The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-22
J. W. Perkins the Architect
TerrOrizes the NeighbOrhOOd.
Pursues His Wife With Sickle
In Hand.
RAN FOR HER LIFE
She Escapes Into the House Of
W. w. Mills.
Her Husband Threatened to
CleaVe Her With a Sword.

A wOman's screams and pleas for
mercy, and a drunken mans profane
Oaths startled the people living in the
vicinity of Sixth and Horn streets last
night a little after midnight. The
patrol wagon with several officers made
a fast run to the scene of the disturb
ance but failed to find the would-be
murderer.
The whole neighborhood was aroused
and many thought a murder was being
committed. A murder was narrowly
averted by the unfortunate woman's
running from her mad husband and
hiding safely in the house Of a neigh
bOr-
A telephone message to police head
quarters last night called for the pa
troll wagon and several officers to come
out as quickly as possible to Brigham
avenue. The officers received the
name of the street, but thought it
Bacon avenue" They made a quick
run to Sixth and Horn streets and
went as far as Norris avenue Their
information was that a crazy man was
Killing his wife, and all possible speed
was used, but owing to the mistake in
the telephone call they missed the
place.
on Brigham avenue. No. 7O7. Mrs. J.
w Perkins awaited the return of her
husband, the we'll known architect.
About midnight she heard a noise out
side the house and soon her husband
Gated and made a vicious attack upon
his wife. He demanded that she tell
him where the sickle was. This she
refused to do, WhereupOn the crazed
man began to search for it. Mrs. Per
kins had hidden the sickle because she
was afraid her husband would come
home intoxicated and try to kill her
with it. Soon he found it and started
after her rapidly. She lodged him and
ran into the street screaming. He pur-
sued her and was only prevented from
obj.
Mr.. and Mrs VIM. W. Mills, who live
directly across the street from the Per
kins home. Mrs. Perkins was taken
into the Mills residence, where she
IF ever get hold of you III cleave
you in two with this sword yelled Mr. |
Perkins with an oath, as he picked up
a heavy sword In the yard and ran to-
ward his wife, who was just going in
side the Mills house The neighbOrs |
say that he acted like a maniac, and
what is more, that this is not an IN
usual thing.
Mrs. William w. Mills was been by a
State Journal reporter today and she
told of the attempted tragedy.
Tt is terrible, and we can't stand it
any longer" she said. He came home
as usual last night, drunk, and tried to
kill her. More than once my husband
has had to 60 over there and protect
Mrs Perkins. This is the second time
inside of a month that she has had to
sleep at my house. He was trying to
cut her with a sickle, and then he said
that he was going to cleaVe her in two
with a big sword he had over in the
yard. I'll just tell you it's awful to be
walked up with such disturbance"
Mrs. A. B. Mullin, who resides at the
corner of Sixth and Horn streets, said
to the reporter:
We were called up last night by the
neighbors wanting to use our teIe-
phone Perkins came home and tried
to kill his wife with a sickle He has
tried to do it before. Some time ago he
hit his little girl with a piece of wood |
ana ner mead was a long time healing
I wish the police could have gotten him |
last night 1t is terrible. One night
heard screams up that way. and I
found that he was trying to kill his |
boy It is a lucky thing that both his
children were away from home. His !
boy is away canvassing, and the girl |
was sent back to Mrs Perkins folks |
The whole neighborhOOd is stirred I'D |
over the earousals of the architect.
1T is such pity remarked an old |
a nice woman
The neighbors say that Mr.. Perkins |
has been in the habit of coming home /
lately in an Intoxicated condition and 1
waking them all up by his profane |
threats and general disturbances.
The only reason we have endured |
1t as long as we did is for Mrs Perkins |
sake said Mrs Mills I wish the pO-
lice could have found him last night /
1t isn't safe here with a man like that |
running loose
Mrs Perkins is a pretty southern
woman and is liked by ali her neigh |
bOrs- Her relatives live in Kentucky |
and are higk7y respected people. There |
are two children, a young man who is /
now out of the city engaged in canvass |
ing, and a young girl who is now Wis |
tting in Kentucky.
Mr.. J. w. Perkins is a we'll educated /
man and is counted a good architect. |
For some time he has been drinking
hard, it is said, and nearly every night |
he comes home after midnight and |
wakes the people in his neighborhood |
After Mrs. Perkins went into the |
Mills house her husband quieted down /
and went into his own house.
The police have done nothing because |
no warrant has been sworn out.
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