On May 31, 1934, the Crescent-News screamed this headline on page one. As it would turn out, these two women were the first of seven women accosted by a man who the papers would later dub, "the Defiance Slasher." In the three months of summer before the criminal was caught and sentenced, a bit of paranoia crept into the city, as police and citizens searched for the man with a knife and gun who preyed on women, even in the daylight hours.
Mrs. Frank Bentley and her daughter, Kathleen, were the first victims. As they returned from activities at the Pentacostal church about 11:40 p.m. on May 30, they were attacked near the Wabash railroad tracks at the Pierce Street crossing. According to the newspaper account, Mrs. Bentley screamed as three shots rang out, one entering her thigh, while Kathleen suffered from a clubbing on the head with the revolver handle.
At first, police thought perhaps a jilted admirer of Kathleen might be out for revenge, but upon questioning, this theory was left behind. Mrs. Bentley also had an ex-husband and a husband who happened to protest her attendance at the Pentacostal church. Both of these men were questioned and released.
The women thought that the perpetrator may have started following them on Jackson Street, and in fact, mother and daughter laughed at their silliness. Upon being attacked, Kathleen ran to the home of Henry Goins, 800 Harrison, while Mrs. Bentley reached the Clyde Cubberly home at Pierce and Harrison.
Police found a 25 caliber shell on Wabash Street for their evidence collection.
A second incident in the city occurred on June 1, 1934, but it was not immediately linked to the the attacks of the day before. Again, headlines on the front page:
MRS. C. R WILLIAMS WOUNDED IN ARM AS SHE FLEES FROM HOME INTRUDER; NOT LINKED WITH SHOOTING.
"A man believed to be demented who stabbed Mrs. C. R. Williams, 1104 Wayne avenue, today at 10:30 a.m., had made good his getaway this afternoon, although Police Chief Karl A. Weaner and neighbors spent several hours scouring the neighborhood for the knife intruder.
Meanwhile Mrs. Williams was under a physician's care, suffering from nervous shock and a knife wound in the upper left arm. The wound, evidently inflicted by the blade of a pocket knife, was in the bicep muscle...
Mrs. Williams...was working in the basement of her home this morning when she heard someone walking around on the first floor of her residence. When she went to investigate, she found the man in the back living room. She screamed and started to run out the back door. The intruder pursued her without saying a word, she said. As Mrs. Williams ran down the back steps, she stumbled and fell. The man overtook her and they scuffled.
He struck her one blow with what Mrs. Williams believed was a pocket knife...
He ran through the back yard and down an alley past the Martin Duerk hone which is located directly back of the Williams' house in Latty street. Mr. Duerk called to the runner to 'halt.' He did and held up his arms as in a fighter's pose. As Mr. Duerk approached, the man turned and ran away. Mr Duerk got in his car and followed..."
Unfortunately, the trail was lost. Neighbors searched the whole vicinity, but found nothing. However, both Mrs. Williams and Mr. Duerk were able to provide a good description of the stranger - 25-28 years old, medium height, slight build, hair long and black, dark trousers and blue work shirt.
And, he was on the loose again...
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