On This Date in Minnesota History: July 24

July 24, 1920 - George Alexander, 432 Payne Ave., St. Paul, nursed a badly swollen optic, a scratched face and a bruised head at city jail this evening as a result of an attack on him by 15 irate women, who beat him with brooms, clubs and stones. He is held on a statutory charge.

According to the police, Alexander is alleged to have enticed a nine-year-old girl into a wooded area at 44th Ave. S. and 34th Ave. S. in Minneapolis on Friday. She went home to her mother and told her what happened, police allege. In anger, the mother called on women of the neighborhood. Hastily they armed themselves and set out in pursuit of Alexander. The feminine posse surrounded him and closed in throwing stones. At close quarters, the women used their nails as well as clubs, which they were carrying. Someone notified the police, who succeeded in rescuing Alexander after he had been badly beaten. It is alleged police actually saved him from probable death at the hands of the women.

Alexander, according to police, is 40 years old and has a family residing in St. Paul. He will be arraigned in municipal court tomorrow on a complaint preferred by the child’s mother.

The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune; “Angry Women Use Brooms to Avenge Child; Story of Girl Results in Neighborhood Posse Which Captures man”; July 25, 1920; p. 1.

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “Women Beat Up Man for Assaulting Child”; July 24, 1920; p. 1.