fixing his bail at $500. It was furnished next morning, by his father, John Lewis, a most highly respected citizen and he was released. He did not present any evidence in his behalf at the trial.