A Widow's Accusation and a Rancher's Denial

August Polinski, a Polish rancher residing near Camden, on the border of Stevens County, was arrested on Monday at his home by Deputy Sheriff George Hynes and Marshal Mills of Newport. Polinski is accused by Mrs. Albertina Poutz, a widow, of having criminally assaulted her on two occasions recently. The woman alleges that, while acting as a housekeeper for the defendant at Camden, he entered her room and committed the outrage; the first occasion being in November of last year, and the last during the present month. On the occasion he is also accused of beating the woman frightfully in order to force her to comply with his demands. After the first assault the defendant is accused of having kept the widow locked in the house or under his guard at all times. He also threatened to kill her if she informed anybody of the crime that he had committed. The woman alleges that she was afraid of her life or she would have attempted to escape after the first assault. She had watched for a chance to escape, but the guard maintained by the man was too strict. After the second outrage she managed to make her way to Camden with her two children and came to Newport, where she swore to a complaint before Justice Long. The officers found the man confined to his home with rheumatism, but brought him to Newport on Monday night. On account of the continued illness of the justice the case was set for hearing for Feb. 15. Polinski gave bond for his appearance and returned to his home on Tuesday afternoon. Polinski is a man aged 68 years. He speaks in broken English and does not seem to understand the arrest at all. He was practically given his liberty after being brought to Newport, as his condition was such that he could not get away from the officers if he had tried. He denies the charges of the widow and claims that the affair is a scheme to get money from him. He attributes most of his troubles to his second wife, who left him shortly after they were married some six years ago. Their wedded life was of three short months' duration, and, according to the old man, it was anything but blissful. Since his wife left him he alleges that she has harassed him in every manner possible. He hired Mrs. Poutz as a housekeeper last year and she has resided with him, having had her children with her, at the ranch. The children are apparently 5 or 6 years of age. A married son of Polinski has also been making his home at the ranch with his family. On account of his infirmities and other troubles Polinski has had frequent troubles with his neighbors, and a majority of them are reported as being unfriendly to him. The officers making the arrest are of the opinion that there are some very peculiar conditions connected with the case, and believe that at the preliminary hearing some other facts connected with the case will be produced that will place the old man in a more favorable light. Mrs. Poutz's life during the past few years has been one full of tragedies. About two years ago one of her children was so badly injured by being burned during a forest fire down the Pend Oreille valley that it died from its injuries before it could be taken to a hospital. About a year ago her husband was found dead on their ranch in the same locality where the child was burned. The cause of his death was not investigated by the coroner, but it was reported that the man had died from heart disease.