The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-27
THE N. Topeka KILLING.
Witnesses Say Cruger Was Running Away
when Gaines Shot Him.

Witnesses Say Cruger Was Running Away
when Gaines Shot Him.
Some fresh information was obtained
this afternoon relating TO the North To
peka killing.
Mrs Albert Cruger, mot Charles Kru-
ger as the police have the name) the wife
of the man whom Officer Gaines shot to
death yesterday makes d statement to-
day that, if true, will throw a different
light on the tragedy A STATE JOURNAL
reporter talked with three of the eye
witnesses to the shooting. They were
Mrs. Albert Cruger, her mother-in-law
Mrs. Eliza Robbins, and Mrs. G. ]. Hen
thorn, neighbor.
The first two women were in the back
yard of the Robbins property at 1913
North HARRISON street when the trouble
began.
Mrs. Henthorn was in the house, but
came out when the arrest was made.
Mrs. Cruger said to the reporter:
Gle shot Albert as he was running
away from him."
did you see all the troubIe?"
Eyes, mother and I were in the back
yard when the men came up. When
Gaines brought brother (Rob-
bins) back, mother went to
him and asked him where his papers
were for arresting her son. She had a
piece of rubber hose in her hand and
Gaines grabbed it out of her hand and
hit her three times with it. He said
Go to - with your papers, Then
Albert came up and told Gaines to stop
hitting mother, and there was some
scuff1ing. | don't know whether Albert
hit him or not, but l saw him (Cruger)
run, and as he ran away Gaines shot him.
Albert never took another step. He fell
right there"
''God knows that he shot him when he
was trying to get away, interpolated Mrs.
Eliza Robbins.
Both the women said that officer
CRANES shot at Cruger when the latter
was running away from him. Mrs.
Cruger is almost overcome with grief.
Mrs. C. j. Henthorn is a neighbor liv-
ing close to the scene of tie killing. She
said to the reporter:
81 was in the house when the trouble
began. l heard some talking and came
out"
ibid you see Cruger strike the Off
cer?"
"No. but saw him directly after it
was done"
"Did you see the officer shoot Cruger?"
81 can't say that did but saw them
just after the shot was fred.
Mr.. Cruger was running away and the
officer deliberately shot at him."
"You do not think the officer was JUS
tilted in shooting at Cruger in self
defense, then|
"MOst assuredly not" replied the wo-
man.
"Did the shooting look as though the
officer shot Cruger because Cruger had
hit him with club?"
"Yes, it did"
Feeling is running high in North To-
peka against the officer. 1t is partly due
to the shooting and also to the beating
up of the Russian women few nights
ago, in which affair officer Gaines was a
prominent figure. The entire German
| population of the north side is incensed
| about it.
Although the Robbins and Crugers are
not considered as being exactly straight
| in all their dealings yet at the same time
a great many think the officer is too hot
| headed man to be on the forco
| Chief Wilkerson takes another view
of the case. He admits that Officer
Gaines is quick tempered. but in this
case he claims that the officer was justi-
| fed in shooting at the man.
City Physician Mitchell says that Off
! Ger Gaines is not in any danger unless
| inflammation sets in,