Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 108, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1909 — DeMOTTE BARBER ARRESTED ON A SERIOUS CHARGE. [ARTICLE]

DeMOTTE BARBER ARRESTED ON A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Harpy McAlpin Beaten By Father of Little Girl and Captured After Making Effort To Escape.

The following account of an attempted assault on the five-year-old daughter of postmaster Wells, of DeMotte, by Harry McAlpin, a barber at that place, is copied from the Kankakee Valley Review. McAlpin is a single man about 35 years of age and is said to be a dissipated man and to lately have been under the influence of liquor a great part of the time. He has been confined since his trial before Squire Fairchild in a room at the house of Special Constable Emery White. There is no regular constable in Keener township and Mr. White states that he will not bring McAlpin to Rensselaer until the expense of the trip is assured him. Sheriff Shirer was telephoned to, but he and his deputy, Oliver Robinson, have been so busy with court matters that they could neither one get away, and it is not regarded the duty of the sheriff to go after prisoners, but of constables to bring them in. It is probable, however, that some arrangement will be made to have the prisoner brought to the county jail. The following report of the attempted assault is from the Wheatfield edition of the Kankakee Valley Review: Harry McAlpin, the barber of this place was placed under arrest Monday on a warrant issued by Squire Fairchild placed in 'the hands of special constable Emery White. The charge being an indecent assault upon the person of the five year old daughter of Postmaster William Wells.

The prisoner was given a hearing before Squire Fairchild Tuesday morning, the state was represented by Deputy Prosecutor John Greve. The prisoner when arraigned plead not guilty to the charge, waived examina,; tion and was bound over to the circuit court for trial, and in default of SSOO bail was committed to Rensselaer The usual peace and quietness of the town was worked up to a high state of excitement at about noon Monday, when the news of the outrage had been learned. Mr. Wells stated to our “reporter that about noon he missed his little daughter, who had Ue®n playing near the post office for sometime and was informed she had been seen in the vicinity of the hotel I with Harry McAlpin, and upon going to the hotel where McAlpin boarded, could not find him or the child. A search was then made of McAlpin’s room without locating either him or the child, enquiry was then made at other places and finally Postmaster Wells went to the barber shop and upon looking through the window at the side of the building saw McAlpin and the child in the room next to the barber shop. What Postmaster Wells saw when he discovered his daughter and McAlpin is unfit for publication. The father hurried'to the front of the building, kicked in the door and rushed upon McAlpin, knocking him down and gave him a terrible beating, and only for the advice of friends to let the law take its course, was the father Induced to refrain from giving McAlpin more punishment. While the excitement was at its highest and before the warrant was issued, McAlpin left town in a northerly direction, but was overtaken by the constable and placed under arrest. It is reported that McAlpin wasatrrested some years ago on a similar charge, but we cannot vouch that the report that the prisoner is now out on parqle is correct.