The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-27
SHOT AND KILLED HIM.
albert Cruger Strikes officer
Gaines With Gaspipe.
GAINES FIRES AND KILLS KRUGER


sChe Shooting Occurs While Gaines is
Attempting to Arrest Cruger's
Brother-In-Lavv in North Topeka.
Police Officer Gaines yesterday shot
and killed Albert Cruger, resident of
North Topeka The shooting occurred
about 4:15 in the afternoon. Cruger now
lies dead at Knights undertaking rooms,
while Officer Gaines is suffering from
serious wound on the side of his jaw.
The scene of the shooting was in the
yard at No. 1913 North Harrison street
Officer Gaines had arrested a man by the
name of Robbins, and was bringing him
through his (Robbins) yard. when
Cruger. who is relative of Robbins, at
tackled the officer, hitting him on the left
upper Jaw with piece of gas pipe. The
officer then drew his revolver and fired
at Cruger. The bullet entered Cruger's
head Just back of the temple, and he
died in about half an hour.
Last Thursday the two Robbins broth
ers were camping on creek one mile
west of Alma. When they left, they
made a raid upon d farmers barnyard
and stole a buggy pole. The farmers
name is VIM. II, Schneider;
MIR. Schneider missed the buggy pole
the next day. By inquiring around he
found that the thieves were the Robbins
brothers, of Topeka. He came to Tope-
ka yesterday to identity his property
and bring the thieves to justice.
He had with him a letter to Chief
Wilkerson from the sheriff of Wabunsee
county asking that Mr.. Schneider be as
sisted in his undertaking. Yesterday
afternoon at $3.50 officer Gaines and Mr..
Schneider started for the home of the
Robbins brothers. In North Topeka
they were joined by Officers Wellman
and Dee Wilkerson. The four men,
upon reaching the vicinity of the Rob
bins house. separated, Wellman and
Wnkerson going around a little to the
east, and Officer Gaines and Mr.. Schneider
going direct to the house. AS the two
neared the house, one of the Robbins
brothers was in the yard adjusting pair
of shafts to buggy When he saw the
two men he dropped his work and fed
north into a cornfield. Officer Gaines
ran after him.
While this was going on two women
came out of the house and began throw
ing stones at Dir. Schneider. The latter.
being unarmed, ran out of the yard as
fast as possible
1t was not very long until Officer
Gaines emerged from the cornt1eld, hav-
ing Robbins in custody. Robbins was
struggling. but was unable to break
loose. By this time Albert Cruger had
come into the yard. Cruger is a brother
in-law of the Robbins brothers. The
two women and Cruger attacked Officer
Gaines. He fought as best he could, but
before he could extricate himself, Kru-
ger picked up an eighteen inch piece of
gas pipe and struck him on the face
This dazed Officer Gaines, and he let go
of Robbins and sank to his knees. Rob
bins being released. turned and fed.
Gaines says that Cruger was about to
strike him with the gas pipe again when
he pulled out his revolver, and, balanc-
ing himself on his elbow, fired at him.
Cruger fell mortally wounded The
bullet entered his head directly back of
the temple. He lived for about half an
hour but was unconscious. By this time
Mr.. Schneider, Officers Wellman and
Wilkinson had returned to the scene of
the shooting, which was in the back
yard of Robbins house at 1913 North
Harrison street. Wellman and Wilker-
son had lest their bearings and could
not find the house. Mr.. Schneider was
a witness to the attack that Cruger made
upon the officer, and he saw the latter
fire his revolver, but could not see the
man Cruger, as he was around the cor
ner of the house.
The patrol wagon was called. and
brought Captain Gardiner, Sergeant
Donovan, Officer Haisch and a STATE
JOURNAL reporter. Officer Gaines was
found sitting by the roadside nursing his
wound. Albert Cruger lay dead in the
kitchen. while in the front yard women
were weeping and moaning.
City Physician Mitchell arrived
promptly at the scene and took care of
Officer Gaines. He was removed to his
home where he was made as easy as pos
sibIe. The whole side of his face was
paralyzed from the blow, and swelIed
up rapidly. Coroner Bailey was sum-
moned and he officially viewed the body
of Cruger.
The Robbins brothers are bad charac-
tiers. One of them is now confined in the
city prison for trespassing on railroad
property. Some time ago these brothers
were arrested for stealing wheat from a
railroad car, by boring q hole through
the floor of the car.
In speaking of the dead man, Cruger
Under Sheriff Tom Wilkerson said to :
STATE JOURNAL reporter: 'tHe was
tramp for nine years. Never did any
thing but tramp" Captain Gardiner says
that Cruger has been in the city prison
Tbs dead man was a painter and lived
on North Harrison street, one block south
of the Robbins brothers He was
brother iu-law to the Robbins brothers
also a brother-in-law to McCarrol, the
man who burglarized Chief Wilkers on's
house short time ago.
Peerless Steam Laundry Peerless
Steam Laundry.
-Er,f7. tab bn