Le Mars Daily Sentinel: Tuesday, January 12, 1926

BARS PASSAGE GIRL ASSERTS
YOUNG WOMAN CAUSES ARREST CLAIMING MAN TRIED TO HUG HER

The case of the State against Robert Champeau was brought up for
hearing before Justice W.S. Freeman yesterday morning. Two charges were
filed against him, one a charge of assault and battery and the other a
charge of intoxication. Champeau was defended by Attorney C.D. Roseberry
and County Attorney George Sturges appeared to prosecute.

Attorney Roseberry asked for a change of venue and the case was
taken before Justice J.G. Koenig.

The assault and battery case was proceeded with, Miss Ruby Hill
being the prosecuting witness. She testified that Saturday afternoon she
met the defendant in the passage way of the Brauch building above the Boston
Café where she is employed, and that he engaged her in conversation and
wanted to make an engagement with her for the evening. She said she refused
and attempted to go down stairs but the defendant stretched his arms across
the passage and grabbed her and attempted to hug her. A noise in the office
of Dr. Williams, who conducts a dental office on the floor where the parties
were, attracted the attention of the defendant and the plaintiff then made
her escape, according to her testimony. The witness said she told T. Dunn
of the occurrence and later told Sheriff Maxwell. Sheriff Maxwell was
placed on the stand and related what the witness had told him about the
affair. Mrs. Champeau was placed on the stand and asked if the prosecuting
witness had not come to her and told her there was nothing in the affair.
Mrs. Champeau stated she and Miss Hill had talked about the matter Saturday
evening.

An adjournment was then taken until 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

Following the adjournment Miss Hill took the stand again and was
followed by J. Blake, one of the proprietors of the Café.

Robert Champeau was put on the stand and testified as to meeting
the defendant on the stairs. He denied hugging her and said he was just
“kidding” with her. He testified to meeting her when he ate dinner in the
restaurant and said she appeared quite friendly and they were joshing. He
denied having taken a drink of intoxicating liquor during the day on which
he met the defendant.