Wednesday, January 14, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 14

January 14, 1901 - Alice Smith, a waitress on her way to work early this morning, was the victim of an attempted abduction. At Hennepin Ave. and Fifth Street, Smith was picked up and carried bodily by an unknown man for two blocks. She was so frightened and surprised, that at first she was unable to cry out. Once she regained her presence of mind, she began to scream loudly and her abductor hastily placed her on the ground and ran away.

Smith says that the man came up behind her. She did not hear him approach, nor did she see the man before he grabbed her. The first thing that she was aware of was when she was suddenly taken off her feet by two strong arms and carried down the avenue. The young lady is very slight and her abductor had no difficulty in carrying her.

As they were reaching Third Street, a man approaching from the opposite direction heard Miss Smith’s screams, realized that something was wrong and hurried towards them. The abductor did not notice the approaching man at first.

However, once he saw him, he dropped Miss Smith and fled south on Third Street with such haste that she was unable to catch but a fleeting glimpse, and later was unable to give an accurate description of the man.

Miss Smith’s parents and older brother live in the country, and she is fearful that when they find out about this incident, they will be terrified and at once call her home from the wicked city.

Aside from her fright, the young lady was in no way injured.


The Minneapolis Journal; “Picked Her Up Bodily. A sensational Abduction Attempted on Hennepin. Big Man Grabs a Girl. And Carries Her Two Blocks in His Arms. Alarm Given And He Escapes. Alice Smith, the Victim, Can Give but Little Description of Him.”; January 14, 1901; p. 1. 

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