Velter Ella01

Waupaca County Post

February 23, 1928

Attempt To Take Girl From Dance Hall, Weyauwega

(By Staff Correspondent)

At a public dance at the Gerold Opera House, Weyauwega, Friday evening, an attempt to kidnap a girl about 18 years of age occurred shortly after midnight.

Harry Swederski, a prisoner from the Green Bay Reformatory who is on parole, asked Miss Ella Velter of New London to go out to lunch with him.

They started out to a restaurant and had gone about half a block when Wedonski grabbed the girl and put her in his car. The girl’s screams brought Police Officer Bellinger to the spot, and he commanded Swenderski, who had already started his car, to stop, but he did not.

As Wedonski turned from Main street onto Mill Street, the girl fell out of the car, and screamed “Save me,” as the officer came up.

A number of shots were fired by Officer Bellinger, thinking to puncture a tire, but Swederski did not stop. It was known that the fellow as working for a man by the name of Smith, who lives near Rat River, off Highway 110.

Sheriff Hansen was called from Waupaca and he and Bellinger went to the Smith farm, where they found Wedonski, who was taken to Waupaca and later sent back to Green Bay.

Note: Unknown why the change in spellings of names.