The Defiance "Slasher" - Victim 5

A fifth attack crossed the line with the citizens of Defiance.  Not only were some vigilante groups formed, but organizations jumped into the search for this bold attacker after a fifth incident near the library.  The Crescent-News reported on June 13, 1934:

"Determined that the Defiance eluder-stabber might be caught, members of the American Legion and Lions Club today entered the hunt for the slender, dark-haired youth who Tuesday afternoon on Fort Street slashed Miss Rosemary Mansfield, daughter of attorney and Mrs. Victor Mansfield...

Miss Mansfield was recovering today at the home of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Mansfield, 425 Holgate Avenue.  Four stitches were required to close the wound which was over her right shoulder.  The victim's father arrived early today from Louisville, Ky. where he is an attorney for the federal land bank...

Spurred by public indignation that swept the community after the bold attack, all local law enforcement agencies, aided by a large number of volunteer workers, spent the entire night in rounding up any suspicious characters.  Eleven of those were held in the city jail.  Ten were released as impossible suspects, while the eleventh, from whom a large knife was taken, was detained for further investigation. A twelfth suspect who was picked up today was released after he had been saved by witnesses.

ATTACKED AT 3:30 P.M.

 The attack occurred at 3:30 Tuesday afternoon on Fort Street, as Miss Mansfield, in company with her sister, Kathleen, 15, and Miss Julia Rex, 16, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Rex, approached the Carnegie Public Library.  The trio were about half-way between the alley and Jefferson Avenue on the walk that passes the Leo Tustison residence when their assailant approached.  The slasher was described as a slender youth with dark hair combed pompadour.  He wore a blue work shirt with dark trousers.  After kniving the girl, the assailant continued east on the Fort Street sidewalk with a peculiar running gait, described as a lope.  The stabber turned south on the sidewalk on the west side of Jefferson Avenue to the attorney, R. H. Sutphen, corner and turned west on First Street."

**None of the girls saw the attacker's face, but they thought they could recognize him from his gait.  Mrs. C. S. May, 112 Jefferson Avenue, saw the man run onto First St. and Herman Steffel, a delivery wagon driver, also confirmed the descriptions given.  

"Meanwhile Miss Rosemary and her two companions ran screaming in the porch of the Leo O. Tustison home.  Getting no immediate response, they hurried to the Ralph W. Peters home near there.  Mrs. Peters, attracted by the screaming, had just reached the front door.  She took them inside.  Then she drove the victim to a physician office and returned to take the other two girls to their home."

**A crowd gathered, all talking of the girl's safety.  Police and volunteers began the search, especially focusing on garages and vacant buildings, but could find no trace of the attacker.
Miss Mansfield felt that should could identify the attacker, if found.