January 18, 1951: George Curtis Imprisoned for Aggravated Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill

By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA.

January 18, 1951: After having spent 28 days in jail and winning two releases, George Curtis is going to prison for the third time, this time with no bail. Although his wife had a restraining order against him and he was ordered not to come back to Boyertown again, the police were alerted that he was seen in town this afternoon and were on the look-out for him.

As his wife attempted to board the delivery truck on North Reading Avenue, in which he had been hiding, he lunged for her and wrapped a scarf around her neck. As she struggled to free herself, the scarf slipped and he grabbed her around the throat. The commotion immediately caused pedestrians and motorists to come to the aid of Mrs. Curtis.

Realizing that he was in trouble, Curtis abandoned his attack and started to run away, down the alley behind the Keystone Fire House to East Fifth Street, where he headed west and was apprehended.

Curtis has been committed to Berks County Prison and the District Attorney charged him with aggravated assault and battery with intent to kill. That should keep him locked up for a long while and give his wife new peace of mind.

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