The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-27
WORKED THE TOWN
WICHITA IS VISITED BY A GANG
OF HOUSE BREAKERS.

Christmas Night Seven Houses are Re-
ported TO Have Been BurgIarized, in
Two of Which the Burglars Make a
and the Man of the House is Shot ut
When the Thieves are Disturbed-Only
One Burglar was Captured and That
was by Hack-Driver-Get Your Gun.
Wichita is filed with burglars, and
as a consequence seven houses were
entered by men following this profess
sion on Christmas night and yesterday
morning.
Only one burglar has been captured
so far and that was William Burke,
who entered the residence of T. J.
Rogers and was captured by Doc Root,
as reported in the Eagle. The police
are greatly chagrined over the whole
sale burglaries which shows the work
OF regular professionals, and owing TO
their inability to locate and arrest the
thieves, refuse to give out any informa-
ton whatever, giving as their excuse
that old chestnut that by publishing the
facts the burglars would be informed
and thus keep out Of their clutches. Just
as though the burglars were not aware
that they had committed the crime of
breaking into residences Of citizens of
Wichita and not only stealing their
property, but maltreating the occu-
pants.
AS a consequence the refusal Of the
police TO give out any information
reporter visited five Of the residences
robbed and CLEANED the following par
ticulars, last night:
The first residence visited was that
Of George W. Walker at 623 North
Fifth avenue. In answer TO knock
came a stern demand of inquiry WHO
is there?" as the reporter imagined he
heard something on the inside Of the
door give two distinct clicks"
IAN Eagle reporter" was the answer.
stand out there so the rays Of the
lamp will shine on YOU" came the de-
uand from the inside Of the glass door.
The request was granted, the door
was unlocked and the reporter was adj
mitted TO the house, where he informed
the man and his wife Of the mission
which had brought him there.
Well. we VIII tell you all about it,"
said George. You see we are feeling
a little bit shaky just at present over
2 o'clock this morning, and also on
Monday night of this week.
The first time a man came to the
door and knocked about 1 o'clock, and
on my asking who was there he re-
sponded, L have a message for man
named Walker, from Cheney My
wife at once went to the door and told
me to open it as she was sure that
some Of her folks were sick. You see
her family reside near Cheney. 1 re-
moved the night latch and the man
forced the door open and showing a re-
vOlver in my face demanded that / give
him my money. Fortunately 1 had only
little change and a check. He took
the change and looked at the check
and handed 1t back to me. l will ac-
knowledge that We We're pretty bad
scared.
You see we have not lived long in
Wichita, having moved here from the
neigfrborhOod Of Cheney and new Muir
dock. / reported the matter to the
police and they promised to look the
Of It until yesterday morning just as
the court house clock struck . My
mather-in-law, Mrs. Anna Brown. who
was visiting us, called out to my wife
and asked if she had fastened the back
door.
MY wife said that she had, and call
ed to me. saying she heard the back
door open. Just then my mother-in-
law gave an unearthly yell, and then
came a strangling noise. l Immediate
~ jumped out Of bed and struck
light, when wlliz went a bullet in close
proximity to my head.
by the flash of the revolver l could
see that the man who had fired the
shot was standing by the stove. When
the shot was fired the man who had
hold of Mrs. Browns throat let loose
and both started for the back door.
think the reason the men ran was that
my wife had gotten out of bed and had
raised a window and was doing some
Of the best yelling / ever heard.
'Of course we were badly scared and
set up the rest Of the night. My wife's
mother had some money with her. but
/ do not know how much 1t was in
bed with her and she says that when
the man had her by the throat that he
was feeling under her pillow for iler
pocketbook.
Mrs. Brown was badly hurt and her
throat is badly swollen yet. She was
so hoarse today that she could hardly
talk and the finger marks OF the man
can be seen on the side of her neck.
She was SO badly scared that she would
not stay tonight. You see Mrs. Brown
had received some money, and this Is
the only reason I can give for 1he at
tempt twice to ron us. You can see
whore the bah went into the ceiling"
During Mr.. Walkers recital OF the
facts above given his wife was present
and added her approval, often correct
ing him in the smallest details. Mr.
and Mrs. Walker are a young married
couple, and have lately moved to the
city from the country. They announce
their intention of again returning 10
these raids. Their residence is located
on the west side Of the Santa Fe tracks.
and in a locality where tramps are said
10 congreg gate. They both declare that
they fastened the back door Of their
house, and left the key in the lock. The
key shows signs OF having been nipped
by some kind Of Instrument. They
found the door open and one cartridge
which had been dropped by the burglar
who caoked Mrs. Brown. The car
fridge IS a SS-cslibre. Smith G. WeSSOn. |
The next residence visited by the re-
porter on his rounds was that of Mrs
Nelson McClees. 404 North Emporia
avenue His reception here was not
quite so rigid as AZ the residence Of
Mr. Walker. but the ladies were fully
advised as TO who was their visitor be
fore his admission 10 the house. and In
answer 10 the question about their bur
Glary Mrs. McClees and her neiCe. Miss |
Mollie MoClees. gave the following in |
formation:
We left the residence about o'clock |
and went To the Carey. where We were |
invited 10 dine with Or. McClees. Be !
fore leaving We carefully locked all the |
doors and fastened the windows. There |