The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-04-23
ATTEMPTED MURDER.
FRANK RIDDLE, OF PARIS, GETS
A CLOSE CALL.
MASKED MAN WANTED MONEY.
The Marauder Fires Five Shots, but
None of Them Takes Efect-The
Country Aroused Sensational
Arrests May Follow

One of the most daring and diaboli-
cal attempts to rob and murder in this
section Of the country, was made about
$50 o'clock Sunday night in Paris,
Kenosha county. Frank Riddle, a
young and prosperous farmer, lives
one mile and a quarter south of Union
Grove, just over the county line, in
Paris. Every evening he is in the
habit of visiting his stables with a
lighted lantern to water and feed his
stock
Sunday night was a beautiful and
quiet one. AS usual he lighted the
lantern and started out for the barn,
leaving his wife and babies in the
house. AS he proceeded toward the
stables he saw man dodge behind the
corner of the house and supposed it
was the hired man who had gone to
Union Grove sometime before, but later
developments proved that he had
gone.
Mr.. Riddle wondered what a man
was lodging around his premises for
and he followed the fellow, who ran
around the house and then lodged in
behind a number of oak trees. When
the man saw that he was discovered
he leaped from behind the trees and
presented two revolvers at Mr.. Kid
dies head and demanded that he keep
quiet Mr.. Riddle was naturally
alarmed, but he commenced backing
away and at the same time swung the
lantern back and forth in front of him
and called loudly for help.
Then the man commenced firing.
Two shots were fired, one bullet going
through Mr.. Riddles hat and other
whiZzing near his head. Mr.. Riddle
now realized that the man intended to
murder him and that he must fight
and he struck the fellow blow on the
breast with the lantern, which was
broken and extinguished. Two more
shots we're fired, but missed their
mark.
By this time Mrs. Riddle was aroused
and came out of the house, and seeing
that her husband was being assailed
and perhaps killed, she screamed with
all her might and ran back into the
house and secured revolver and made
an attempt to shoot her husbands
assailant, but the gun would not eX-
plOde.
The unknown murderous william
fired one more shot and then disap-
peared in the woods. Mr.. Riddle
aroused his neighbors, but the shots
and screams had already been heard
and searching parties had started out.
Headed by Mr.. Riddle, who was armed
with shot gun, they made a thor
ough examination of the woods and
vicinity, but the man could not be To-
Gated and had made good his escape.
The shots and cries Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Riddle were also heard in Union Grove
and residents wondered what was 60
ing on.
Mr.. Riddle was in Racine Monday
and told his story. He said that he
believed that an attempt was made to
murder and then rob him for the rea-
son that he had received considerable
money the day before and the would
be assassin must have known that he
had the money.
He describes the man as being of
spare build; 5 feet 8 inches tall and
wore light colored mask and light
ulster.
While Mr.. Riddle does not say so it
is evident that he suspects a certain
party and came TO Kenosha for the
purpose of making known his suspi-
cions and getting the advice Of District
Attorney Buckmaster. Inquiry of the
authorities develops the fact that he
has not reported the affair to them.
He desires to warn people to keep
of his premises at. night time as he
will shoot anyone caught prowling
around the place. He also wants it
understood that he does not keep
money in his house.
Sensational arrests may follow in a
few days.